The gauntlet hummed softly, its jeweled surface glowing faintly as Sam exited the temple. The once-dim sky had turned to an ominous shade of orange, streaked with swirling clouds. The air was heavier now, charged with an energy that made Sam's skin prickle.
"Right," they muttered, adjusting the gauntlet on their hand. "Step one: survive a ridiculous trial. Step two: figure out how this thing works. Step three… I don't know. Save the world, I guess?"
The box pulsed faintly from its spot under their arm, as if encouraging them. Sam snorted. "Oh, you're optimistic. That's adorable."
The rocky cliff path stretched before them, and Sam took a deep breath, steeling themselves for the trek down. They had barely taken three steps when a voice rang out behind them.
"Well, well. Look who finally made it out alive."
Sam froze, their grip tightening on the box. They turned slowly, eyes narrowing as they took in the figure standing at the temple entrance. It was a man—tall, broad-shouldered, and clad in patchwork armor that looked both practical and intimidating. His face was shadowed beneath a hood, but his smirk was unmistakable.
"And you are?" Sam asked, their tone dripping with suspicion.
The man chuckled, stepping closer. "Name's Calder. I've been keeping an eye on this place for weeks, waiting to see who'd be foolish enough to take on the trial." He gestured to the gauntlet. "Looks like you passed. Congrats, Herald."
Sam groaned. "Not you too. Do people just hand out titles in this world?"
Calder shrugged. "Titles come with power. And you've got plenty of that now." His eyes flicked to the gauntlet, and his smirk widened. "Which is why I'm here."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. You want the gauntlet."
"Oh, I don't want it," Calder said, his voice casual. "I need it. Big difference."
Sam tightened their grip on the box, their unease growing. "Yeah, well, join the club. This thing's not up for grabs."
"Is that so?" Calder's smirk faded, replaced by a hard, calculating expression. "You don't look like someone who knows what they're doing with it. Hand it over before you get yourself killed."
Sam took a step back, their heart pounding. "I just fought off a dragon and passed a trial that could've turned me into dust. You really think I'm scared of some guy in secondhand armor?"
Calder's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the tension between them crackled like a live wire. Then, to Sam's surprise, Calder burst out laughing.
"Fair enough," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "You've got guts. I can respect that."
Sam frowned. "Is this your idea of a negotiation? Because it sucks."
"Relax, kid," Calder said, lowering his hands. "I'm not here to fight you. At least, not yet. I just wanted to see what kind of person the Prophecy dragged into this mess."
Sam blinked. "Wait. You know about the Prophecy?"
"Of course I do," Calder said, his smirk returning. "It's the reason we're all still here, isn't it?"
Before Sam could press for details, another voice interrupted them—a sharp, clipped tone that carried a hint of irritation. "Calder, stop scaring the poor Herald."
A woman emerged from the shadows, her movements quick and deliberate. She was clad in dark leather armor, and her short-cropped hair framed a face that was both stern and striking. Her piercing eyes locked onto Sam, and she sighed.
"Apologies for my companion," she said. "He's not very good at making friends."
Sam crossed their arms. "I'm getting that impression."
The woman ignored the comment, her gaze flicking to the gauntlet. "I'm Delphine. And before you ask—yes, we know about the Prophecy. We've been tracking it for years."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Years? Then why haven't you done anything about it?"
Delphine's expression darkened. "Because the chosen one failed."
The words hit Sam like a punch to the gut. They opened their mouth to respond but hesitated, unsure of what to say. Delphine noticed their reaction and softened slightly.
"We were hoping to stop this before it got out of hand," she continued. "But now it's too late. The darkness is spreading, and you're the only one left who can stop it."
Sam let out a bitter laugh. "Great. No pressure."
Delphine studied them for a moment before nodding. "We can help you. But only if you're willing to trust us."
Sam glanced between Delphine and Calder, their mind racing. They didn't trust these strangers—not yet—but they also knew they couldn't do this alone. The gauntlet was powerful, but Sam had no idea how to use it properly, and the box's cryptic guidance wasn't enough.
"Fine," Sam said reluctantly. "But if either of you tries anything shady, I'm throwing you off this cliff."
Calder grinned. "Fair deal."
Delphine, however, remained serious. "We'll need to move quickly. The darkness won't wait for us to catch up."
Sam sighed. "Of course it won't. Nothing in this ridiculous Prophecy ever does."
With that, the trio set off down the cliff path, the wind howling around them. Sam couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking straight into another disaster—but for now, they had no choice. The Prophecy had made its move, and so had they.
The question was, who would make the next one?