The still surface of the lake shimmered faintly, the silver light reflecting off the water casting intricate patterns across the surrounding trees. Caspian sat at the edge, catching his breath, while Ellara knelt beside him, her staff glowing dimly.
"What do you mean, 'what it left behind'?" Caspian asked, his voice hoarse.
Ellara gestured to the lake. "The Silent Court doesn't just test you. It marks you, ties you to the forest in ways you can't yet understand. But it also grants you something in return—knowledge, power, clarity. Whatever it thinks you'll need to fulfill your purpose."
"My purpose," Caspian echoed, staring at the water. "Do you know what that is?"
Ellara shook her head. "That's for you to figure out. The lake doesn't give easy answers."
Before Caspian could respond, the water began to ripple. At first, it was subtle—a faint disturbance in the glassy surface—but soon the ripples deepened, spiraling outward until the center of the lake glowed with a blinding silver light.
Caspian shielded his eyes. "What's happening?"
"The lake is choosing," Ellara said, her voice tense. "Stay ready."
The light pulsed, and then, with a sound like a deep exhale, something broke the surface. A small, crystalline object floated upward, suspended in the air above the lake. It was a shard, no larger than Caspian's palm, its edges jagged and glowing faintly with an inner light.
Caspian rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on the shard. "What is that?"
Ellara's eyes widened. "A Fragment of Fate," she whispered. "I've only heard stories about these."
Caspian frowned. "What does it do?"
Ellara hesitated. "It's said to hold a piece of the world's truth—a sliver of destiny itself. Those who possess it can glimpse the threads of fate, but…" She trailed off, her expression growing darker.
"But what?" Caspian pressed.
"It's dangerous," she said. "The fragment shows only possibilities, not certainties. If you rely on it too much, it can lead you astray."
The shard floated closer, its glow softening as it hovered in front of Caspian. He hesitated, the weight of Ellara's words heavy in his mind, but something deep within him compelled him to reach out.
As his fingers brushed the shard, a wave of warmth coursed through his body, followed by a cascade of images that flooded his mind.
He saw himself standing on a battlefield, his sword raised high as a kingdom rallied behind him.
He saw a throne room shrouded in shadow, with a crown hovering above a faceless figure.
He saw Ellara, her face streaked with tears, reaching out for him as flames consumed the world around her.
And then he saw the lake again, its surface breaking apart to reveal something dark and ancient stirring beneath.
Caspian stumbled back, gasping for air as the shard's glow dimmed and it fell into his hands. The images lingered in his mind, vivid and unsettling.
"Caspian!" Ellara steadied him, her grip firm. "What did you see?"
He shook his head, trying to make sense of the visions. "I don't know," he said. "It was… pieces of something. Battles, thrones, fire…" He looked at her, his voice dropping. "And you."
Ellara's expression hardened, but she didn't press him. "The shard is bound to you now," she said. "Whatever it's shown you, it's part of your path."
Caspian stared at the fragment in his hand, its light flickering faintly. "Why me?" he muttered. "I didn't ask for this."
"The lake doesn't choose randomly," Ellara said. "It saw something in you—something you might not even see in yourself."
He looked up at her, frustration and uncertainty warring in his expression. "What now? Do we just wait for the next trial to find me?"
Ellara smiled faintly, though there was little warmth in it. "We move forward," she said. "The forest isn't done with you yet."
She turned toward the trees, her staff lighting the way as the glowing path reappeared before them. Caspian lingered for a moment, his gaze drifting back to the lake.
The shard's weight was light in his hand, but its implications felt heavier than any sword he had ever carried.
Taking a deep breath, he tucked the fragment into his belt and followed Ellara into the forest, the path ahead shimmering with possibility—and danger.