As Loka led the group closer to the golden pillar of light, the surrounding mist began to thin. Yet, an indescribable pressure lingered in the air. The unsettling silence made every step feel as though countless unseen eyes were watching.
"The guardian of the light pillar is nearby," Eldrick warned, stopping in his tracks. "It won't let anyone pass easily. This is a trial—you must prove yourselves to proceed to the other side of the highlands."
"What is it?" Katherine asked, her grip on her sword tightening.
"I don't know its true form," Eldrick admitted gravely. "But anyone who wishes to pass must confront it. It will see into your heart and use your deepest fears against you."
"Can we defeat it?" Irene asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"Perhaps not," Eldrick replied. "But we have to try."
Before his words fully settled, the golden light around the pillar began to pulse violently, forming a massive vortex. A powerful gust swept through, forcing everyone to step back.
"It's here!" Loka shouted, raising his spear as he positioned himself at the forefront of the group.
From the swirling light emerged a towering, imposing figure cloaked in brilliance. Its face was obscured by shadows, but its presence was undeniable. Its deep, resonant voice echoed directly in their minds:
"Outsiders, why have you come here? Answer me—what is your purpose?"
Without hesitation, Loka stepped forward and declared, "We are warriors of Airtulan, seeking a path to Eldenia to aid our allies against Strongson's invasion!"
The guardian was silent for a moment, then replied with a voice even deeper than before. "Your reason is noble, but to pass, you must prove your courage and resolve."
"How?" Katherine demanded.
"By confronting your inner self." The guardian waved its hand, and the golden light fragmented into countless shimmering tendrils that descended upon each of them.
Katherine felt a sudden wave of dizziness, and the world around her blurred. When her vision cleared, she found herself standing amidst a burning wasteland. Her hands were stained with blood, and lying lifelessly before her was Irene.
"No! This can't be real!" Katherine cried, shaking her head in denial. But the scene was so vivid that it felt impossible to dismiss. Irene's pain-filled eyes seemed to accuse her of failure.
Meanwhile, Irene was engulfed in her own nightmare. She stood amid roaring flames as countless undead clawed their way up from the ground, encircling her. Desperately, she called out for Katherine, but no response came.
Loka's trial was no less harrowing. He stood on a desolate battlefield, surrounded by the fallen warriors of the Blazing Tribe. Their faces were etched with disappointment as voices of condemnation echoed around him: "You failed us! You betrayed our trust!"
Katherine clenched her sword, forcing herself to steady her breathing. "This isn't real," she muttered, her voice firming. "Irene isn't dead. This is just an illusion!" Raising her sword, she slashed at the spectral image of "Irene" while shouting, "I will not be trapped here!"
As her blade cut through the illusion, the nightmare dissolved, and Katherine was jolted back to reality, drenched in sweat. Scanning her surroundings, she saw the others still trapped in their visions.
"Wake up!" she yelled, rushing to Irene's side and gripping her shoulders tightly. "This is a lie, Irene! Trust yourself!"
Gradually, Irene's dazed expression cleared, and she broke free from the illusion. Hearing Katherine's shouts, Loka gritted his teeth and forced himself out of his trial as well.
One by one, the others emerged from their nightmares, shaken but resolute.
The guardian's voice rang out again, calm but commanding: "You have passed the first trial. The final challenge awaits at the light pillar."
After regaining their composure, the group cautiously approached the light pillar. Up close, they realized it was not just pure light but a massive stone monolith inscribed with intricate runes.
The guardian stood silently before the monolith, then addressed Loka. "Surrender your weapons. This is the final trial."
Loka blinked in surprise. "Surrender our weapons? How can we face any danger without them?"
The guardian's tone was firm. "A warrior without a weapon—can they still hold true to their convictions? That is the essence of this trial."
A tense silence fell over the group. Finally, Loka stepped forward, setting his spear down before the guardian. Katherine and Irene exchanged a look, then relinquished their weapons as well. One by one, the others followed suit.
Once the last weapon was surrendered, the guardian nodded, and the light pillar blazed with renewed intensity. Its energy coalesced into a radiant portal.
"You have proven yourselves," the guardian declared. "You may pass. But remember—the true challenges lie ahead."
With determination, Loka led the group through the portal. In an instant, the oppressive atmosphere of the highlands lifted, replaced by the warmth of sunlight. They found themselves standing in a serene valley, the air crisp and the horizon clear.
They had made it through the trials of the light pillar, but the battles yet to come weighed heavily on their minds.