The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows across the barren landscape. Kain's footsteps echoed through the ruins as he walked, the crystal pulsing softly in his palm. It had been hours since the mysterious figure had disappeared, leaving him alone in the wake of his cryptic words. The path before him seemed endless, yet Kain had no choice but to press on. The weight of the Luck pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating, and the only way forward was to find the others—those who understood it, those who might offer him a way to control it or at least escape its grip.
The wind howled across the open plains, carrying with it the scent of decay and ruin. The city he had once known, with its bustling streets and vibrant life, was now a hollow shell. It was as if the world itself had been drained of its vitality, leaving only echoes of what once was. Kain's thoughts raced as he moved through the ghost town. The Luck had done this—or at least, it had set the stage. He had freed it, unknowingly, and now the fabric of reality itself seemed to be warping around him.
But he couldn't dwell on that now. He had to focus. He had to find the others.
The crystal in his hand seemed to hum with a life of its own. Kain could feel its pull, a strange compulsion that guided him forward. He had no idea where it was leading him, but there was something in the way it pulsed, something undeniable. He knew he had to follow it.
Hours turned into days as Kain traversed the desolate land. The crystal was his only constant, the only thing that seemed to have any bearing on his journey. Each night, he would rest by a fire, staring into the flames and wondering if he was walking straight into a trap. He didn't trust the crystal completely—it had its own secrets, just like the Luck itself. But it was all he had.
By the time the third night fell, exhaustion had settled deep into his bones. His body ached from the constant travel, and his mind was frayed by the strange, unpredictable energy that the Luck seemed to exude. But despite the fatigue, Kain's resolve remained unbroken. He had made a decision—he would find these people, the ones who understood the Luck. He had to. He could not stand alone against a force like this.
Suddenly, the pulse from the crystal grew stronger. Kain's eyes snapped to it, his heart racing as the light within the gem flared brightly. The path ahead had opened.
He wasn't alone.
Before he could react, the ground beneath him trembled, and the air grew thick with an unnatural heat. The crystal pulsed in his hand, and Kain's pulse quickened. Something was coming. Something powerful. And it was closing in on him fast.
Without warning, the first of them appeared—a figure cloaked in black, the fabric of their robe swirling like liquid shadow. They moved with purpose, their presence commanding and imposing. Kain instinctively drew his sword, his body bracing for whatever was to come. He knew this figure wasn't just any wanderer. They were connected to the Luck. They had to be.
The figure stopped a few feet away, their face hidden beneath a hood. There was something almost serene about their presence, as if they existed in perfect harmony with the chaos that surrounded them.
"You've come far, Kain," the figure said, their voice smooth and rich, carrying an almost otherworldly weight. "But you are not yet ready."
Kain narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on the sword. "Ready for what?" he demanded. "Who are you?"
The figure's lips curled into a slight, knowing smile. "You will understand soon enough. But first, you must prove yourself."
Kain's heart raced. "Prove myself?" he repeated, disbelief coloring his voice. "What does that mean?"
The figure stepped closer, their eyes gleaming beneath the hood. "The Luck is not just a force. It is a test, Kain. A test of will, strength, and purpose. You may think you have control over it, but that is an illusion. The Luck tests those it chooses, and it will continue to test you until it knows what you are truly made of."
Kain felt a pang of frustration, but he kept his voice steady. "I'm not afraid of any test. What do I need to do?"
The figure's smile deepened, and for the first time, Kain saw a flicker of something else in their eyes—something darker, something dangerous. "You will have to face your own fears, Kain. You will have to confront the very nature of the Luck. Only then will you be able to move forward."
Kain's sword hummed in his hand, its blade glinting in the moonlight. "I've already faced enough," he muttered under his breath. "I've already defied fate once."
The figure laughed, a sound that sent a chill through Kain's spine. "Fate is a puppet, Kain. The Luck is the hand that pulls the strings. The Luck does not care for your defiance. It does not care for your resistance. It will break you if it must. But there is a way out. There is a way to bend the Luck to your will—but only if you are willing to sacrifice everything you know."
Kain swallowed hard, the weight of the figure's words settling in. "And if I refuse?"
"Then you will be consumed," the figure replied flatly. "The Luck will devour you, as it has devoured many before you. There is no escaping it. It is the foundation of all things. You will either become a part of it, or you will be lost to it."
Kain took a step forward, his sword still raised but his expression hardening. "I won't be consumed," he said, his voice unwavering. "Not by fate. Not by anyone."
The figure regarded him silently for a moment, and then, to Kain's surprise, they nodded. "Very well, Kain. You may yet have a chance. But remember, the Luck is not something you can control with strength alone. It will test your heart, your mind, your very soul. If you wish to master it, you must first master yourself."
Before Kain could respond, the figure stepped back, their body dissolving into the shadows with an unnatural speed. The air grew still once again, the strange tension lifting for a moment, but the sense of foreboding remained.
Kain stood frozen, staring at the spot where the figure had disappeared. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—fear, doubt, determination, and a growing sense of unease. This was just the beginning. The Luck had chosen him, and now, he had to face the consequences. But the path ahead was not clear. He didn't know what he was walking into, or who the other figures connected to the Luck were, but he knew one thing for certain: He couldn't turn back now.
The Luck was pulling him forward, and the only choice he had was to follow its thread.
Kain took a deep breath, his hand tightening around the crystal once more. He had no idea what was coming next, but he was ready.
The test had begun.
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End of Chapter Nineteen.