The chamber trembled as Eldric stood at the altar, the black flame swirling around him, its heat and darkness seeping into his very soul. The statues of the forsaken gods loomed over him, their empty eyes burning with a silent hunger, waiting for him to make his move.
The air was thick with an oppressive silence, broken only by the deep, resonant voice that had spoken before.
"You have come for power, Eldric of the Rebellion. But do you understand what it costs?"
Eldric clenched his fists, his mind racing. He had no time to hesitate. The rebellion was on the edge of destruction, and the Arbiter's warning still echoed in his ears. If he didn't succeed, they would be wiped out, forgotten like the gods of old.
"I understand," Eldric said, his voice steady despite the rising fear in his chest. "I'll pay whatever price is necessary. I can't fail."
The voice chuckled darkly, the sound like a thousand whispers. "Then, prove it. Survive the trial. Only then will you be worthy of the power you seek."
With a sudden shift, the ground beneath Eldric's feet cracked open, and the statues began to move. Their once-still forms shifted with terrifying speed, their stone bodies creaking and groaning as if waking from an ancient slumber. The air was charged with an electric tension as they raised their weapons and advanced toward Eldric.
"Get ready!" Karis shouted, drawing her sword and stepping forward to protect Eldric.
Seraphine raised her hand, dark magic crackling around her fingers. "This isn't going to be easy."
But Eldric didn't move. His eyes were fixed on the black flame before him. This was the test. He could feel it deep inside him—the presence of the Fallen Pantheon, watching his every move. If he could harness the flame, he would wield their power. But if he failed…
The first statue lunged, swinging a massive stone axe down at him. Eldric reacted instinctively, his flames exploding outward in a desperate defense. The fire met stone with a violent clash, but it didn't burn. It sizzled against the stone as though the stone were a living, breathing thing.
Eldric gritted his teeth and pushed forward, his fire flaring brighter. He needed to break through—to show the Fallen gods that he was worthy. But as his flames roared, the black flame from the altar flickered in response, its power seeming to grow stronger, more insistent.
"To master the flame, you must face the darkness within." The voice echoed again, louder this time, surrounding him. "What is it that you fear most, Eldric? What will you sacrifice to gain power?"
Eldric's heart skipped a beat. The darkness was creeping into his mind, whispering doubts, fears, and regrets.
Images flashed in his mind.
The faces of those he had failed.
The people who had trusted him, only to be betrayed by his inability to protect them.
The memory of his family—their faces burned into his mind like an unhealable scar.
The voice echoed louder, more insistent. "What will you sacrifice, Eldric?"
He felt the weight of the question pressing down on him. Could he sacrifice his humanity? His soul? The very essence of who he was?
"No," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I'll sacrifice nothing."
The statues were closing in. The ground cracked beneath them, and the weight of their ancient power seemed to suffocate the air. Eldric knew he couldn't hold them off forever—not without giving in to the dark power that tempted him.
But then—he felt it.
A flicker of something deep within him. A spark that was more than fire. Will.
Resolve.
He had lost everything before. His family. His people. He had sacrificed his heart to the flames, believing it was the only way forward. But now, something inside him refused to let go. He would not let the darkness consume him. He would not let the gods decide his fate.
With a roar, Eldric surged forward, his flames blazing with an intensity he had never felt before. They raged around him, wild and untamed, consuming everything in their path. The statues flinched back as the fire scorched their stone bodies, but they were not destroyed. They kept advancing, relentless and unforgiving.
Eldric felt the heat of the black flame intensify as he drew closer to the altar. It called to him, urging him to take it—take its power.
But he resisted. The darkness within him wanted to break free, wanted to surrender to the black flame's call. But Eldric stood firm, his fire blazing even brighter, pushing back the shadows.
And then, with a final scream of defiance, he reached out.
He grasped the black flame.
---
The Awakening
The moment his hand touched the flame, everything changed.
A flood of energy surged through him, far beyond anything he had ever experienced. The flame consumed him entirely, wrapping around his body like a second skin. The pain was excruciating—his very soul felt as though it was being torn apart and remade. He could feel the power of the Fallen gods flowing through him, their ancient essence pulsing in his veins.
And yet, amid the chaos, there was clarity. He understood the flame. It was not just fire. It was the embodiment of destruction and creation, of life and death. It was a force that could bend the very fabric of existence.
But at the same time, he could feel it—something more.
The black flame was not just power. It was a price.
And Eldric had just paid it.
He felt the presence of the Fallen gods grow stronger. Their voices filled his mind, urging him to embrace the flame fully, to become one with it. But there was a cost—one he could not ignore. The flame would never let him go.
"Eldric!" Karis's voice broke through the haze of power surrounding him. "What's happening to you?"
But Eldric could hardly hear her. He could barely feel the ground beneath his feet. His mind was consumed by the power within him.
He had won the trial. But in doing so, he had bound himself to the black flame.
And there was no turning back.