### Chapter 11: The Trial
The creature towered over me, its hulking form radiating power. Its eyes, two burning orbs of molten light, seemed to peer into the depths of my soul. My legs felt like they were rooted to the ground, and for a moment, I couldn't even breathe.
"Worthy?" I managed to choke out, my voice barely a whisper. "Worthy of what?"
The creature's growl vibrated through the air, deep and resonant. **"To wield the bond. To command us."**
It took another step forward, its clawed feet sinking into the cracked earth. Its body shimmered as though it wasn't entirely solid—part shadow, part flame.
"I didn't ask for this!" I shouted, my voice breaking. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to do!"
The creature tilted its massive head, as if amused. **"Then you will fail."**
The ground beneath me trembled, and before I could react, the creature lunged. Its claws slashed toward me, and I barely managed to dive out of the way. The force of its movement sent a shockwave rippling through the air, knocking me off my feet.
I scrambled to my knees, my heart pounding. Nightshade wasn't here. Kael wasn't here. Ember wasn't here. It was just me and this thing—this impossible challenge I didn't understand.
"You think you can scare me?" I shouted, trying to steady my voice. "Fine! Let's do this!"
The creature roared, its fiery breath searing the air. It charged again, and this time, I didn't move.
Instead, I closed my eyes and reached deep within, searching for the connection I'd felt with the Stalkers. That hum, that strange resonance—it was still there, faint but present.
"Stop!" I commanded, my voice firm.
The creature skidded to a halt, its claws raking the ground. Its glowing eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it seemed to hesitate.
I took a shaky step forward, my hands trembling. "You said I have to prove myself. Fine. But I'm not going to fight you. That's not what this is about, is it?"
The creature let out a low, rumbling laugh. **"Perhaps you are not entirely foolish."**
The ground beneath me shifted again, but this time, it wasn't an attack. Instead, the earth rose, forming jagged platforms that created a kind of arena. Symbols glowed along the edges, pulsing in time with the hum in my chest.
The creature stepped back, its form flickering. **"A bond is not forged through force alone. Show me your strength of will."**
Before I could ask what it meant, the platforms began to move. They floated upward, rotating and shifting, creating a dizzying maze. The glowing symbols danced across the surfaces, and I realized they weren't just decorations—they were instructions.
I had to follow them.
The hum in my chest grew louder, guiding me toward the nearest platform. I jumped, barely making it as it shifted beneath me. The creature watched from below, its eyes glowing brighter.
"Great," I muttered under my breath. "A deadly obstacle course. Just what I needed."
The next platform was farther away, and it was moving faster. I hesitated, but the hum pulsed insistently, pushing me forward.
I leaped, my heart in my throat, and landed hard on the platform. It wobbled under my weight, but I managed to stay upright.
"Not bad," I said to myself, trying to ignore the fact that I was talking to no one.
The symbols changed, pointing to a series of platforms that spiraled upward. The creature's voice echoed in my mind. **"Do not hesitate. Trust the bond."**
"I don't even know what that means!" I shouted, but the hum answered for me, pushing me onward.
I leaped from platform to platform, each jump more precarious than the last. The wind howled around me, and the ground below seemed impossibly far away.
Finally, I reached the top—a glowing platform with a single, pulsing symbol at its center. I stepped onto it, breathing hard, and the hum grew deafening.
The creature appeared before me, its form towering and unyielding. **"You have proven your resolve. Now, prove your control."**
Before I could ask what it meant, the platform beneath me shattered, and I fell.
The air rushed past me, and panic surged in my chest. But then, the hum returned, calming me. I closed my eyes and reached out, not with my hands, but with my mind.
The creature's presence was there, like a massive storm pressing against my thoughts. I focused, pushing through the chaos, and felt the bond snap into place.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't falling anymore. The creature had caught me, its massive claws cradling me like I weighed nothing.
It set me down gently, lowering its head in what almost seemed like a bow. **"You are the Conductor. The bond is yours to wield."**
The glowing symbols faded, and the creature's form began to dissolve into light.
"Wait!" I called out. "What happens now?"
Its voice echoed as it disappeared. **"Now, you must decide who you are."**
The light faded, and the world shifted again.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the forest. Ember and Kael were staring at me, their faces a mix of relief and confusion.
"What just happened?" Ember demanded.
Kael stepped forward, his gaze steady. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, my legs shaking beneath me. "Yeah. I think… I think I just made a new friend."
Behind me, a faint shimmer of light lingered in the air, and I knew the bond wasn't just in my mind. It was real—and it had only just begun.