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The air in the Underforge grew colder as the shadowy figures circled Kael, their forms flickering like dying flames. Each step they took seemed to draw the light from his surroundings, plunging the area into deeper darkness. Kael's breathing quickened, and his heart pounded like a drum in his chest.
Caden stepped back, his expression hard. "This is your Trial, Kael. I cannot interfere. Whatever happens here… it's up to you."
Kael shot him a glance, his voice edged with frustration. "What do I do? Fight them? Run? What is this?"
Caden's gaze didn't waver. "The Trial of Reflection. It's not about fighting them, Kael. It's about facing them. And that might be the hardest battle you've ever fought."
Before Kael could question him further, one of the shadowy figures stepped forward. Its form began to shift and morph, solidifying into something eerily familiar. Kael's blood ran cold as he stared at the figure now standing before him.
It was him.
The shadow had taken on his appearance, but there was something deeply unsettling about it. The reflection was twisted—its eyes hollow and its smile cruel. It stood tall and confident, exuding a dark aura that made Kael feel small in comparison.
The shadow spoke, its voice a distorted echo of his own. "You think you're strong, Kael? You think you can master the shadows? You're nothing but a coward, clinging to power you don't understand."
Kael's fists clenched. "You're not real. You're just a trick of this place."
The shadow's smile widened. "Oh, I'm real enough. I'm the part of you that you've buried—the part you refuse to acknowledge. I'm your doubt, your fear, your weakness. And you can't escape me."
Kael took a step back, his mind racing. The shadow lunged at him, moving faster than he could react. Its hand closed around his throat, and Kael gasped as a wave of icy coldness flooded his body.
"You can't outrun me, Kael," the shadow hissed. "I am you. And I'm stronger than you'll ever be."
Kael struggled against the shadow's grip, his mind swirling with panic. But then, Umbrael's voice echoed in his thoughts, cold and detached.
"This is the price of the Eclipse Chain, Kael. To wield its power, you must confront your own darkness. If you falter here, you will be consumed."
Kael gritted his teeth, focusing on the shadows that still flickered faintly around him. He summoned their power, forcing them to lash out at the shadow gripping him. The tendrils struck true, and the figure recoiled, releasing him.
Kael stumbled back, gasping for air. "You're wrong," he said, his voice shaking. "I'm not weak. I've made it this far—I've survived."
The shadow tilted its head, its hollow eyes gleaming. "Survived? Is that what you call this?"
It gestured, and the other figures surrounding Kael began to shift and transform. One by one, they took on familiar shapes: the faces of people he had known and failed to save.
The travelers from the forest. His mentor from the village. The girl from his past—the one he couldn't protect.
Their voices rose in a cacophony of accusations, each word cutting deeper than any blade.
"You left us to die, Kael."
"You weren't strong enough."
"Why didn't you save me?"
Kael dropped to his knees, clutching his head as the voices grew louder and louder. The weight of their words pressed down on him, threatening to crush him.
The shadow version of himself loomed over him, its smile triumphant. "You see? This is who you are, Kael. A failure. A coward. You don't deserve the power you've been given."
Kael's vision blurred, and for a moment, he felt like giving up. The darkness was overwhelming, suffocating.
But then, a memory surfaced.
It was the moment he had first drawn upon the shadows to save the travelers. The fear he had felt, the determination to protect them at all costs. The look of relief on their faces as he told them to run.
He hadn't failed them. He had fought for them.
Kael clenched his fists, forcing himself to his feet. The voices still swirled around him, but he blocked them out, focusing on the truth in his heart.
"I'm not a failure," he said, his voice steady. "I've made mistakes, but I've also fought to protect those I care about. I won't let you define me."
The shadow hissed, its form flickering. "You think words will save you? You can't escape what you are."
Kael took a step forward, his shadow tendrils swirling around him. "You're right. I can't escape what I am. But I can choose who I become."
With that, he thrust his hands forward, sending a surge of shadow energy into the twisted version of himself. The figure screamed as the energy consumed it, its form disintegrating into a cloud of black mist.
The other shadows followed, their shapes dissolving one by one until the clearing was empty.
Kael stood there, breathing heavily, as the oppressive weight lifted. He turned to Caden, who was watching him with a faint smile.
"You passed," Caden said simply.
Kael frowned. "That was it? Facing… myself?"
Caden shook his head. "That was just the first step. The Trial of Reflection forces you to confront your doubts and fears. The shadows feed on weakness, Kael. You proved you're strong enough to stand against them. But this is far from over."
Kael glanced at his hands, the faint traces of shadow still flickering around his fingers. "What's next?"
Caden's expression grew serious. "The Trial of Sacrifice. Prepare yourself, Kael. The shadows aren't done with you yet."