The Dawn in Ashborne Duchy was somber, the sun's rays struggling to pierce the perpetual clouds. Kael adjusted the ceremonial garments Lysandra had left for him: a black tunic embroidered with silver threads that marked his position as the heir. Though his face remained calm, his mind was a storm.
Kevin knew exactly what the Ceremony of Awakening entailed. He had played this part of the game countless times: the Ashborne heir would awaken his magical affinity through the Dark Crystal, an artifact passed down through generations of his family. The ceremony defined an individual's power and, for Kael, heralded the beginning of his inevitable downfall.
But being here, facing it in person, was different. The castle's shadows, the heavy air of anticipation, Lysandra's cryptic words... everything felt overwhelmingly real.
"Young master, are you ready?" Lysandra asked from the doorway, her tone as impassive as ever.
"Yes, lead me to the hall," Kael replied, his calmness an act of sheer determination.
The Hall of Awakening was exactly as Kevin remembered it: a circular room with black stone walls etched with ancient inscriptions, illuminated by an ethereal blue glow. At its center, the Dark Crystal pulsed slowly, as if it were alive.
Duke Edrian awaited at the base of the pedestal, as imposing as ever. Around him stood the Ashborne family mages, clad in ceremonial robes, watching in silence. Kevin recognized several of them from later game events, a realization that sent chills down his spine.
"Step forward, Kael," the duke commanded, his voice firm and unwavering.
Kevin recalled this scene as a pivotal cutscene in the game. But now, every step toward the crystal felt agonizingly slow, as if time itself had stretched.
"Place your hands on the crystal and allow the Aether to flow through you," instructed one of the mages.
Kevin knew what was coming. In the game, the screen would go dark as players selected abilities and specializations. But here, the moment his hands touched the crystal, a wave of icy energy surged through him, stealing his breath.
Kevin awoke in a void, a vast abyss of shadows. This segment of the game wasn't interactive; it simply showed images explaining that Kael was confronting his inner darkness. But now, Kevin was living through that darkness.
"Heir of Ashborne, are you prepared to accept your fate?" a deep voice echoed through the void.
Kevin turned, searching for the source of the voice, though he already knew what it was: the Fragment of Shadows, an entity tied to his family's ancestral power.
"I know who you are," he replied firmly.
The voice let out a low, menacing laugh.
"Do you truly? Theory is one thing; facing me is another entirely."
From the abyss emerged humanoid figures—shadows with crimson eyes. In the game, Kael "purified" these shadows to gain control of his magic. But Kevin knew this would be far more intense.
The shadows attacked, and Kevin instinctively raised his hands. A spark of dark energy shot from his palms, disintegrating one of the figures. Yet more shadows charged at him.
"I am not weak!" he shouted, struggling to stay on his feet as a crushing pressure threatened to overwhelm him.
He remembered how Kael overcame this trial in the game: by accepting the darkness as a part of himself. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and allowed the shadows to engulf him.
"I won't run. I am Kael Ashborne, and I will claim what is mine."
A burst of dark energy illuminated the abyss, scattering the shadows. The Fragment of Shadows spoke again, its tone heavier.
"You have proven your worth. But remember, power always comes at a price."