Kael remained seated for a few more minutes, allowing his breathing to return to normal. His muscles ached, and his ribs—where the Manticore had struck him—throbbed with sharp pain at every movement. However, he knew he couldn't linger for long. The third objective awaited him, and if he had learned anything from this trial, it was that things only got harder with time.
The golden orb hovered beside him, its light flickering slightly, as if trying to remind him that the trial was far from over.
"I know," Kael murmured, forcing himself to his feet and adjusting his sword at his waist.
The floating map reappeared before him, showing the path to the final marker. According to the orb's description, the sealed obelisk was waiting there. Obelisks were ancient relics imbued with arcane magic, and unlocking one often required a combination of intellect, magical power, and a touch of intuition.
The journey to the obelisk was calmer than the previous ones but no less unnerving. The forest seemed to have fallen into absolute silence after the Manticore's disappearance. Every crunch beneath his boots and the whisper of the wind through the leaves felt amplified in the dense, heavy air.
After walking for a few minutes, Kael arrived at a clearing surrounded by tall stone pillars covered in ancient inscriptions. At the center stood the obelisk, a black and massive structure that emitted a faint purple glow. The place exuded an intense, oppressive energy that sent shivers down Kael's spine.
"Candidate Kael Ashborne," the orb announced, "the third objective is to activate the sealed obelisk. This process will test your ability to synchronize your magical energy with the arcane patterns engraved on the structure. Failure may result in immediate expulsion… or more severe consequences."
"That's reassuring," Kael replied sarcastically, though the tension in his voice was evident.
He cautiously approached the obelisk, examining the inscriptions covering its surface. He recognized some of the symbols—they were ancient runes used to channel magical energy. However, there were also markings he had never seen before, adding to the complexity of the task.
The orb floated beside him, projecting a series of glowing lines onto the obelisk's surface, forming an intricate pattern.
"You must replicate this pattern using your magical energy," it explained. "Each line must be traced with precision. Any deviation will result in an energy overload."
Kael took a deep breath and extended his hand toward the obelisk. Closing his eyes, he began to focus on his affinity with shadows, letting the energy flow from within him to his fingers. The initial lines were relatively easy to trace; the shadows responded to his will, forming dark threads that slid across the runes.
But as he progressed, the lines became more complex, and the patterns more intricate. Each mistake in his tracing triggered a reaction from the obelisk, sending out bursts of energy that forced Kael to step back to avoid being hit.
"Focus," he muttered to himself, gritting his teeth as he tried again.
The pressure mounted with each failed attempt, but Kael refused to give in to panic. He remembered the lessons from the game: the key to overcoming the obelisks was maintaining a steady rhythm and not letting frustration take over.
Finally, just as he was about to complete the pattern, something strange happened. The obelisk began to emit a deep sound, like a heartbeat, and the lines he had traced lit up with an intense purple glow.
"Warning: the obelisk is reacting to an external energy source," the orb said, its tone more urgent than before. "Maintain control, or the trial will be invalidated."
Kael frowned, feeling the obelisk's energy push back against him, as though it were trying to destabilize his efforts.
"I... won't let it," he growled, strengthening his connection to the shadows.
He channeled more energy than he thought he had, forcing the lines to stay in place as he completed the final stroke. At that moment, the obelisk released a burst of light that illuminated the entire clearing, forcing Kael to shield his eyes.
When the light faded, the obelisk was active, emitting a steady, calming glow. Kael staggered backward, exhausted but satisfied.
The orb reappeared before him, emitting a faint hum.
"Objective complete. The trial is now finished."
Kael let out a sigh of relief, allowing exhaustion to overtake him. Though he had passed the second part of the entrance exam, he knew the most challenging part was still ahead.