The training yard was quiet in the early morning. Just before dawn, the sky was beginning to get lighter. There was a light smell of wet soil in the cool air.
I stood in the middle of the yard, the Shadowbane Blade hidden away at my side. I held Velzithar, its dark metal shining a little in the low light. The sword throbbed in my hands, a gentle reminder to me of the presence that now lived in my mind.
"Is this what you think is a real test?" Velzithar's voice echoed in my head, sounding a bit funny. "Hitting straw dummies and wooden targets?"
"It's called warming up," I said out loud, changing my stance. "Not everything has to be about life or death."
"Life or death is the only real test," she said, sounding both fun and serious. "If you want to get my full power, you have to do more than just cut through hay."
I rolled my eyes. "Let me guess. You have an idea?"
Velzithar's energy glowed, and I felt a slight humming from the blade. "There is a test," she said, her voice getting a little softer. "A way to show how strong our bond is. But it has some dangers."
"Why am I not surprised?" I said quietly.
"Because you're beginning to understand," she said with a laugh.
I put the sword down, touching the tip to the ground as I thought about what she said. A test to show our bond. It seemed reasonable—our connection could be strong enough to use her, but if there was more power to find, I wasn't going to give up.
"What kind of test are we talking about?" I asked.
"A test of blood," she said plainly. "We must confront a version of ourselves—a symbol of doubt, weakness, and the connections that tie us to the past."
Her words gave me a cold feeling. "What will happen if I fail?"
"Then our connection will break," she said, her voice becoming serious. "And I will go back to sleep, waiting for a master deserving of my power."
The weight of her words felt heavy on me, but I didn't show it. "Okay," I said, holding the hilt tightly. "How do we begin?"
Velzithar's energy throbbed again, and the red veins on the blade glowed softly. "Shut your eyes," she said. "And let me lead you."
I just hesitated for a second before I obeyed. The world disappeared from my sight as I closed my eyes and the noises of the training yard became silent.
When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer in the yard.
The landscape was desolate, a barren wasteland of jagged rocks and ash that stretched as far as the eye could see. The sky was a swirling mass of dark clouds, streaked with crimson light. The air was heavy, thick with a sense of dread that made my skin crawl.
"Welcome to the Trial of Souls," Velzithar said, her voice echoing in the vast emptiness. "This place exists between realms—a reflection of your spirit and mine."
"Cheerful," I muttered, scanning the horizon.
"You'll feel differently soon enough," she said. "Your opponent approaches."
I turned, gripping my sword tightly as a figure emerged from the darkness. At first, I could hardly see it-the shape was covered in black smoke, and it moved in a smooth and careful way.
When the smoke cleared, I froze.
It was me.
The figure looked just like me, with every little detail. But something was off—its eyes shone with a strange red light, and its face showed a mean smirk.
"Your doubts," Velzithar said quietly. "Your failures. Everything you are afraid of about yourself, made real."
The copy of me lifted a sword—an exact copy of Velzithar, its red glow brighter and scarier than mine.
"Great," I said under my breath. "So I'm fighting myself?"
"Not quite," Velzithar said. "You are battling the worst parts of yourself. If you do not overcome them, you will not leave this place alive."
The doppelgänger attacked suddenly, moving quickly and accurately. I just managed to lift Velzithar in time to block the strike, and the sound of steel hitting steel was loud like thunder.
The power of the hit made me stumble back, my arms shaking from the impact.
"Pay attention," Velzithar said, her voice clear. "This is not just about being strong. Believe in the connection, or you will lose."
I took a deep breath, my thoughts moving quickly. The doppelgänger's attacks kept coming, each one quicker and more accurate than the one before. It was like battling a mirror that anticipated every move I was going to make.
But it wasn't just about strength. If Velzithar was right, the key to winning wasn't brute force—it was trust.
I closed my eyes, letting the bond between us guide my movements. The next strike came, and this time, I sidestepped it with ease.
The doppelgänger hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing as it circled me.
"Better," Velzithar said, a note of approval in her voice.
I didn't respond, focusing instead on the rhythm of the fight. Each movement felt smoother, more deliberate, as if Velzithar and I were moving as one.
The tide began to turn. My strikes grew faster, each one driving the doppelgänger back step by step. Its smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of doubt.
With one final spasm of energy, I drove Velzithar into the chest of the doppelgänger. The blade bit deep, and the red veins glowed brightly as the figure let out one last, harsh scream.
The world around me shattered like glass, and the empty wasteland disappeared completely.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the training yard. Velzithar was in my hand, her energy warm and strong.
"Good job," she said, her voice gentler than I had ever heard. "The connection is better now. But there is still more to understand."
I took a shaky breath, the pressure of the test weighing on me. "Yes," I said. "One step at a time."