The air was still now in the Chamber of Balance, and the weight of the trials weighed no longer upon Aeron's shoulders. In the middle, he breathed easily, not moving; yet, his mind was a maelstrom. The trials that had tested his strength, his control, and his resolve-what to do next, though?
Aeryn watched him closely, her gaze unreadable as ever. "The trials are over, but your path is far from complete. You've proven your strength in all the elements, and you've faced the darkness within yourself. But the real challenges begin now."
Aeron nodded, still trying to comprehend the enormity of his entire experience. The lessons of the trials replayed themselves in his mind, each a part of a puzzle he had not yet fully deciphered. He knew he wasn't the same man that had entered that room for the first time. But was it enough?
What now?" he asked; his voice was smooth, though revealing a burgeoning undercurrent of urgency.
For a flash, softening, Aeryn's eyes sparkled with compassion as she spoke again. "It is now time to create your future. The world beyond these walls is not kind, Aeron. Groups, gods, and the Aether itself-the great game is all in, and you are part of it. Your way has been chosen, yet it is yours to choose which way forward to go.
Her words fell heavily upon him, for the outside world was big, dangerous, and teemed with so many enemies that he was yet to face. The challenges were just the beginning, really. What did it all mean? The challenges gave him power, gave him control over the elements, and gave him awareness of himself-but what was the bottom line? Was there more to his life than getting stronger?
"You have learned to manage the elements, but now you have to learn to manage the groups' powers," Aeryn continued, knowing his thoughts. "There are many groups, and each of them has its goals and plans. Some of them will perceive your power as a threat. Others will want to use you. You have to tread with great care in that direction. It is not really about overcoming your adversaries; it is all about finding your place in this world.
Aeron's mind was racing as he listened to her words. There was the pressure of responsibility weighing upon him, yet not in any way a heavy burden from which there was no means of escape. No, this felt altogether different. It was a weight of choice: whom to ally with, which causes to support, which to oppose. Yet the price for those choices would be high.
Everything changed in an instant. The earth beneath his feet started to shake and tremble, filled with electric air. In front of him, a portal flared into visibility, eerily lit with some sort of Otherworldly energy, beckoning him with a whispered call to draw closer.
"Don't go into that portal yet," Aeryn warned, speaking sharply. "That's a rift to the world beyond the trials—the place where the factions work. It's a dangerous place, full of political tricks, lies, and just about any kind of enemy that would do absolutely anything to see you fail.
Aeron turned to her, all determination in his eyes. "I am ready, I have learned all that I can here. Whatever dangers are in the outside world, I will face them.".
The hardness in Aeryn's gaze softened, and she smiled barely. "You have grown, Aeron. You've learned the most vital lesson: these trials, the battles-it isn't about them; it's all about your choices. How you walk the world, using your power-that is going to define you. So, choose well.
Aeron didn't wait. One step towards the portal and the air around him buzzed-impassive power pulsed with every heartbeat of the rift. He knew that weight would be heavy upon him for his decision, and he knew he had passed the point of no return.
Where he passed, the world had shattered and fallen, and there had been the room no more but another one standing in its place, full of darkness and light, where the powers and their politics warred in hazardous ways.
It soon transpired that Aeron's eyes adapted to the shifting prospect before him. The world past the shimmering portal was dark, the sky above slate gray, with stone towers reaching up to it as if in an attempt to scratch the clouds. Earth shattered and uneven, with rivulets of molten lava running across the surface as lifeblood, heavy with portent was the air, as if everything around him was ready to break apart.
Aeryn's voice echoed in his mind: "This is it, the world of rise and fall of groups; here is where you'll find your real challenges. Choose your way and get ready to defend it.".
He breathed in deeply, feeling the strength of nature rise in him, reflecting on what he had done; but even with merely possessing power, one needed friends and a plan.
As he moved ahead, the sound of marching feet filled the air. To his vision, a group of armored people appeared on the horizon, their outlines contrasting vividly against the dark sky. They were coming towards him, and Aeron readied for a fight with breathtaking rapidity. His hand went to the sword at his side, ready for whatever would happen next.
But the closer they got, the more he was aware that they were not common soldiers but agents, elite fighters from one of those numerous fractions controlling this part of the world, whose eyes shone with a sparkle of uncertainty, staring at his face and something of an aura of power from him.
One of the agents stepped forward - the tallest of them, draped in a dark mantle and helmed so that his face was not seen. The greeting was cold, yet curiously courteous:.
"You're the one they call Aeron," he told him calmly. "We know it's tough; the elements are surely strong, but they mean nothing without a reason. What is your reason, Aeron? What is it that you want in this shattered world?
Aeron wore a quite serious countenance now. Time for some answers, and he wasn't just a man made from challenge and nature alone; he had grown into a potent force that helped contribute to his making in this hard world.
"I'd like to find the truth," Aeron said; his voice was firm. "The truth about my power. The truth about this world. And I'll find it, whatever it takes."
The agent's eyes narrowed, his expression reflecting on what he had just said, and he nodded slightly to indicate that others should fall back.
"You are courageous," the agent said in a hushed tone. "But the truth can be dangerous, Aeron. And sometimes, it is better not to know."
His eyes met Aeron's without wavering. "Then I will face that danger. Whatever it takes. The agent stared at him a long time before turning and motioning for Aeron to follow. "Come," said the agent, "we will take you to the Council. They are waiting for you."