The first time Kairo saw the Abyssal Boundary, it was in his dreams. He had woken drenched in sweat, the vision lingering like a bruise on his mind. But now, as he stood at the edge of the ravine, staring into the swirling, inky darkness, he realized his dreams had only shown him a fragment of the truth.
"This is it?" he asked, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to sound calm.
Zephyr stood beside him, his silver rod glinting faintly in the dim light. "The Abyssal Boundary," he said. "A fracture between our world and the Abyss. It is where shadows are born and where their power is strongest."
Kairo swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the writhing darkness below. It seemed alive, pulsating with a malevolent energy that made his skin crawl. "And you brought me here because...?"
"To test you," Zephyr said simply.
"Of course," Kairo muttered, glancing at him. "You couldn't just ease me into it?"
Zephyr smirked faintly. "There is no easing into the Abyss, Kairo. Either you face it, or it consumes you."
The words settled over him like a weight, but Kairo squared his shoulders, forcing himself to breathe deeply. He had survived Zephyr's relentless training, faced down shadows, and learned to harness the Aegis. He could handle this.
Couldn't he?
Zephyr motioned for Kairo to step forward. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, scattered with jagged rocks and patches of brittle grass. The air grew colder as they approached the edge of the ravine, and the faint hum of the Abyssal energy grew louder, resonating in Kairo's chest.
"You will descend alone," Zephyr said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Kairo's head snapped toward him. "Wait, what?"
"The Abyss tests each individual differently," Zephyr explained. "Your trial will be your own, shaped by your fears, your doubts, and your will to overcome them."
"You're seriously just going to stand up here and watch?" Kairo asked, his frustration bubbling over.
Zephyr's gaze was steady. "You are ready, Kairo. You just don't believe it yet."
Kairo opened his mouth to argue, but the words caught in his throat. He glanced back at the ravine, his chest tightening. The thought of descending into that swirling darkness alone made his stomach churn, but a small voice in the back of his mind whispered that Zephyr was right.
He had faced worse.
Hadn't he?
With a deep breath, Kairo stepped closer to the edge, the golden energy stirring faintly within him. The Abyss seemed to respond, its darkness writhing more violently as if sensing his presence.
"Any last-minute advice?" he asked, his voice tight.
Zephyr's lips twitched in what might have been a smile. "Trust yourself. And remember, light is born in the darkest places."
"Great. Cryptic as always," Kairo muttered, shaking his head.
He took one final breath and stepped into the darkness.
The descent was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and the golden warmth in his chest flickered as though struggling against the oppressive energy around him. Shadows coiled and twisted around him, whispering unintelligible words that crawled under his skin.
"Kairo..."
The whisper cut through the noise, soft but unmistakable. He froze, his heart pounding.
"Who's there?" he called, his voice echoing into the void.
No answer.
He pressed on, his steps slow and cautious. The ground beneath him felt unstable, shifting with each movement. The whispers grew louder, forming words now, though their meaning was still unclear.
"Kairo... you can't save her..."
The voice made his blood run cold. "Stop it," he said, his hands clenching into fists.
"She believes in you..." the voice continued, dripping with disdain. "How foolish..."
Kairo's chest tightened, the weight of the words pressing down on him. He could feel the shadows closing in, feeding on his fear, his doubt.
"Enough!" he shouted, summoning the golden energy. It flared to life, pushing back the darkness, though only temporarily.
The shadows hissed, their forms flickering at the edges of his vision. He pressed on, his steps quicker now, his mind racing.
"I won't let you win," he muttered, his voice filled with determination.
The Abyss didn't answer, but the darkness seemed to grow thicker, heavier, as though testing his resolve.
Kairo clenched his jaw, forcing himself to breathe steadily. Zephyr's words echoed in his mind: Light is born in the darkest places.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the golden warmth within him. It pulsed faintly, steady and reassuring. He let it grow, let it spread through his body until it surrounded him like a cocoon.
When he opened his eyes, the darkness was still there, but it seemed less overwhelming now. The whispers faded, replaced by a profound silence.
Kairo took another step forward, his resolve strengthening. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he would face it.
He had to.