Talon stood frozen in the clearing, his eyes locked on the cloaked figure. His mind struggled to grasp what had just happened, the words echoing in his head like a curse. "The heart of the Rift does not simply give answers. It gives choices." The weight of those words settled on his shoulders, heavier than the air itself.
A choice.
What kind of choice? He hadn't come this far to be given another riddle to solve. His fists clenched, frustration bubbling inside him. Was this the Rift's way of testing him again, pushing him to his limit?
But before he could speak, the figure raised its hand once more, its voice cutting through the chaos of his thoughts. "You have done well to reach this point, Talon. But you must understand, not all paths are meant for everyone. The Rift knows your heart, your desires. It knows what you fear, and what you crave."
Talon swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath. The words felt like they were invading his mind, digging into the very core of him. What did the Rift know about him? Was this figure simply toying with him, or was there truth behind its cryptic words?
"I didn't come here to play games," Talon said, his voice more forceful than he expected. "I came to find the truth. I came to find out what's really going on."
The figure remained silent, its face still hidden in the depths of the hood. But Talon could feel its presence, pressing against him, testing him.
"I don't want riddles," Talon continued. "I don't want cryptic messages. I want answers. Now."
For a moment, the air grew still. The humming ceased, and the runes on the structure seemed to dim, as if they were watching, waiting. Then, the figure spoke again, its voice a soft murmur that seemed to resonate with the very ground beneath Talon's feet.
"You want answers. You think that is all you seek." The figure took a step forward, and Talon instinctively stepped back. "But the truth, Talon, is not always what you expect. It will cost you, and it will change you."
Talon shook his head, unwilling to back down. "I'm ready for whatever it takes."
The figure seemed to consider his words, its head tilting slightly. "Are you? Very well." It reached out, a single finger grazing the air before it. As it did, the stone structure before them shuddered, the ground cracking beneath their feet.
A deep rumble filled the air as the structure split, revealing a darkened corridor within. The pulse of energy was now a violent rhythm, like the beating of a heart in a world that had long since stopped breathing.
"Enter, and you will be faced with the choice," the figure intoned, its voice now deep and resonant. "The path you take will determine what lies ahead. The Rift knows all, but it does not decide for you. It can only show you what you are truly capable of."
Talon hesitated. The opening before him was dark, consuming, the air thick with an overwhelming sense of inevitability. He could feel the weight of the Rift pressing in on him. His heart pounded, each beat deafening in the silence.
He took a breath. It wasn't just about surviving anymore. It was about confronting whatever lay ahead, about discovering who he truly was. This choice would define him, no matter how terrifying it felt. There was no going back. Not now.
He stepped forward, his footfall firm and deliberate. The darkness swallowed him whole. As he entered the corridor, the figure's voice followed him, distant yet still present.
"Remember, Talon, the Rift reveals what you are. It is not for the faint of heart."
The walls of the corridor closed in around him, and the glow of the stone runes faded to a dim whisper. Talon felt the pulse of the Rift grow quieter, almost as if the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for what would come next.
He could only hope he was ready.