Sixty days since Kael had entered the Mad Monk's lair.
Sixty long, brutal days of solitude, training and mental torture. The walls had become a prison and a forge, forcing him to confront his weaknesses and shape his potential into steel.
But today the trial within these walls was done.
Kael stood at the door of the lair, his dark-blade in his hand.
Out there, beyond the ruin, were the remaining pieces of the idol—the key to completing this trial and getting out of this hellhole.
But first, there was one more thing.
They hadn't left.
For weeks they had hung around the outside of the lair, their voices dripping with lies and poison.
They had spoken to him with human faces and voices, trying to get him to come out.
Today he was going to answer their call.
