Kael's heart raced as the serpentine constructs of light and shadow lunged toward him and Lira. Their glowing eyes radiated malice, and their fangs shimmered with deadly energy. The shimmerholt forest was alive with chaos, the silver threads of its trees vibrating in discordant waves.
"Stay behind me!" Kael shouted, his hands instinctively reaching out. He felt the Loom of Eternity stir within him, threads of light appearing at his fingertips.
Lira rolled her eyes but stayed close, her dagger poised. "You better have a plan, Kael, or we're about to become snake food!"
Kael focused on the approaching constructs, their forms shimmering with unstable energy. He visualized the threads binding them together, unraveling the chaos in his mind. With a sharp motion, he wove a barrier of light between them, the threads snapping into place like a tightly woven net.
The first construct crashed into the barrier, its body disintegrating into harmless threads. The second twisted around the net, lunging at Lira. She ducked and slashed at its side, her blade finding resistance against its woven form.
"Kael!" she shouted, sidestepping another strike.
Kael extended his hand, pulling at the threads of the construct attacking Lira. Its body unraveled midair, the threads dissipating into the forest.
"Two down," Kael muttered, his breath labored. "How many more of these things are there?"
The cloaked figure at the base of the spire raised its hands, summoning three more constructs from the fraying threads of the shimmerholt. Its glowing eyes bore into Kael, its voice resonating with disdain.
"You meddle with forces beyond your comprehension, Bearer. Your threads are weak."
Kael gritted his teeth, ignoring the taunt. He could feel the Loom's power coursing through him, but it was draining fast. Each weave demanded precision, focus, and a part of his strength.
"We're not going to last long at this rate," Lira said, stepping beside him.
Kael's gaze flicked to the spire, its fractured surface still pulsing with light. The threads radiating from it seemed to lead back into the heart of the shimmerholt, connecting the forest to its core.
"There's got to be a way to stabilize this place," Kael said, his mind racing. "The spire—it's the key. If we can restore the threads there, it might stop these attacks."
Lira nodded. "Then let's move. But you'll need to hold these things off."
Kael summoned a whip of shimmering threads, lashing it at the constructs to keep them at bay. "Go! I'll catch up!"
Lira hesitated for a moment before sprinting toward the spire, her figure disappearing into the forest's glowing haze.
The constructs closed in, their movements faster and more coordinated. Kael's whip cracked through the air, striking one construct and unraveling part of its form, but the others circled him, their attacks relentless.
"You think you can test me?" Kael growled, his frustration boiling over. He reached deeper into the Loom's power, threads of light and shadow intertwining around him. With a sweeping motion, he unleashed a wave of energy that knocked the constructs back.
The cloaked figure watched in silence, its expression unreadable.
"You are reckless," it said, its voice calm yet scornful. "The Loom is not a weapon of destruction. It is a tool of creation. Learn this, or you will fail."
Kael's pulse quickened. The figure's words stung, but they carried a truth he couldn't ignore. The Loom wasn't meant to be wielded like a sword—it was something more profound.
Drawing a deep breath, Kael steadied his mind. Instead of attacking, he focused on the constructs, their forms bound by unstable threads. He visualized the threads dissolving, not by force, but by guiding them back into harmony with the shimmerholt.
The constructs faltered, their bodies flickering. Kael reached out, weaving the loose threads into the forest's glowing tapestry. The constructs dissolved completely, their energy absorbed back into the shimmerholt.
Kael staggered, his energy nearly spent, but the forest grew quieter. The whispers turned melodic once more, and the silver trees ceased their trembling.
"Better," the cloaked figure said, stepping closer. "But your trial is not over."
Kael raised his head, his legs shaky. "What now?"
The figure gestured toward the spire, where Lira stood at its entrance, waving at him. "The Loom's true test lies within. Your companion cannot aid you there."
Kael glanced at Lira, then back at the figure. "If this is about proving myself, fine. But if you hurt her or my crew—"
"You misunderstand," the figure interrupted. "The Loom tests not your strength, but your heart. Enter, Bearer, and face the truth of your threads."
Kael hesitated, but the pull of the spire was undeniable. He turned to Lira, shouting, "Stay outside! If anything happens, get back to the Driftfire!"
Lira frowned but nodded. "Just don't get yourself killed, Threadspinner."
Kael approached the spire, its circular entrance glowing faintly. The whispers returned, soft and inviting. With a final glance at Lira, he stepped inside, the light enveloping him.
The air shifted instantly. He was no longer in the shimmerholt but a vast expanse of endless threads stretching in every direction. The ground beneath him was firm yet intangible, a weave of light that pulsed with his every step.
At the center of the expanse stood a mirror-like surface, reflecting not Kael's face, but countless versions of himself—some strong and confident, others broken and scarred.
"Choose," the Keeper's voice echoed. "Which thread will you weave into your destiny?"
Kael stared at the reflections, his heart pounding. The trial had truly begun.
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End of Chapter 15