Kael and his companions moved away from the spire, its ominous shadow shrinking as they descended further into the barren valley. The oppressive silence persisted, but now it carried an air of solemnity, as though the land itself mourned what the trial had uncovered.
Seryn walked beside Kael, her gaze flicking between him and the horizon. "That wasn't just a test of power," she said, breaking the silence. "It was a warning."
Kael nodded, his grip on his staff tightening. "The reflection… it said the Veil weakens with every trial. That I might be the cause of its collapse."
"Do you believe that?" Seryn asked, her voice calm but pointed.
Kael hesitated, the memory of his reflection's taunts fresh in his mind. "I don't want to. But if it's true, I need to find a way to stop it."
"We need to stop it," Seryn corrected, her tone firm. "This isn't just your burden, Kael. We're in this together."
Lira glanced over her shoulder, her voice cutting through the tension. "As touching as this is, can we not have a heart-to-heart in the middle of a death valley? The Council's probably already tracking us."
"She's right," Mareth said, her sword resting on her shoulder. "We need to put as much distance between us and that spire as we can."
The terrain grew more treacherous as they ventured deeper into the valley, jagged rocks jutting out like the bones of some long-forgotten beast. The Crown's hum had softened to a near-silent pulse, a subtle reassurance that they were still on the right path.
"How much farther until the next trial?" Mareth asked, breaking the silence.
Kael shook his head. "I don't know. The Crown's not giving me anything clear yet."
"Good," Lira muttered, sidestepping a loose rock. "After what happened back there, I'm fine with a little breathing room."
The group pressed on, the shadows of the cliffs lengthening as the day waned. The air grew colder, carrying with it a faint, metallic tang that set Kael's nerves on edge.
"Do you smell that?" he asked, his voice low.
Seryn's eyes narrowed as she scanned their surroundings. "Blood. Fresh."
Mareth unsheathed her sword, her stance tense. "We're not alone."
The source of the scent revealed itself as they rounded a jagged outcrop. A small campsite lay ahead, its scattered remains painted in crimson. Broken weapons and torn cloth littered the ground, the aftermath of a violent struggle.
Lira crouched beside a bloodied blade, her fingers brushing the hilt. "Council gear," she said, her tone grim. "Whoever did this wasn't subtle."
"Or merciful," Mareth added, her eyes scanning the cliffs for movement. "Stay sharp. This could be a trap."
Kael stepped closer, the Crown's hum quickening as he approached the center of the campsite. A faint trail of energy lingered in the air, leading away from the scene and into the shadows.
"There's something here," he said, following the invisible thread.
Seryn's hand rested on her blade as she moved beside him. "It could be bait."
"Or a clue," Kael countered, his voice steady. "We need to know what happened here."
The trail led them to the mouth of a narrow cave, its entrance hidden beneath an overhang of jagged rock. The air inside was cool and still, the faint glow of runes illuminating the walls in soft, shifting patterns.
"This place looks old," Lira said, her voice echoing softly. "Older than the spire."
Kael's mark pulsed faintly, the Crown's energy resonating with the runes. "It's connected to the Veil. Whatever happened out there might have started here."
As they ventured deeper into the cave, the walls began to shift, the runes forming intricate patterns that seemed to ripple like water. The faint sound of whispers grew louder, their words indistinct but filled with an urgency that set Kael's pulse racing.
"Do you hear that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mareth nodded, her grip tightening on her sword. "It's coming from ahead."
The passage opened into a wide chamber, its floor covered in shallow pools of glowing liquid that reflected the runes on the ceiling. At the center of the room stood a figure cloaked in shadow, their form wreathed in tendrils of dark energy.
Kael froze, his staff glowing as he prepared to channel the Crown's power. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice steady.
The figure turned, their glowing eyes locking onto his. "Bearer of the Crown," they said, their voice a low rasp. "You tread where few dare to walk. But do you truly understand the path you've chosen?"
Kael stepped forward, his companions forming a protective line behind him. "I understand enough," he said. "Enough to know that stopping the Veil's collapse is the only way to save this world."
The figure chuckled, a hollow sound that echoed through the chamber. "The Veil is not yours to save, nor is its collapse yours to prevent. You walk a path that leads only to ruin."
"Then why are you here?" Seryn demanded, her blades at the ready.
The figure raised a hand, the dark energy around them coalescing into a swirling mass. "To test your resolve. To see if you are worthy of the power you wield."
The energy surged forward, filling the chamber with a blinding light as the trial began.