In the old district of Eidenhall, where the past lingered in every corner and shadows whispered forgotten secrets, Marlin and Ryan walked through the narrow alleys. The air was cold, thick with the scent of damp stone and flickering gas lamps. They stopped in front of an imposing building, its facade worn by time yet adorned with strange engravings that hinted at its significance.
Ryan stepped forward, placing his hand against the heavy wooden door. He whispered an incantation under his breath, and the door creaked open with a groan, revealing a dimly lit hallway that stretched into darkness.
Inside, the atmosphere was suffocating. The narrow passage was illuminated by faint gaslights, their flickering flames casting eerie shadows on walls inscribed with symbols Marlin could neither comprehend nor ignore. The air smelled of aged wood and ink, and every step they took seemed to echo louder than the last.
They emerged into a grand hall with a polished black floor that reflected the dim light like a mirror. Tall mirrors lined the walls, but instead of reflecting their images, they seemed to distort them, as if peering into a fractured reality. At the center of the hall stood a tall man dressed in an impeccable black coat, his sharp features framed by the flickering light.
"Ryan... I wasn't expecting you this soon," the man said with a calm voice that carried an air of authority. His eyes shifted to Marlin, scanning him with a cold, calculating gaze.
"This is my younger brother," Ryan said confidently, though Marlin detected a faint tension in his tone.
The man—Elias, as Ryan had called him—smiled faintly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "If he's here, then I assume he's ready to undergo the Test of Resolve. You know the rules, Ryan. Blood ties mean nothing here."
Marlin didn't respond, unsure if he was supposed to. Elias continued, explaining that the test wasn't about strength or skill but the integrity of one's mind. Doubt, he emphasized, was the greatest enemy.
Elias led them into another room, smaller and darker than the hall. A glowing blue circle was etched into the stone floor, pulsating faintly with an otherworldly energy. At its center rested a small, jet-black crystal that seemed to absorb the light around it.
"The test is simple," Elias said. "Place your hand on the crystal. If your resolve is strong, you'll pass. If doubt clouds your heart, the crystal will consume your sanity."
Marlin's breath caught. The stakes were clear, and the gravity of the moment pressed heavily on him. Still, he stepped forward, his boots clicking against the stone floor. He knelt before the crystal, hesitating for a fraction of a second before pressing his hand to its cold, smooth surface.
The world around him vanished.
He was suspended in a boundless void, an infinite expanse of darkness. A strange sensation crept over him, like a thousand invisible hands clawing at his mind. Whispers rose from the depths, their words unintelligible but filled with malice. Suddenly, fragmented images emerged from the darkness—his family from his past life. They were hazy, their faces blurred and unrecognizable, yet the emotions they stirred within him were all too real.
"Why are you here?" a deep, guttural voice rumbled through the void.
"To gain power," Marlin replied, his voice trembling but firm.
"For what purpose?"
"To protect those I care about," he said, his determination hardening.
The images dissolved, and the darkness seemed to close in on him, pressing against his very being. Just when he thought he would be swallowed by the void, it receded, and he felt a weight lift from his chest.
He opened his eyes, gasping for breath, his body drenched in sweat. His hands were trembling, and his heart pounded violently in his chest. Elias stood over him, his expression inscrutable.
"You passed," Elias said simply, though there was a note of curiosity in his voice.
Ryan stepped forward, relief evident in his features. "What does that mean?"
Elias glanced at Marlin. "It means he has a spiritual affinity with the Path of the Void. It's an incredibly rare path in this continent, with most of its powerful practitioners residing across the seas. However, this branch of the organization happens to possess the spiritual shards required for the first three levels."
Marlin's mind swirled with questions, but the idea of being connected to something so unique both intrigued and frightened him. Elias interrupted his thoughts. "Possessing the shards isn't enough. The process of merging with them is dangerous—far more than you realize."
They moved to another chamber. In the center stood a stone platform, carved with intricate symbols that glowed faintly. A glass container rested atop it, holding a black shard that pulsed with an ominous energy.
"Lie down," Elias ordered. "This will be your first step into a much larger world."
Marlin hesitated but obeyed, climbing onto the cold stone platform. The moment he lay down, Elias began chanting in an ancient tongue. The shard within the container began to vibrate, then slowly rose into the air.
Without warning, the shard pierced his chest like a burning spear. The pain was instantaneous and overwhelming. It felt as if his very soul was being torn apart and reconstructed simultaneously. His muscles spasmed, his breathing became erratic, and his vision blurred. Sweat poured from his body, soaking his clothes, and his screams echoed through the chamber.
Visions of the void returned, more vivid and terrifying than before. The whispers grew louder, almost deafening, but Marlin clung to his sanity with sheer willpower. The process felt like an eternity, but just as he thought he would break, the pain began to subside.
When it was over, he lay on the platform, utterly drained, his chest heaving with each labored breath. His body ached, but deep within, he felt something new—a presence, a power unlike anything he had ever known.
Elias observed him with a mix of respect and caution. "You survived. That alone is impressive. But the true test begins now. Rest while you can, Marlin. Your journey has only just begun."