Volume 2: Shards of Unity
Chapter 33: Trial by Flame
The glow of the runes intensified, bathing the chamber in light so brilliant that the shadows seemed to recoil. Yet, the shadowy figures didn't retreat—they advanced with renewed fury, their dark blades carving through the air.
Eryth could feel the relic vibrating violently against his chest, as though it was alive, as though it was trying to speak to him. He gritted his teeth, his hands tightening into fists as he stood beside Nyx.
"This is your moment," a voice whispered in his mind. It was not his own but familiar—a lingering echo of the vision from moments before.
The words stirred something within him. His fear began to melt away, replaced by a burning determination.
Facing the Abyss
Nyx leaped into action first, meeting the shadowy attackers head-on. Its claws slashed through one figure, but the being dissolved and re-formed behind it in an instant. The creature was relentless, but so was Nyx.
"Keep going, Nyx!" Eryth shouted, his eyes darting to the pedestal. The relic had pulled him here, to this place, for this test. If this was a trial, there had to be a way to prove himself.
As the others fought to keep the shadows at bay, Eryth took a step closer to the pedestal. The obsidian sphere shimmered with a faint light now, pulsing in time with the relic around his neck. He reached out, his hand hovering over it.
"Eryth, don't!" the armored woman shouted, cutting down a shadow that lunged at her. "We don't know what it'll do!"
"I don't have a choice," Eryth replied, his voice steady. "This is my path—I can feel it."
He placed his hand on the sphere.
The Path Revealed
The world around him disappeared.
Eryth found himself standing in a void of swirling light and shadow. The ground beneath him was solid yet intangible, and the air was thick with energy. In the distance, a figure stood, watching him.
It was the copy of himself—the one from before. But this time, its expression was different. It wasn't mocking or condescending. Instead, it seemed… contemplative.
"You're here," the copy said, its voice calm. "But do you even know why?"
Eryth frowned. "I'm here because of the relic. Because it's connected to everything that's happening."
The copy shook its head. "The relic didn't bring you here. You did. Your choices, your ambition, your fear—they all led you to this moment."
Eryth took a step forward. "Then tell me what this is. Tell me why I'm seeing… you."
The copy smiled faintly. "Because I am you. Or rather, I am what you could become. This trial is not about the relic. It's about you deciding who you want to be."
The swirling void around them shifted, and scenes began to form in the air. Eryth saw flashes of his past—moments of triumph, moments of failure. He saw himself standing alone, facing impossible odds, and he saw the faces of those he had lost.
"This path you've chosen," the copy said, "is not one of survival. It is one of sacrifice. If you continue, you will face pain, loss, and betrayal. But if you succeed, you will become something greater. Do you have the strength to continue?"
Eryth's jaw tightened as he watched the images. He saw his companions fighting in the chamber, struggling to hold back the shadows. He saw Nyx, its form glowing brighter as it fought to protect him.
"I don't care about becoming 'greater,'" Eryth said. "I just want to protect the people who matter to me. If this path is the only way to do that, then I'll take it."
The copy studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Then prove it."
The Trial of Resolve
Eryth was back in the chamber, but everything was different. The shadows had stopped attacking, standing motionless like statues. The runes on the walls burned with golden light, and the relic around his neck felt warm instead of cold.
The obsidian sphere floated above the pedestal now, and a voice filled the chamber.
"Face your fear, Eryth. Face your doubt."
The shadows around him began to shift, merging into a single form. It was massive, towering over everyone, with eyes like burning coals and a body made of writhing darkness. It stepped toward him, its presence suffocating.
Nyx moved to intercept it, but Eryth raised a hand. "No, Nyx. This is my fight."
The creature stopped, tilting its head as if intrigued. Then it lunged.
Eryth didn't run. He stood his ground, focusing on the relic's warmth. As the creature's clawed hand came down, he raised his own—and golden light erupted from the relic, meeting the darkness head-on.
The impact shook the chamber, and for a moment, everything was chaos. But when the light faded, the creature was gone.
Eryth stood there, breathing heavily, as the relic's light dimmed. He looked at the pedestal, where the obsidian sphere now rested silently.
The armored woman approached cautiously. "Eryth… are you okay?"
He nodded, though his legs felt like they might give out at any moment. "Yeah. I think… I passed."
Nyx stepped up beside him, its eyes glowing with approval. The bond between them felt stronger than ever, a silent reassurance that they were on the right path.
A New Purpose
As the group exited the chamber, Eryth felt a sense of clarity he hadn't had before. The relic wasn't just a tool or a weapon. It was a test—a forge to shape him into something more.
And though the path ahead was uncertain, he knew one thing for sure: he wouldn't face it alone.
To Be Continued…