The leader of the Seeker's Order, known only as Velithar, stood unmoving, his cold eyes fixed on Dain. Behind him, the other Seekers tightened their stances, their hands resting on the hilts of their weapons, ready to strike.
"You are not yet ready to wield the Ember," Velithar said, his tone low but authoritative. "It is a power that consumes, that warps. If you do not surrender it now, you will burn with it."
Dain's eyes narrowed. He could feel the Ember within him, pulsing like a second heart, its dark warmth radiating through his veins. But he also felt the hunger, the undeniable pull towards something greater. The Ember wanted more. It wanted him to surrender to its will, to embrace the power without question.
But Dain wasn't ready to give in. Not yet.
"You don't understand," Dain said, his voice steady, despite the turmoil raging inside him. "I have nothing left to lose. The Ember is mine. And I will claim its power."
Velithar's expression remained unreadable. He made a subtle gesture, and in an instant, the Seekers moved into a tight formation, their weapons drawn, and the air crackled with a dangerous energy.
"Then you will face the Trial of the Ember."
Dain didn't have time to respond. Velithar's hand shot out, and a wave of searing light exploded from his palm, crashing into Dain with the force of a thunderclap.
The world around him blurred, his body feeling as though it was being torn apart by the raw power. He gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain his footing as the Ember within him fought to suppress the onslaught. He could feel it, the overwhelming force, trying to drown him.
"Your heart is weak," Velithar's voice echoed in the storm of light and fire. "The Ember will only allow those strong enough to wield it. Face it. Embrace the Hollowing."
A dark wave of energy began to form around Dain, a physical manifestation of the Ember's curse. The world around him darkened as shadows rose from the ground like tendrils, wrapping themselves around his limbs. It was the Ember's attempt to break him, to test his resolve.
Embrace the Hollowing or lose himself forever.
His vision blurred, the darkness creeping in, but Dain pushed back. The Ember pulsed violently inside him, responding to his will, as if it were aware of the choice he was about to make.
The shadows began to retreat, but the power of the Ember was still overwhelming. His body ached as though it were being reborn. The power surged through him—ruthless, unyielding—but he would not bow.
With a final, desperate effort, Dain called upon the flame within him, igniting a burst of searing energy that tore through the darkness. The Hollowing was a trial, yes, but it was not his fate. Not yet.
The light faded, and Velithar stood before him, unmoved by the display. The Seekers lowered their weapons, still wary but slightly in awe.
"You have survived the Trial," Velithar said, his voice tinged with something approaching respect. "But the true test lies ahead."
Dain's heart raced as the last remnants of the Trial faded away. His body felt different, changed by the power of the Ember. He could feel it now, thrumming inside him, calling him toward something greater. Something eternal.
Velithar took a step back, eyes narrowing. "The road ahead is not one for the faint-hearted. You will need to master the Ember if you wish to survive what is coming. Only then can you face the Infernal Sovereigns."
The name sent a shiver down Dain's spine. Infernal Sovereigns—beings of unimaginable power, the keepers of the Ember's darkest secrets. If he wanted to achieve his goal of eternal life, he would have to defeat them.
"Come with us," Velithar said, motioning toward the distant mountains. "The Seeker's Order will teach you how to control the Ember. But know this: not all will survive."
Dain stared at the path ahead of him. His eyes glowed faintly with the fire of the Ember as he made his decision.
He was no longer just a man.
He was a Seeker.
And his journey toward eternity had only just begun.
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