Days once again passed and Claire and I finally arrived at the location of the 'Light of Core'. Seeing the appearance of the [Trial] we have to pass, Claire was dumbfounded and asked "That's…the place we'll have to go?" Humming in response, I for one was also dumbfounded, is this really simply a [Trial] to become a [Guide]? I never knew becoming one was this hard

As we walked towards it, we reached the edge of the void and I couldn't help contemplate how we're supposed to pass it. Seeing the tower in the middle of it I was lost in thought, then, Claire spoke "How about- we use my rope?" That was definitely a bad idea but seeing no other way I sighed and nodded in agreement.

As we used the rope as a bridge, we balanced our body and walked on it. The rope was attached to the the ground while the other end was attached on the tower. Just as we were walking, we suddenly heard a screech.

Eeeeeeeeee!

Hearing the frightening sound, Claire was startled and asked "What was that?!" I frowned and halted as I looked around. Then, I saw some gray beings with wings flying towards us. It's scarlet eyes stared straight at us. I was horrified and exclaimed "It's a gargoyle!"

The gargoyles flew at us and their sharp claws almost scratched us. Dodging it as i leaned backwards, I almost lost my balance if it wasn't for Claire's support.

Claire covered her ears because of the painful screech of the gargoyles and she asked "What do we do now?!" I gritted my teeth and took out my gun before aiming it. Boom! The gun was triggered and the gargoyle tried to dodge it but was still hit on it's side

The gargoyle, whose wing exploded, couldn't fly anymore and screamed before it fell into the void. Seeing the void swallowed the gargoyle whole, Claire was frightened, but somehow, I felt something else. I stared deeply at the void and felt as if I was staring into an abyss, there is a saying where if you stare at the abyss, the abyss will stare at you back, and this is completely that scene.

Just as I was distracted, Claire suddenly shouted "Watch out!"

I flinched and turned my head to see a gargoyle charging straight towards me. I shot it but it dodged as It spun and flew straight towards me. Gritting my teeth I swapped my weapons and took my dagger as I aimed towards it. Once again it dodged and flew up. Just as I looked up Claire tried to warn me but was too late. Behind me another gargoyle appeared and pushed me

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

It felt like it was ins slow motion, slowly, I fell and felt as if time had stopped. Just as I was falling, a hand suddenly grabbed mine. My dagger fell into the void which was swallowed by it. Claire groaned and used all her might trying to not let go of me, but the gargoyle's next target was her and I knew this wouldn't end well.

I looked down at the void, then, I looked at the tower. Somehow, it felt like something was tugging my heart and my instinct told me something else. Furrowing my eyebrows I looked at Claire and said "Let go"

"What?!" Claire was shocked and exclaimed "What are you saying?!"

I was serious and my face was solemn as I said "Jump" Claire was hesitant but I spoke again and said "Trust me, please" Claire had a bewildered face but seeing that the gargoyle's claw sharpening and aiming towards her, she gritted her teeth and said "You better be right!" as she said that she jumped and let go of my hand. Then, we were swallowed by the void completely.

The gargoyles were stunned and looked at each other, they were supposed to finish the humans up using their claws and did not expect that we would jump. They were angry but seeing that they couldn't do anything, they returned to the tower.

…..

Waking up slowly. I felt my head aching, looking around I called out slowly, "Claire?"

No one responded and sat up as I looked around, searching for Claire. Seeing her lying on the ground unconscious, I sighed in relief knowing that she was safe. I stood up staggeringly and walked over towards her. Shaking her I said "Wake up" Seconds later, I heard a groan coming from her and saw her slowly waking up.

Smiling I said "Thank goodness you're alright" Claire held her forehead and asked "Where are we?"

"I don't know" I replied. We both looked around and found that we were in an endless darkness. There was nothing to see. Then, the familiar white aura - like appeared before us. It said [Welcome to the official [Trial] dear [Defendant]s! This is the last part of the [Trial] and the place where the 'Light of Core' is!] before it disappeared

Claire and I looked at each other and nodded. Standing up, we started walking aimlessly. As we walked we felt as if days had passed when I was certain that only minutes had passed. Claire hugged herself and said "This feels very eerie" I hummed in agreement. Suddenly, Claire stopped and I also came to halt. Pointing at a certain direction she had her eyes shaking and she stuttered "A- Are you also seeing this?"

I frowned at her reaction and looked over to the place she is pointing only to have my eyes widen as well. At the distance, there was a child that had their back facing us. Frowning I felt that this was not something simple and wanted to warn Claire when--

--I saw that she was gone. "Claire?" I looked around but found that only I and the child was left. Drip. Drip. Hearing the sound of water dripping I frowned unconsciously and found that the floor was full of water that only reached half of my feet. Then, I alsp found that my bag was missing.

'What's going on?' I was confused and felt my heart tugging, I was anxious about the situation. Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself down before walking towards the child. Drip. Drip. Every step felt heavy and I couldn't help tensing up. I felt like hours had passed before finally reaching the child. I gulped and said "Hey…are you alright kiddo?"

The child did not move and i wanted to look at the child's appearance but somehow, my senses were screaming madly as if I would regret my choice.

I was just standing there, not moving, same as the child. Just as I was in a dilemma, I suddenly heard a sob and found that it was coming from the child. Then, I heard something that I will never forget.

"Mom?"

"Mom, where are you? Hic!"

The child cried but that was not something that made me froze. That voice…

Slowly as if I was unconscious, my body moved on it's own and I walked pass the child before stopping in front of him. The moment I saw his face, I felt my whole world shattered.

The child….

….was me.