Returning from the containment ship, Kaelan, Lira, and Elara felt a heavy silence among them, the weight of their encounter with the Arbiter lingering in their minds. Each tried to process what the Seed of Ascendance meant for their future, and the potential visions they had witnessed. The Arbiter’s words still echoed, emphasizing the gravity of what they had committed to.
As they neared their home base on the planet of Eldoria, the familiar sight of sprawling forests, jagged mountains, and lush, misty valleys greeted them. But as the ship touched down, they noticed something odd an unusually thick mist was settled over the landscape, casting an eerie glow across the ground. Even the ambient mana felt different, thicker and tinged with something ancient.
“Is it just me, or does everything feel...heavier here?” Kaelan asked, eyeing the surroundings warily.
Lira nodded, her senses already alert. “This mana feels older than what we’re used to. It’s almost like the world itself is resonating.”
Elara, too, was deeply intrigued. “Perhaps we’ve shifted something in the natural order with our actions. The containment of the Void Essence and our encounter with the Arbiter could have...ripples.”
As they walked toward the guild’s headquarters, they noticed other adventurers gathered in hushed groups, some gesturing toward the forest with expressions of concern and fascination. They approached Varus, who stood at the edge of the guild hall, gazing into the distance with narrowed eyes.
“Varus,” Kaelan called, “what’s going on? The mana here feels…different.”
The seasoned warrior turned to them, his expression solemn. “It started the night after you left for the containment mission. At first, it was just a strange fog, but then the ground began to pulse, almost like a heartbeat. We thought it was the result of some new creature migrating through, but it’s been spreading steadily outward.”
As they listened, the ground trembled, a faint vibration reaching their feet, followed by a low hum. They recognized the feeling instantly a pulse of pure mana, similar to what they’d felt when unearthing the Void Essence.
“This can’t be a coincidence,” Lira murmured. “It’s as if the land itself is calling out.”
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A Call to the Unknown
Kaelan felt a sudden urge, an inexplicable pull toward the forest. He glanced at Lira and Elara, sensing they felt it too. Their Seed of Ascendance pulsed faintly in response, a reminder that something beyond their understanding was at play.
Without hesitation, they ventured into the forest, followed by Varus, who watched them with curiosity but respected their instincts. The deeper they went, the more intense the sensations became, as though invisible threads were guiding them.
The forest grew denser, and they came upon an ancient stone archway hidden beneath thick vines and moss. The carvings on the stones were barely visible, faded by time, but the energy radiating from it was unmistakable.
Elara approached, her hand resting against the cool stone. “These symbols...they’re ancient, older than any language I know.” Her mind raced with thoughts of forgotten realms and hidden powers. She tried to access her knowledge of mana and language comprehension but found herself blocked, as though the symbols resisted any attempts to decipher them.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
A faint voice seemed to emanate from the stones, not in words but in impressions, emotions, and fragments of thoughts. Kaelan stepped forward, his heart pounding. It felt like an invitation and a warning.
“Whatever this place is,” he said quietly, “I think it’s meant for those willing to walk the path of Ascendance.”
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The First Trial: Test of Spirit
They stepped through the archway, finding themselves in a clearing bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. An unearthly silence fell over them, and suddenly, they were separated. Each stood alone in a world of mist, facing a different path.
Kaelan was the first to feel a presence near him, a figure that looked almost like himself but exuded an aura of darkness and malice. The figure grinned, stepping forward. It spoke with Kaelan’s voice, but its words were twisted, mocking.
“Who are you to think you can ascend? You’re nothing, Kaelan. A boy with dreams far bigger than his worth.”
Kaelan’s fists clenched, but he forced himself to breathe. He understood this was a trial a test of his own resolve. He couldn’t fight the shadow physically, but he could reject its taunts, refuse to let it dictate his future. He closed his eyes, grounding himself in memories of his journey, his friends, and the purpose that drove him.
Slowly, the shadow lost its power, fading into the mist until Kaelan was left alone, his spirit unwavering.
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The Second Trial: Lira’s Bond with Nature
Lira found herself surrounded by visions of nature’s fury trees burned, rivers poisoned, creatures dying in agony. The pain was so palpable it brought tears to her eyes. A voice echoed around her, cold and accusing.
“Who are you to claim the power of nature? Have you given your life to it, or are you just using it as a tool?”
Lira’s heart ached, the question cutting deep. She had always admired nature, drawing strength from its resilience, but had she truly committed herself to understanding its needs? Closing her eyes, she reached out, letting her empathy flow into the land around her. She felt the pulse of life, the silent cries for help, and the raw power of the elements. In that moment, she made a vow to protect, not just wield, nature’s gifts.
The torment subsided, replaced by a gentle warmth, as though the forest itself acknowledged her promise.
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The Third Trial: Elara’s Knowledge of Truth
Elara found herself before an endless library, its shelves filled with tomes of knowledge from countless realms. A voice echoed from the books, filled with temptation.
“Knowledge is power, Elara. Take it all, and you could shape reality as you desire. But remember, truth has its price.”
She felt a powerful urge to reach out, to absorb all the knowledge before her. But she realized that with each book she touched, a part of her memories and self slipped away. It was a test of her limits, of how much she was willing to sacrifice for power.
With a heavy heart, she withdrew her hand, understanding that the path to true wisdom lay not in hoarding knowledge, but in balancing it with her purpose. As she stepped back, the library dissolved, leaving her with a renewed sense of clarity.
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Reunited
The three friends emerged from the trials, each carrying a new understanding of themselves and their bond with one another. The path they were on demanded sacrifice and a constant re-evaluation of their intentions, yet each trial had also deepened their resolve.
The mist lifted, and Varus, who had been watching from a distance, approached them. “You’ve returned…changed. Whatever lies ahead, remember this moment. Not everyone has the courage to face their own doubts.”
They nodded, each lost in thought, but united by a shared vision of what they could achieve together.
As they walked back toward the guild, the ancient carvings on the archway flickered, as though acknowledging their growth. Though they didn’t yet know what the next steps on their path would be, they felt ready to face whatever the universe held in store.
Their journey as Ascendants had only just begun.