The cloaked figure stood motionless, their presence as enigmatic as the forest around them. Aethren’s grip on his sword remained firm, the shard in his chest glowing faintly, a steady rhythm pulsing in time with his heartbeat.
The figure spoke again, their voice low and deliberate. “You carry the shard of Aelith, the key to the light. But its counterpart—the Voidstone—remains elusive. Without it, the balance will continue to crumble, and this world will fall into chaos.”
Aethren’s eyes narrowed. “You speak as if you know the Voidstone’s location.”
The figure’s head tilted slightly, as though amused. “I know more than its location. I know the path you must take to claim it. But the question is not whether I can guide you. The question is whether you are ready to pay the price.”
The air between them grew heavy, charged with unspoken tension. Aethren’s instincts screamed at him to be cautious. The shard’s glow intensified slightly, as though warning him of a threat he couldn’t yet see.
“What price?” Aethren asked, his voice steady despite the storm of uncertainty within him.
The figure took a step closer, their movements fluid and deliberate. “The Voidstone is not like the shard you bear. It is a creation of shadow, a force born from chaos itself. To wield it, you must first confront the darkness within you. And that, Aethren, is a trial many fail to survive.”
----------------------------------------
A Test of Resolve
The figure’s words struck a chord within Aethren. The shard’s light pulsed in his chest, a comforting presence amid the growing weight of the conversation. He remembered the dark crystal he had retrieved from the shadowed beast, how its power had felt both alluring and repulsive.
“What do you gain from this?” Aethren asked, his tone cautious.
The figure’s hood tilted, revealing just the faintest glimmer of an inhuman glow beneath the shadows. “What I gain is of no consequence to you. What matters is whether you are prepared to face what lies ahead. The Voidstone is more than a tool—it is a burden. A mirror that reflects the truths you hide from yourself. Do you have the strength to look into that mirror and not break?”
Aethren’s thoughts churned. The stranger’s words carried an ominous weight, but he couldn’t ignore the sense of urgency within him. If the Voidstone truly held the key to restoring balance, then he had no choice but to seek it out.
“I’ll face whatever trial is necessary,” he said, his voice firm.
The figure chuckled softly, a sound that sent a chill down Aethren’s spine. “Brave words. But bravery alone will not see you through. Very well, I will show you the way.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
----------------------------------------
The Winding Path
The figure turned and began walking toward the edge of the clearing, their movements seamless as though they were part of the shadows themselves. Aethren hesitated for only a moment before following, his blade still unsheathed and ready.
They moved through the forest in silence, the twisted trees seeming to part for the stranger as they led Aethren deeper into the heart of the woods. The air grew colder, and the oppressive darkness thickened with every step. The shard’s light dimmed slightly, struggling to pierce the encroaching gloom.
“Where are you taking me?” Aethren asked, breaking the silence.
“To the threshold,” the figure replied without turning. “Beyond it lies the Voidstone. But be warned: once you step through, there is no turning back.”
Aethren’s jaw tightened. He had faced countless dangers on his journey so far, but something about the figure’s words filled him with unease.
After what felt like hours, they arrived at a massive stone archway embedded in the earth. The arch was ancient, covered in runes that glowed faintly with a sickly green light. Beyond it was a swirling vortex of shadow, its depths impenetrable to the eye.
“This is the gateway to the Abyss,” the figure said, their voice devoid of emotion. “The Voidstone lies at its heart. But the Abyss is a realm of nightmares, a place where your darkest fears will manifest and seek to consume you. Only by conquering them can you claim the Voidstone.”
----------------------------------------
Aethren’s Choice
Aethren stared at the vortex, his mind racing. The shard in his chest pulsed in warning, its light flickering as if urging him to reconsider. But he knew there was no alternative. The balance of the world depended on him finding the Voidstone.
He turned to the stranger. “Will you accompany me?”
The figure’s laughter was soft and hollow. “The Abyss is a realm you must face alone. My guidance ends here.”
Aethren took a deep breath, steeling himself. He could feel the weight of his journey pressing down on him, the choices he had made leading him to this moment. Without another word, he stepped forward, his body passing through the stone archway and into the vortex.
----------------------------------------
Into the Abyss
The transition was instantaneous. One moment, Aethren was surrounded by the dense forest; the next, he was engulfed in total darkness. The air was heavy, pressing against him from all sides, and the ground beneath his feet felt unstable, as though it might crumble at any moment.
The shard’s light was dim but steady, casting a faint glow that barely illuminated his surroundings. He took a cautious step forward, his senses on high alert.
Suddenly, the darkness shifted. Shapes began to form in the shadows, twisting and writhing as they coalesced into figures. Aethren’s breath caught in his throat as he recognized them—faces from his past, people he had failed to save, and the monsters he had slain.
They surrounded him, their eyes glowing with malevolence, their voices echoing in the void.
“You are not worthy,” one figure hissed.
“You will fail, just as you always have,” another spat.
Aethren gritted his teeth, gripping his sword tightly. “I won’t be broken by shadows,” he growled, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest.
The shard in his chest flared to life, its light banishing the nearest shadows. But the figures only laughed, their forms shifting and growing larger as they fed on his doubts.
The Abyss had begun its trial, and Aethren knew this would be the greatest challenge he had ever faced.