Chapter 4: A Choice Made in Darkness
"...I choose."
The words left Arlan’s lips before he even understood their full weight. For a heartbeat, there was nothing but silence, a pregnant stillness that filled the chamber. The swirling shadows around him halted, as if the entire world held its breath, waiting for his next move.
Then, the voice of the Abyss returned, cold and ancient, reverberating through the chamber.
"You have chosen well."
The coin in Arlan’s hand flared with unbearable heat, and for a split second, it felt like it was burning through his flesh. He cried out, dropping the coin to the floor, where it clattered loudly, the sound echoing through the vast chamber. But the moment it left his hand, something began to change inside him.
The dark tendrils of shadow that had been circling the room surged toward him, moving like liquid smoke. Before he could react, they wrapped around his body, curling tightly around his arms, legs, and chest. It wasn’t painful—not at first—but the sensation of the shadows crawling over his skin made his heart race. His breath came in short, panicked gasps as the darkness crept over him, invading his senses. His vision blurred, and the world around him seemed to melt away, leaving only the void.
For a terrifying moment, he was no longer standing on solid ground. He was suspended in an endless black expanse, floating weightlessly as if caught in a deep, dreamless sleep. The shadows whispered in his ear, soft but insistent, filling his mind with incomprehensible words, images, and thoughts.
"You are one with the Abyss," the voice whispered, closer now. "The void flows through you. The power you sought is now yours."
Arlan’s heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the Abyss inside him, a raw, primal force that pulsed with dark energy. It felt like a second heartbeat, a constant presence gnawing at the edges of his mind. The power was overwhelming, and for a brief moment, he wondered if he’d made a terrible mistake.
But as the tendrils of shadow began to recede, Arlan found himself standing back in the chamber. The platform beneath his feet was solid again, and the tall pillars still loomed over him. The shadows no longer circled him like predators, but instead hovered at the edge of his vision, ever-present but subdued. He felt... different. Stronger. More aware.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
His eyes snapped down to the coin, which now lay on the platform, its once dull surface glowing faintly with a dark, ethereal light. The runes etched into its surface seemed to shimmer, alive with the same energy that now coursed through his veins.
Arlan bent down, hesitantly picking up the coin. This time, it felt different in his hand. The overwhelming heat was gone, replaced by a strange sense of connection. The coin was no longer just an object; it was a part of him now, a link to the power of the Abyss that he couldn’t deny.
The voice of the Abyss spoke once more, but this time, it felt like it was inside his mind, no longer bound to the shadows around him.
"You have taken your first step. The power of the void flows through you now, but it is only a fraction of what lies ahead. You will face trials, Arlan Hallow. And with each one, you will grow stronger. Or you will fall, consumed by the very power you now wield."
Arlan closed his eyes, steadying his breathing. He didn’t ask for this power, but now that he had it, he couldn’t turn back. The Abyss had claimed him, but maybe—just maybe—he could use its strength to carve his own path. He would learn to control it, to bend it to his will.
He had to.
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As Arlan made his way back out of the ancient building and into the night air, the cold wind hit his face, grounding him in reality once again. The streets of Arvellis were quiet, unusually so. Even the usual patrols of guards were nowhere to be seen, and the distant hum of the city’s nightlife felt muffled.
Fenn was waiting for him, leaning against a nearby wall, his eyes narrowing as Arlan approached. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."
Arlan shook his head, his hand instinctively going to the coin in his pocket. "It’s... worse than that."
Fenn straightened, his expression shifting from suspicion to genuine concern. "What happened in there?"
Arlan hesitated. How could he explain what he had just experienced? The connection to the Abyss, the power that now surged through his veins—it was too much, too strange to put into words. And he wasn’t even sure Fenn would believe him.
"It doesn’t matter," Arlan said after a moment, his voice low. "We need to leave. Now."
Fenn raised an eyebrow, but didn’t argue. He could see the change in Arlan—something deeper than fear had taken root. "Alright, where are we headed?"
"I don’t know," Arlan admitted. "But the Abyss isn’t done with me yet."
Fenn’s face darkened. "The Abyss... That’s not something you mess with, Arlan."
"I know." Arlan’s grip tightened around the coin. "But I don’t have a choice anymore."
They moved quickly through the narrow streets of Arvellis, sticking to the shadows as they made their way back toward the heart of the city. Arlan could feel the power of the Abyss pulsing beneath the surface, like a river of dark energy waiting to be unleashed. But with that power came a creeping sense of dread, a constant reminder that the void was always watching, always waiting.
As they walked, the streets around them began to shift. It was subtle at first—flickering lanterns, the distant sound of footsteps echoing where there should have been none. But soon, the air itself grew thick with an unnatural stillness, and Arlan realized that they were no longer alone.
Fenn stopped, his hand going to his dagger. "We’ve got company."
From the shadows, figures emerged—cloaked in darkness, their eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light. They moved silently, their steps almost soundless against the cobblestone streets. Arlan recognized them immediately.
More of the Abyss’ servants.
"You’re not ready," the voice of the Abyss whispered in his mind, cold and unfeeling. "But they will test you nonetheless. Survive, and you will grow. Fail, and you will be consumed."
Arlan’s heart pounded in his chest as the figures closed in. He could feel the darkness stirring inside him, begging to be released. His hand trembled as he reached for the coin in his pocket, the connection between him and the Abyss growing stronger with every passing second.
The figures drew closer, their eyes locked on him. There was no escape, no way to outrun what was coming.
Arlan took a deep breath and stepped forward, the power of the void surging through him.
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End of Chapter 4