Brekan and Vikona descended the tight, stone spiral stairway, the air surprisingly clean and fresh compared to the outside. The narrow, winding tunnel seemed to stretch endlessly downward, occasionally adorned with faintly glowing lichen clinging to the rough walls.
As they ventured deeper into the subterranean labyrinth, a faint whistling and swishing sound began to permeate the air. The faint luminescence from the growth cast shadows licking on the walls. Brekan's curiosity got the better of him, and he turned to Vikona.
"Do you know what the first trial is?" he asked, his eyes scanning the dimly lit passage ahead.
Vikona nodded, her expression determined, her features illuminated by the bluish glow of the lichen. "Yes," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of both excitement and trepidation. "It's called the Trial of the Dark Elements. In order to prove that I can control the dark elements, I must overcome four specific trials-one for each Dark Element: Black Winds, Black Water, Black Earth, and Black Fire. These trials will test my abilities and determination."
Brekan listened intently, his senses heightened by the subterranean world around them.
"But those are not the only trials I will have to face," she explained, mystery swaying in her voice.. "A witch can be drawn to a lot of powers. Not only the ones of the elements."
Brekan was frightened but also excited about this new knowledge. He didn’t know if the Agents knew about all this, but he might be the first outsider to hear about this stuff. And if he came back, it could be used against them.
“You will see what I am talking about”, she said with enthusiasm in her eyes.
They finally reached the end of the spiraling staircase, and a powerful wind greeted them as they emerged through a small exit. Around them lay a giant earthen tube in which an organic wind rushed. Brekan had to raise his voice to be heard above the tempestuous gusts.
"This must be the Trial of the Dark Wind. Are you ready for this, Vikona?" he shouted, his words carried away by the howling winds.
She shouted back, her voice barely carrying over the tempestuous gusts, "Yes, let's do this!" They waited for a moment when the wind seemed to slow slightly, then braced themselves and stepped into the tube.
In an instant, the wind intensified, threatening to fling them off their feet. Brekan quickly grabbed hold of Vikona, his strong grip preventing her from being swept away since she was lighter than him. "Lie down!" he shouted against the raging gale. "Make your body more streamlined!"
Following his instructions, they both flattened themselves against the earthen floor, reducing their surface area and making it harder for the wind to push them. They began to crawl across the earthen floor, the forceful winds rushing over them. It was a harrowing experience, with dirt and debris swirling around, but they persisted, inching forward despite the tremendous resistance.
Vikona's strength and resilience impressed Brekan, and he marveled at her determination to gain control over the dark elements. The deafening roar of the wind was relentless, and the darkness of the underground trial intensified the sense of isolation.
The tube opened up into a larger cavern, and the wind's fury began to dissipate. Brekan and Vikona scrambled to their feet, panting and disheveled. The chamber was vast, its walls rough-hewn and covered in strange, bioluminescent fungi that cast a purplish glow. The air was still, a welcome respite from the tempest they had just endured.
Vikona's breaths came in ragged gasps as she turned to Brekan. "I think I failed," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Brekan brushed dirt from his clothes. "But we lived," he countered, his voice laced with relief.
Vikona's expression remained somber as she glanced back at the entrance to the earthen tube, where the living storm had raged moments ago. "I couldn't control the Dark Wind. If I would have been able to, I could have stopped it. I guess the Wind Element is not for me."
Before Brekan could offer words of reassurance, a haunting scream, like a chorus of a thousand tiny knives clashing, filled the cavern. At the other end of the spacious and otherwise empty chamber stood a living storm-a grotesque, swirling mass of blackness chained in place by mystical bindings. It howled and thrashed against its restraints, the sound echoing through the chamber.
Despite the chains that held it captive, the storm surged toward them with relentless fury. For a fleeting moment, the thought crossed Brekan's mind to abandon Vikona, to let her face the monstrous creature alone, but the remnants of his humanity prevailed.
Brekan swiftly grabbed Vikona and pushed her to the ground, shielding her with his own body. He lay atop her, his muscles straining against the relentless pull of the tempest. He closed his eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry, Sari," the name of the muse who had touched his heart.
The storm reached them with an ear-splitting crescendo of chaos and destruction. Brekan felt the searing winds, the biting cold, and the overwhelming force of the tempest closing in.
While Brekan had closed his eyes, he heard Vikona say, "Brekan."
He looked up, bewildered by the clarity of her voice amidst the deafening winds. As the tempest raged around them, he noticed that the cacophony had dimmed, muffled as if by some unseen barrier.
Brekan's confusion deepened as he felt an unexpected warmth enveloping him, a protective cocoon of orange energy that defied the storm's fury. "What is this?" he asked, his voice quivering with uncertainty.
Brekan could hardly believe his senses. The storm, now visibly frustrated, continued its relentless assault. Brekan clenched his jaw and made a decision.
"I don't want to die here," he declared, his voice resolute. With newfound strength coursing through him, he rose from the ground, his energy cocoon protecting them both.
The living storm screamed in anger and resentment as Brekan faced it, his very presence defying its destructive power.
"Kill it," Vikona urged, her tone filled with ruthless determination.
Brekan hesitated for a moment, the weight of his convictions warring with the newfound abilities surging within him. Finally, he made a choice. "Let's flee," he said, grabbing Vikona's hand.
“Wait”, she protested.
As they ran, the living storm pursued them briefly, its fury unabated. Brekan's energy waned, flickering as they reached a sealed gate at the end of the cavern. Without hesitation, he threw his energy-formed body against the metal barrier, shattering it open.
"Go," he commanded, pushing Vikona through the breach before following her.
Brekans orange energy vanished and he felt a mighty push from behind catapulting him forward.
As Brekan and Vikona tumbled onto the other side, the force of their exit propelled them forward, sending them crashing into the rocky floor. Stone chippings and splinters cut into Brekan's skin and clothes, but he scarcely noticed as he lay there, catching his breath.
Vikona lay beside him, breathing heavily but alive. Brekan turned to her, his gaze filled with concern. "Are you all right?" he asked, reaching out to help her up.
She nodded, brushing dirt and splinters from her body. "Let's keep going," she said.
Brekan examined his hand, the last faint glows of energy vanishing. "What was that wind demon?" he asked.
"A wind elemental," Vikona explained as they continued through another earthen passage. "Chained here by the Witchqueen a long time ago to test potential witches."
Brekan's mind reeled with the revelation. "It would have killed us, and probably has killed others in the past."
Vikona's voice remained steady, her tone resolute. "But it didn't, because of your Witch Power."
Brekan stopped abruptly, his thoughts racing. "Witch Power?"
Vikona touched his chest with her hand, her eyes searching his. "Looks like you have awakened your Witch Power before I have. But that's good-it means we can both be Witches together."
Brekan's conflicting emotions churned within him as they pressed on through the darkness. He grappled with the realization that his path was diverging from the one he had been raised to follow, that he was becoming something he had sworn to oppose-an agent of the very darkness he had been taught to destroy.
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Brekan still shook his head, even after the long walk through the seemingly endless, straight tunnel. "I'm not a Witch," he thought. It couldn't be true.
The tunnel they followed opened up into another cave, filled again with strong winds. In the light of his crystal, Brekan could see that they were now standing on a half-pillar above a gaping abyss. Like skeletal fingers, stony pillars reached out of the depths. A path made of bridges between them led through the cave.
"We have to do it slowly," Brekan said. "Try to expect a strong gust at any point."
He led them with steady steps, lifting his arms slightly away from his body in case he had to suddenly rebalance. When they just arrived at the middle of the first bridge, he heard the noise of what sounded like a blade being swung with incredible speed and power. Before he could react, he felt the punch and the cave spun around him.
After a short fall, icy water shocked Brekan's body and encased him. He was disoriented for a moment before he let out his breath and followed the bubbles to the surface. After sucking in the fresh air, he called out for Vikona.
“I’m here”, she proclaimed.
Brekan found her just a few strokes away. "How do we get out?" he asked. "We're going to freeze."
It’s the trial of water”, Vikona said.
But Brekan couldn't care less about the Trial at this point. He looked around to see if there was a way out of the water. On one side and the other were the smooth pillars with no way to grab onto.
The water began to move. Brekan felt how they were pulled further away from the rock. But then suddenly they were pushed into another direction entirely. The dark water around them began to shake and foam. A wave grabbed them and pushed them up and then down again. The same happened with a wave from another direction.
"We need to get out, NOW!" he shouted to Vikona. He could read the concern in her face. He tried to swim to one of the pillars but this time a wave with a crown crashed on top of him. Brekan was pushed down but he swam back up only to be sucked down into the valley of another big wave.
This is serious, he thought. Even if he could use the same orange power as before, it would not be a big help now. If they weren't going to die due to the cold, they would drown because of the waves.
As fast as the waves came, they subsided. From one moment to the next, the dark water was suddenly completely still. It was as flat as a mirror and the only thing making small waves were Brekan and Vikona.
"This is not good," Brekan said while swimming to Vikona. He saw her shaking of coldness and her teeth were chattering. When he saw her in this state he suddenly became also aware of the icy grip on his body.
Then Brekan felt a pull again. It was subtle at first, moving them slowly towards other pillars, but it quickly grew stronger. Ahead of them, Brekan saw a whirlpool, sucking the water into unknown depths.
"I don't know what's down there," Brekan said to Vikona, his voice shaking from the cold. "But I need you to hold your breath as long as possible. If there's a way out on the other side, it might take a while to get there."
He waited until Vikona nodded, then added, "And if there's no exit..."
The tearing currents snatched them. Brekan tried to keep his head up, but soon had no choice but to hold his breath. He felt himself spinning and jerking towards a single point, and then he was sucked into an opening.
Brekan suddenly felt cold air before splashing into water again. He broke through the surface and gasped for air. Please be over now, he thought to himself.
He heard another splash and saw Vikona surface. He swam up to her and pulled her onto his body. He couldn't feel the warmth of her skin, but that was also because his own must have been very cold. Together they drifted to an opening in the walls of this cave reservoir. It's still not over.
They were sucked into a small canal with smooth walls that led down like a slide. They slipped along the slope and at the end fell down a waterfall into a small pool.
Immediately, Brekan felt comforting heat around his body. He didn't even want to get back to the surface, so soft was its embrace. He opened his eyes and saw the floor and walls of the small pool glowing from ice-blue stones. When he turned up, his lungs filled with warm air. A quick glance around the cave reassured him that it was finally over.
He swam to the flat edge of the pool and let himself beach right beside Vikona, who lay there beside him. After checking that she breathed deep and slow, he closed his eyes, wanting to relax for just a moment.
"Brekan," a familiar voice called out, and he woke up. He looked to his side, where Vikona still rested. She had her eyes closed and lay on her side, her head resting on her arms for comfort.
"Brekan," the voice called out to him again. This time, he recognized it.
"Sari," he whispered, his heart constricting at the sound of her name. Across the steaming surface of the pool, through the rising mist, he saw her approaching.
"You're not real," he muttered, his arms crossed defensively.
Vikona stirred beside him and eventually joined him at the edge of the pool. "Who is this?" she asked, her voice curious.
Brekan hesitated, his heart aching. "No one," he replied, avoiding Vikona's gaze.
"It's the one you love, isn't it?" Vikona probed, her voice gentle.
Brekan remained silent, his internal turmoil growing. He couldn't reveal his true feelings to Vikona.
"We're in the Pool of Reflection," Vikona explained. "Part of the Trial of Water. It shows us our own innermost desires."
Brekan stood before the Pool of Reflection, his gaze locked onto the spectral figure of Sari and trying to quell the turbulent emotions swirling within him. By his side, Vikona watched in silence, her eyes fixated on the shimmering surface of the pool. As they both peered into the depths, Brekan's reflection of Sari began to waver.
In the pool's watery depths, a haunting vision unfolded before him. The grand capital city of the Sun Kingdom lay in ruins, consumed by a relentless sea of black flames. The flames danced and devoured everything in their path, leaving nothing but scorched earth and despair in their wake.
A colossal, shadowy figure loomed over the blazing cityscape. It was a monstrous avian beast, its ebony feathers blending seamlessly with the darkness of the inferno. Its fiery red eyes burned with an unholy intensity that sent shivers down Brekan's spine. In its massive claws, it clutched the iconic statue of the Sun King, the very symbol of the kingdom's unity and strength. With a deafening screech, the beast shattered the statue into countless fragments, each one a piece of shattered hope.
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Brekan's breath caught in his throat as he bore witness to this nightmarish vision. The destruction and chaos unfolding before him struck at the core of his being. The image seared itself into his mind.
Turning to Vikona, Brekan could see grim satisfaction etched into her features. Her eyes glistened with freezing coldheartedness as she tore her gaze away from the horrifying vision. "Vikona, are you all right?" he asked.
“Let’s just get to the next Trial,” she said without looking at him.
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Brekan was glad Vikona didn't ask more questions about Sari. He wasn't ready to disclose any information about his life, especially not the truth about his mission. It was way too important.
He noticed that the tunnel led down deeper. The slope got steeper and the gradient became more of a scarp, where one wrong step could mean falling to his death. At a small protruding plateau, he said, "Let's take a break and have a bite to eat."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out an Inquisitor ration, a nutrient bar that was notoriously bland and unappetizing. "It's a soldier's snack," he explained with a faint smirk. "I managed to liberate it from a city guard ration delivery. I've got one left." He hoped Vikona wouldn't see through his lie.
He broke the bar in half and gave the other half to Vikona. She didn't question his explanation and ate it.
"Tastes... 'green'," she said. "And fat."
Brekan was used to this taste, having eaten it many times when on the job. "We've got two more trials to go," he admitted.
Vikona gently embraced his arm and replied, "I'm confident we'll overcome them. You've already tapped into your Witch Power, and I believe mine will awaken when the time is right. Together, we've got this."
With a soft pull, he freed himself from her grasp and shook his head. He didn't want this so-called "Witch Power." He wasn't one of them. He was here to kill them.
Brekan began to slide down the slope. Stones tumbled down from his feet. He leaned to the ground, controlling his descent. "Be careful," he said. "If you think you're losing control, just push yourself flat to the slant."
The ground rumbled. Bigger rubble and gravel rolled past them.
What now, Brekan lamented in his mind. He looked up the slope and saw a hand arise from the stone. One finger alone as long as Brekans whole body.
Then the other one lifted itself up. Just like the first one it was completely made out of rock.
Between the hands, a hump rose with red glowing eyes, looking down upon them while letting out a deep rumbling moan. Like a living dead out of its grave it pulled its body out of the solid rock below him and started crawling towards them.
"Hurry!" Brekan shouted to Vikona and started sliding more uncontrollably now, but it gave him speed. When he looked behind, he saw Vikona struggling. She tried to rush down like him, but was way too cautious. The rock monster would reach her sooner than later.
Brekan looked down for a moment. I really don't want to do it, he said to himself. I'm not a witch. It was one thing for him to use his powers accidentally without him even knowing what they were. But now he knew. And he didn't want to do it. He was an Inquisitor, not a witch.
Boulders crashed by him and ripped him out of his thoughts. Brekan saw that the monster was close to Vikona. Like a dog on his four legs he started rushing up the incline. Her life was more important right now than is status as Inquisitor.
Orange energy glowed up around Brekan, forming big claws around his hands. He dug them deep into the gravel and rock, catapulting himself up faster. This way, he could easily dodge the crushing boulders that rolled down.
Just as the hand of the Monster crushed down onto Vikona, Brekan jumped to her side and stopped it with his own hands. He didn't know if he would be strong enough, even with his Witch Power, but he managed to stop it. But he still felt the immense pressure and power pressing down on him.
“Go”, he said to Vikona under heavy breath.
The Witch started sliding.
The other hand of the rock monster rushed in from the side. Brekan let go of the one that threatened to crush him and lured it into the swing of the other. While they hit each other, Brekan jumped on the back of the Hands and punched down, but with no effect.
The monster jerked its hand up to the ceiling to crush Brekan. He flung himself off in time and forced his energy hand into the slope, just so he didn't start tumbling down.
"Looks like this Witch Power isn't as great anyway," he thought.
The monster howled in anger and reached out with its right hand, trying to grab him. He jumped between the fingers before they could close around him. He ran up the arm and jumped at the face of the monster, right between the eyes. Pure determination filled his mind in the air and he focused on his fist. The energy around the fist grew bigger and thicker.
With a short grunt of will, he punched as hard as he could.
The fist landed with a dull bang that echoed from wall to wall. Brekan fell down in front of the monster and slid down a few steps. He looked up at the small crater between the eyes. The monster's movements were completely frozen. It looked more like a statue. The eyes in its stone sockets went out like a candle light in the wind. Crackling and cracking sounds started emanating from deep inside the monster and finally reached the impact crater.
Brekan looked down to Vikona who made it quite far.
"Shit," he hissed. Still using his energy, he started sliding down at a rapid speed. He could already hear the first big boulders crashing onto the slope. The first of them rolled by, luckily far off from Vikona.
Brekan reached her and immediately hugged her, so she was inside the protective energy. At the same moment, a wave of boulders and gravel swept them away.
Brekan focused as hard as he could on protecting Vikona and keeping the energy barrier up. On the way down, he feared he would crush her with his grip.
With a painful crash, they landed in a pile of rubble at the foot of the incline. Several big pieces of rock banged into other all around them.
And then it was over. For a long moment, they just lay there in each other's arms and breathed heavily. The energy around Brekan slowly dissolved into small leaves that split into smaller leaves until they were no more.
“Another Trial down”, Vikona whispered, her head resting on Brekans chest.
"That leaves one other element," Brekan said. "Let's get it over with." He pushed Vikona aside, making sure she wouldn't just fall onto the ground. He got up and started brushing the gravel and stone splinters out of his hair.
"Once again, your Witch Powers pulled us through," she remarked with a grateful smile.
He had nothing to say to her. Silently he admitted that they were useful. And might even become useful if he had to fight the Witch Queen.
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After navigating through the stone-filled tunnel, Brekan and Vikona climbed over multiple imposing rocks that blocked their path. Emerging on the other side, they were met with a breathtaking sight. The massive cavern stretched before them, filled with molten lava lakes and meandering magma flows. The oppressive heat struck Brekan like a physical force, causing beads of sweat to instantly form on his forehead. A narrow stone pathway extended from where they stood, winding its way over treacherous fire lakes.
"The longer we wait, the sooner overheating or thirst will take us down," Brekan said.
He moved forward at a brisk pace, careful not to break into a run. Running in this heat would be a death sentence. As they ventured deeper into the cave, the temperature continued to rise, and the air grew thick with the acrid scent of sulfur. Brekan spared occasional glances over his shoulder, making sure Vikona was keeping up. He marveled at her resilience, both physically and mentally.
As Brekan and Vikona ventured deeper into the fire-filled cavern, the oppressive heat intensified, making each step a struggle. The soft glow of the molten lava illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows on the rocky walls. Sweat poured from Brekans brows, and he could feel his throat parched from the searing air.
Suddenly, from the the fiery lakes directly to their right, forms began to emerge. Two figures made of swirling black fire rose from the molten depths, their eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity.
Brekan's heart pounded in his chest as he and Vikona locked eyes with the menacing guardians. The black fire elementals moved with an unnatural grace, their fiery bodies dancing in a hypnotic, deadly rhythm. They advanced towards the intruders with menacing intent, closing in on the stone pathway.
"Stay close," Brekan muttered to Vikona, his voice strained with tension. He could feel the heat radiating from the guardians as they drew nearer, their flames licking at the air hungrily.
Vikona nodded, her eyes fixed on the approaching threat She pressed her wet and sweaty body against his.
As the guardians closed the distance, Brekan himself for the impending confrontation. The guardians' black fire bodies crackled and hissed, sending sparks of darkness into the air. They lunged forward, their fiery fists raised to strike.
Brekan channeled his Witch Power, letting the orange energy flow around him. He extended his hand, forming a protective barrier of orange energy to shield himself and Vikona from the blazing assault.
The guardians collided with the barrier, their black fire fists and flames clashing against the orange energy.
Brekan was not sure if it would work but he formed big claw around his hand and grabbed the part of the black fire elemental that struck at him. To his surprise he could grab it and hold it in place. Without hesitation he roared and swirled around, throwing the elemental at another to by its side.
Brekan seized the opportunity, grabbed Vikona’s arm and started sprinting past the momentarily weakened guardians. He could feel the scorching heat on his heels as they raced forward, leaving the guardians behind, their fiery roars echoing in the cavern's depths.
As they reached a safer distance, they slowed their pace, catching their breath. The ordeal with the guardians had taken a toll, both physically and mentally. But there was no time for rest, the heat was still merciless.
Soon, they reached the end of the path, and it led them into an unexpected sight. Instead of descending further into the earth, they found themselves at the entrance of a spiraling tower. However, this tower did not ascend skyward; instead, it plunged downward into a gaping chasm. Lava cascaded down on either side, forming fiery waterfalls. A slender stone bridge bridged the gap between the path and the tower entrance.
Brekan couldn't help but grimace at the thought of entering a stone tower surrounded by searing lava. He grasped Vikona's sweaty hand and led her onto the bridge, cautioning her, "Don't look down."
The bridge lacked any protective railings, so Brekan kept to the center to avoid glimpses of the perilous depths below. To their relief, the crossing went without incident, except for a few minor stone fragments that broke loose from the bridge's edges and plummeted into the chasm.
Once they reached the other side, they stepped into the tower's interior. Surprisingly, the temperature inside was marginally cooler.
“Need a break?” he asked. She looked at him and shook her head. “I’m good. Also I think the there is coolness coming from that opening.” She pointed at the hole in the middle.
Curiosity piqued, Brekan approached the opening, feeling a refreshing breeze on his face. He even thought he detected the faint scent of forests and moss carried on the air. He couldn't resist taking deep breaths, savoring the coolness.
Without hesitation, he ventured into the opening, with Vikona following close behind. The spiral staircase seemed to descend deeper into the tower, and with each turn, the air grew cooler and cleaner. However, Brekan soon noticed something unusual; the descent started to feel like an ascent.
Confused, he turned back to Vikona, who was climbing up with him. "Didn't we just go down a staircase, not up?" he asked, a puzzled furrow on his brow.
"Yes," Vikona confirmed. "The ways to enter the Witch Realms are peculiar."
Brekan continued ascending, although the temperature and air quality remained consistent with their initial descent. "Something strange is happening," he muttered under his breath.
Upon reaching the final turn, he spotted another chamber through an opening. This room was illuminated by an unusual light that didn't resemble sunlight. The air carried the scent of vegetation. At one end stood a metal fire chalice, while a massive green metal door dominated the opposite wall.
Brekan retrieved his last nutrient bar and shared it with Vikona as they caught their breath. He then approached the enigmatic door, which was partially covered in slimy moss. Carved into the door was an intricate design of a chalice with a burning flame above it, mirroring the one in the chamber behind them.
"It's the final Trial of the Dark Fire," Vikona remarked. "We must light the chalice to open the door."
Examining the contents of the chalice, Brekan noticed human bones and remains within. "Indeed," he agreed, "and once we ignite the flame, the door should grant us passage."
Vikona extended her hands toward the chalice, her expression filled with intense concentration. After a moment, she let her hands drop, disappointment evident in her eyes. "I fear none of the elements will be my power."
Brekan went to the door and attempted to summon his Witch Power. To his relief, nothing happened. There was no fiery orange aura. For a moment, he allowed himself to believe that he was no longer bound by it, that he was simply an Inquisitor.
But the door had to be opened, and he knew the Witch Power was their only hope. He closed his eyes, focused his thoughts, and summoned the power once more. With orange energy enveloping his limbs, he pushed against the door. It creaked and grated loudly as it slowly gave way. Brekan felt the strain on his body as the door finally snapped open, causing him to tumble onto the ground.
When he looked up, he found himself on the summit of a mountain, overlooking a small island. The sea surrounding the island churned with powerful waves, creating frothy white caps. Across the island, a dense, black forest stood, leading to a smaller mountain crowned with the ruins of a grand palace.
"We've made it," Brekan thought. The Witch Queen's palace lay within reach.
"That must be the Palace of the Witch Queen," Vikona said, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and awe.