Bab 14: Revealing Shadows
Kaelith stood alone in the suffocating darkness, facing the shadow that had taken his form. His own features were reflected before him, but altered, marked with disdain and resentment. The air seemed to thicken around him, and each breath became an effort. Yet he refused to back down. The flames on his blades crackled more intensely as the shadow drew closer.
"Why do you persist in denying what you really are?" the shadow murmured with a twisted smile. "A being consumed by rage and pain. These scars on your arms… they are not just marks of the past; they are a reflection of your inability to control yourself."
Kaelith tightened his grip on his blades, the heat of the flames warming his palms. "I know what I've been through, and I know what I've become. These wounds remind me of what I've overcome, not what broke me." He took a step forward, seeking to dispel the shadow with the force of his will.
But the shadow did not retreat. Instead, it expanded, branching into other figures that took the shapes of those he had lost, familiar faces staring at him with an accusing intensity. "Your powers brought destruction to those you loved. Your thirst for power cost you more than you're willing to admit. Haven't you always feared making the same mistakes?"
The flames on Kaelith's blades flickered for a moment, as if doubt threatened to creep in. He remembered that moment, the instant he had lost control, causing a fire that ravaged his home and left his skin forever scarred. Yet he would not allow this guilt to define him.
"Maybe I've made mistakes," he replied with growing calm, "but I won't run from them. These trials are a part of me, just like the flames I wield. They no longer dominate me." He raised his blazing blades above his head and brought them down with force, unleashing a torrent of flames toward the shadows surrounding him.
The fire erupted in the darkness, burning the figures into ethereal ash. The shadows recoiled, shaken by Kaelith's determination. The ground trembled slightly, and a path of golden light opened before him, leading him out of the darkness. He walked forward with confidence, knowing that he had overcome this trial.
Back in the clearing, the others saw Kaelith reappear, his blades still warm, and a newfound glint in his eyes. The Faëlis immediately leapt toward him, as if to ensure he was all right, while Liraë looked at him with a hint of admiration.
"Was it… difficult?" Aelion asked, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Kaelith nodded. "They were not just illusions. It was a confrontation with my own flaws. But I'm ready for what comes next." He turned back to the altar, where Faldren continued to observe them.
"Who's next?" asked the guardian of shadows, his enigmatic smile never leaving his face.
Liraë took a deep breath. "I'll go." Her voice betrayed a slight hesitation, but she stepped forward toward the altar with determination. As soon as her foot touched the stone, the symbols lit up with a bluish glow, and a veil of shadows quickly enveloped her, plunging her into darkness.
She found herself in an endless field of mist, where the ground seemed to be nothing but a surface of black water. Each step she took created ripples on the surface, and the sounds around her were muffled, as if she were in a dream. Then, whispers began to rise from the mist, turning into familiar voices she had not heard in years.
"Do you think you can save them, Liraë?" murmured a voice that was soft yet accusing. "You couldn't even save your own family."
Liraë felt her heart tighten. She knew this wasn't real, that these words were echoes of her own fears. But the pain remained vivid, like a wound that had never fully healed. "I never claimed to be perfect," she whispered in response. "But I haven't given up. I will never give up."
The mist suddenly parted, revealing the figures of her parents, frozen in their final look of despair. She rushed toward them, reaching out her hand, but as she touched them, they dissipated like smoke, leaving behind a deeper darkness.
"You cling to ghosts," said another voice, that of a child. "You seek redemption, but for whom? For them? Or for yourself?"
Tears welled up in Liraë's eyes, but she held them back. "It doesn't matter who it's for. What matters is that I keep going. It's the only thing I can control." She raised her arms and summoned an inner light, an ancient and soothing power she didn't even know she possessed. The light rose within her, pushing back the shadows and dispelling the surrounding darkness.
She found herself back in the clearing, her legs trembling but her spirit stronger. Aelion and Kaelith greeted her with looks of relief, while Faldren slowly nodded, as if approving of her success.
"It seems you found something within yourself," declared the guardian of shadows. "But remember, the quest is still long, and the shadow never completely disappears."
Aelion turned to Elindor, who remained silent, his eyes fixed on the altar. "It's your turn, Elindor. Are you ready?"
Elindor's gaze hardened, and he clenched his fists before stepping forward toward the altar. "As ready as I'll ever be," he replied, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
As Elindor set foot on the altar, the symbols lit up with a green glow, and the shadows enveloped him as well, making him disappear from the sight of his companions.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Alcije
Alcije I hope you like it ! If you have any suggestion feel free to write it ^^
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone