章 13: The Whispers of Shadow
The group stood gathered around the stone altar in the light-filled clearing. After passing through the illusions of the forest, they felt a brief moment of relief, but the storyteller's warning still echoed within them. The temptation of the shadow could arise at any moment, and they knew their trials were far from over.
"This light is too soothing to be harmless," Kaelith murmured, his golden eyes examining the symbols carved into the altar. "Stay on your guard."
Aelion approached the altar and reached out to touch the glowing carvings. The symbols seemed to vibrate slightly at his touch, a gentle warmth emanating from the stone. He felt a strange shiver run through his body, a sensation between comfort and warning. "This altar seems to be some kind of threshold," he said, stepping back slightly. "A passage to the next trial, perhaps."
Suddenly, a voice resonated in the clearing, both soft and cold, emerging from the shadows that surrounded the light. "You who seek the Light, do you not know that the shadow is never far away?"
The adventurers exchanged a glance. The voice seemed to have no precise source but enveloped the entire space like a whisper coming from all directions. The Faëlis, perhaps sensing the discomfort in the air, huddled closer to Kaelith, its bright eyes fixed on the altar.
"Show yourself!" Kaelith called, his flaming blades in hand. "Stop tormenting us with your mind games!"
A gentle, almost amused laugh rose in the air. Gradually, a figure began to materialize from the shadows, taking the form of an ethereal being with pale skin and deep black eyes. Clad in a long cloak woven from mist, the apparition stood before them with a strange grace.
"I am Faldren," the being declared, its voice echoing like a distant murmur. "Guardian of Shadows and emissary of balance. Those who seek the Light must first face what lies within themselves, for the shadow only amplifies what you refuse to see."
Liraë frowned, wary. "You speak of inner trials? Illusions like the ones we already faced?"
Faldren slowly shook his head, a slight smile on his lips. "The illusions you passed through are nothing compared to the truths you will have to face here. This place reveals hidden desires, buried fears, and the flaws in your spirit. You are here to be judged."
Aelion felt tension settling in his shoulders. "What must we do to prove our worth?"
Faldren raised a hand toward them, and a cold breath swept across the clearing, briefly extinguishing the light around the altar. "Each member of your group must cross this threshold alone," he said. "You will be confronted with your own shadows. If you succeed in taming them, you may continue your quest. If not…" He left the sentence unfinished, his smile widening, suggesting that failure would mean much more than simply turning back.
Kaelith gritted his teeth and stepped forward. "Then I'll go first."
The others watched, worried but confident in Kaelith's abilities. As he placed a foot on the altar, the symbols glowed with a reddish light, and a veil of shadow immediately enveloped him, making him disappear from their sight.
In the darkness, Kaelith found himself alone. The silence was oppressive, and the air heavy with mystery. Then, a familiar voice rose from the shadows, a voice from his own past. Images formed around him, scenes from his previous life, painful memories he had tried to forget. The burns on his arms began to throb, rekindling the pain he had buried deep within.
"You've always been a failure, Kaelith," murmured a shadow that took his shape. "You never managed to control your own power. Why do you think you can find the Eternal Light when you couldn't even save yourself?"
Kaelith stood tall, his blades crackling with flames. "This isn't real," he said firmly. "These are just echoes of my fears."
The shadow chuckled, moving closer. "Perhaps… or perhaps it's the truth you've never wanted to see."
Meanwhile, outside, Aelion, Liraë, and Elindor watched the altar with growing concern. The Faëlis seemed to sense the danger as well, its fur standing on end. Faldren, unmoving, continued to smile as if he already knew the outcome of the trials.
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