The sky above the valley began to darken even though the sun had not yet set. Thick mist enveloped every inch of the rocky path Kael and Luma were walking. The wind was no longer cold—it carried whispers, like old voices rustling through the cracks of time.
Luma gripped her bamboo staff tightly, her feet feeling heavy with each step that touched the ground. "This place... feels different," she whispered.
Kael nodded slowly. "The forest surrounding the Old City isn't like normal forests. The spirits that dwell here... never sleep."
Suddenly, the mist ahead of them swirled, forming a strange vortex. Faint voices could be heard, whispering in a language they could not understand, yet it pierced straight into the heart.
Kael immediately drew his sword. "We must—"
A burst of blue light erupted from within the vortex. In an instant, all the voices and the swirling mist vanished. Standing before them was a man in a dark robe, his hair long and grey, his eyes sharp and dim.
"Kael of the Northern Mountains. Selene of the Last Light," he said without hesitation.
Luma was startled. "How do you know that name?"
"I've heard the whispers of the spirits since the night your body was brought back to life." The man placed a hand on his chest. "My name is Ereth. I am the guardian of the old path."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "A guardian? Or a spy?"
Ereth didn't answer. Instead, he turned and with a deep incantation, drew a symbol in the air. The mist in front of them parted, revealing an ancient stone path covered in roots and moss.
"If you truly wish to enter the Old City," he said, "you'll need a guide. This road opens only to those still remembered by the city."
They walked in silence. Only the sound of night birds and their footsteps accompanied them. Ereth didn't say much, but at each place they passed, he paused—touching a wall, greeting a tree, or closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
At a bend, they stopped before a nearly crumbling gate—made of black stone, carved with a half-sun and a crossing shadow.
"The Gate of Shadows," Ereth said quietly. "Here begins the trial of the soul. No one may enter the Old City without facing their own shadow."
One by one, they stepped through the gate—and the world changed.
Luma now stood alone in a pitch-black space. No sound, no shape. Suddenly, the face of a blind girl appeared—herself, but with a serene smile and eyes that glowed softly.
"This body once belonged to me," the shadow whispered. "But now you are here. Do you truly wish to bring the light... or do you merely seek to hide within it?"
Luma tried to answer, but no sound escaped. Her body felt light, and she sensed herself dissolving into the shadow.
But then, someone's hand touched her shoulder. Kael. He stood beside her, holding his gaze forward.
"I see my shadow too," he said. "But we're not done yet. Get up, Luma."
They emerged from the trial with mixed feelings—exhausted, but stronger. Ereth watched them with a deep gaze. "The Old City will accept you."
Finally, they arrived at a wide clearing surrounded by crumbling stone pillars, and in the center—stood the Old City. Its buildings were tall but worn, decorated with ancient magical symbols that had long faded.
"This city once served as the heart of all magic," Ereth said. "And also the site of its downfall."
Luma was drawn to a small temple at the edge of the clearing. A faint light beckoned her, as if something was calling.
She stepped forward slowly, entering the temple. In the center of the room stood a round stone, glowing with blue waves of light. She touched it—and her inner world exploded with light.
Foreign memories poured in: herself as Selene, standing atop a tower, holding a scroll of incantations, the same symbol glowing from her hands—sun, sword, and shadow.
But suddenly, the light went out. The stone cracked, and black mist began to surge out of it. A growling sound started to echo.
Ereth rushed in. "No! It is still sealed!"
Kael drew his sword instantly. From the cracked stone, glowing red eyes emerged—and a deep voice filled with hatred:
"Selene... you have returned. Then I shall rise again."
To Be Continued...