Chapter 9 –
The chamber still bore the scars of the previous night's trial. The runes were dimmed now, faint smoke curling up from cracked lines in the stone, yet the air was still alive with echoes of fire and moonlight. Kaelen stood in the center once more, blade resting against his shoulder, his body aching but his spirit restless. Beside him, Elira stretched her arms, still pale but steady.
Ardyn's voice cut through the silence. "You survived resonance. Good. But resonance is nothing if it cannot withstand battle. Today, you will face the Summoned Trial."
The guild members gathered again, whispers rippling among them. Some cheered for Kaelen and Elira, others muttered that Ardyn was going too far.
"What's the Summoned Trial?" Kaelen asked, tightening his grip on his sword.
Ardyn raised his staff, the gem at its head glowing with stolen light. "A test against manifestations born from pure magic. They will strike without hesitation. Fail, and they will tear you apart."
Elira frowned. "This doesn't sound like training. It sounds like execution."
Ardyn's lips curled faintly. "Only those who endure the impossible can walk the path of destiny. Do you fear it?"
Her eyes flashed. "No."
"Good." He slammed his staff against the ground.
The runes ignited with violent energy, brighter than before. Circles of light burned into the floor, three in total, and from them emerged towering forms: one a hulking golem of molten rock and flame, another a sleek wolf of shadows, its eyes like twin red moons, and the last a knight clad in spectral armor, wielding a blade forged of starlight.
Gasps filled the chamber. "Three at once? That's suicide!" a guild member shouted.
But Ardyn ignored them, his staff humming with power. "Face them together. Show me your bond."
The golem roared first, molten fists crashing down like hammers. Kaelen leapt forward, his sword igniting in a blaze of fire. His blade clashed against the golem's arm, sparks showering as the impact rattled his bones.
"Elira, now!" he shouted.
Moonlight flared as Elira raised her hands, weaving silver threads into a shield that caught the shadow wolf mid-leap. The beast snarled, slamming against the barrier, cracks spiderwebbing across the glowing surface. She gritted her teeth, forcing more power into the shield until the wolf was blasted back.
The spectral knight moved with eerie calm, blade slicing down toward Kaelen's exposed flank. But Elira flicked her wrist, a beam of moonlight streaking across the chamber, deflecting the knight's strike just enough for Kaelen to roll away.
Their bond pulsed stronger, syncing their movements.
Kaelen exhaled, his fire surging higher. "Time to turn this up!" He lunged, flames wrapping around his blade, and slashed at the golem's chest. The molten rock cracked, glowing fissures spreading across its form.
Elira raised both hands, gathering moonlight into a radiant bow. She drew the string, an arrow of silver energy forming, and fired. The shot pierced the golem's core, the fissures exploding outward in a burst of molten shards. The giant toppled with a shuddering crash.
Cheers erupted from the guild.
But the shadow wolf was faster than sound. It lunged from behind, jaws snapping toward Elira.
"Look out!" Kaelen shouted, throwing himself between them. The wolf's fangs tore into his shoulder, blood spraying. He roared in pain but forced his sword upward, flames engulfing the beast's face. With a yelp, the wolf retreated, smoke rising from its charred muzzle.
Elira's heart pounded, panic rising. She pressed her hand to Kaelen's wound, moonlight flowing into his flesh. "Stay with me! Don't you dare fall!"
Warmth filled his veins, the bleeding slowing, though the pain remained. He forced a grin. "You're getting better at that."
The wolf circled again, low and silent, its body melting into the shadows. At the same time, the spectral knight raised its blade, chanting in a hollow voice. Stars flared along the ceiling, condensing into a rain of light-spears that began to fall toward them.
Elira's eyes widened. "We can't block all of that—"
"Then we don't!" Kaelen interrupted, grabbing her hand. Their bond flared instantly, fire and moonlight surging together.
They moved as one. Kaelen swung his blade in a wide arc, flames bursting outward, while Elira raised her free hand, moonlight weaving through the fire. Together, the two elements fused, erupting into a blazing silver storm.
The storm shredded the falling spears, scattering fragments of starlight across the chamber. It crashed into the shadow wolf as it lunged again, consuming it in silver fire until nothing but smoke remained.
The guild stood in stunned silence, awestruck by the spectacle.
Only the spectral knight remained.
The knight lowered its blade, its hollow gaze fixed on them. Slowly, it raised its weapon to its chest in salute. Then it rushed forward, moving faster than Kaelen's eyes could follow.
The clash was brutal. Kaelen's blade met the knight's, the impact shaking his arms. Sparks of fire and starlight rained around them as they traded blow after blow. The knight's movements were precise, flawless, every strike designed to kill.
"Elira!" Kaelen shouted between gritted teeth.
She was already moving. Silver light wrapped around her fingers as she formed chains of moonlight, whipping them toward the knight's legs. The spectral warrior stumbled for a heartbeat, giving Kaelen his chance.
With a roar, he thrust his flaming blade straight through the knight's chest. The armor cracked, light spilling out as the knight dissolved into shards that vanished into the air.
The chamber fell silent again, only the sound of Kaelen's ragged breathing and Elira's pounding heartbeat filling the void.
Then the guild erupted into thunderous cheers.
"They did it!"
"Three summons at once!"
"Incredible!"
Kaelen dropped to one knee, blood soaking his tunic where the wolf had bitten him. Elira knelt beside him, channeling moonlight into the wound again, tears pricking her eyes. "You idiot… you could've died."
He gave her a weary smile. "But I didn't. Because you've got my back."
Their hands lingered together, the bond pulsing warmly between them.
Ardyn stepped forward, his staff tapping against the floor. "Outstanding. You are stronger than I imagined."
The guild quieted at his presence.
"But," Ardyn continued, his tone calm yet sharp, "you are far from ready. Today was a taste of what lies ahead. If you falter, if you doubt… the world itself will devour you."
Kaelen's jaw tightened. He wanted to argue, to demand why the trial had been so deadly, but exhaustion silenced him. Elira felt the same unease gnawing in her chest.
As the guild helped carry them out, whispers spread. Some called them heroes. Others muttered that Ardyn's methods were cruel.
Alone in the chamber, Ardyn gazed at the fading runes, his staff glowing faintly as it absorbed the last traces of the summoned energy.
"Yes… more, much more," he whispered. His lips curved into a hidden smile. "Their bond grows, and with it, my key to unlocking the seal."
He turned toward the moonlight streaming in from above, shadows crawling across his face.
Soon, they will belong to me.....