The wind whispered through the dense forest as the group pressed forward, the newly acquired Shadow Scythe strapped across Kaelan's back. Its ethereal edge shimmered faintly, a stark contrast to the natural greens and browns surrounding them. Kaelan walked at the forefront, his steps deliberate yet heavy, the weight of his weapon and his purpose pressing on his shoulders.
Behind him, Elara moved with graceful ease, her Starlight Shield occasionally catching stray beams of sunlight. She glanced at their two newest companions: Eira, whose frosty aura seemed to chill the very air around her, and Kain, the living shadow who had proven invaluable in leading them through this uncharted terrain.
Kain spoke first, his voice low and cautious. "We're nearing the old ruins. There's a hidden path not far from here—one the gods themselves have forgotten. It's dangerous, but it'll keep us out of sight for now."
Kaelan stopped and turned to face him. "What kind of danger?"
"Enough to keep most wanderers away," Kain replied with a half-smirk. "Traps, illusions, and...other things." His expression darkened. "Things even I prefer to avoid."
Kaelan met his gaze, his newfound weapon pulsing faintly as though reacting to his rising determination. "We don't have a choice. If it brings us closer to our goal, we go."
Eira's voice cut through the tension like a blade of ice. "The ruins are sacred to Elderion. He won't take kindly to intruders. If we're stepping into his domain, we need to be prepared. The God of Time has a way of testing those who disturb his order."
"Another test," Elara murmured, her tone light but edged with concern. She looked at Kaelan, her empathy sense brushing against his resolve. "Are you ready for this?"
Kaelan's jaw tightened, his hands brushing the hilt of the scythe. "I have to be."
The group pressed onward, the forest growing denser until it opened into a clearing dominated by ancient, crumbling structures. Vines wrapped around towering pillars, and the faint hum of magic resonated in the air. Kain stepped forward, his form dissolving into shadow as he scouted ahead.
Moments later, his voice emerged from the shadows around them. "It's clear, but I'd tread carefully. The gods rarely leave their toys unguarded."
As they entered the ruins, Kaelan felt a shift in the atmosphere. The air grew heavier, as though time itself was slowing. Eira's eyes narrowed, her hands glowing faintly with icy magic. "This is Elderion's doing. He's watching us."
The group came to a halt in the center of the ruins, where a grand pedestal stood. Upon it rested an hourglass, its sands glowing with a golden light. Inscribed on the pedestal were words in a language none of them could fully understand.
Eira stepped closer, her voice tinged with awe and caution. "The Hourglass of Ages. They say it holds fragments of time itself, granting visions of the past and future."
Kaelan moved to stand beside her, his gaze locked on the artifact. "And what does Elderion want us to do with it?"
As if in response, the hourglass began to glow brighter, and a deep, resonant voice filled the air.
"Kaelan Darksong," the voice intoned, ancient and unyielding. "Bearer of the Soulfire, you stand at the threshold of eternity. To prove your worth, you must traverse the threads of time and confront the truth of your lineage. Only then will you gain my favor."
The ground trembled, and the sands within the hourglass began to swirl violently. A portal of golden light opened before them, and Elderion's voice echoed once more.
"Step forward, if you dare."
Kaelan turned to his companions, his gaze lingering on Elara. She gave him a small, reassuring nod. "You're not alone in this," she said softly.
With a deep breath, Kaelan gripped the Shadow Scythe and stepped into the portal, the golden light engulfing him.
The portal's golden light faded behind them, leaving Elara,Orin and the other two standing in tense silence. Without Kaelan's presence, an unsettling vulnerability crept into the air. Kain moved ahead cautiously, his shadowy form darting from pillar to pillar.
Eira trailed behind, her icy aura crackling faintly. "The ruins feel... alive," she said, her voice low.
"They are," Kain replied. "The gods always leave traces of their power in places like this." He stopped abruptly, his shadow tendrils recoiling as if struck. "We're not alone."
From the surrounding ruins emerged a woman cloaked in shimmering, celestial armor.She was a woman with fiery red hair, her blazing sword casting a warm, menacing glow. Beside her stood a towering man with silver gauntlets that crackled with electricity.
"You trespass on sacred ground," the woman declared, her voice resonant with authority. "State your purpose, or be purged."
Elara stepped forward, her Starlight Shield materializing on her arm. "We mean no harm. We're searching for answers—guidance."
"Guidance?" the man scoffed, his gauntlets sparking. "The gods offer no guidance to mortals like you."
Kain's shadow coiled protectively around the group, his voice sharp. "We're not your enemy, but we won't back down either."
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Enough!" she commanded, lowering her blade. " Who are you really?"
After a tense exchange, the misunderstanding was resolved. The woman introduced herself as Liora Sylverwind, a guardian sent by Astraea, Goddess of the Stars, to protect the ruins. The man, Draven Nyx, served Umbros, the God of Shadows, but had grown disillusioned with the gods' cruelty.
"You served my master huh"Kain said
"Yes …..and by the look of things you were cursed"
"By the same master you serve"
" Past….man…served" Draven elaborated.
Liora sighed, sheathing her blade. "If you're seeking answers, we are too. But irrespective, you need to free us from Elderion chains.
"I don't see any chains" Elara said.
"We are trapped in this verse of history, we can't leave this surrounding so to atone for our past sins,he ordered us to protect it from intruders like you".Nyx replied.
Kaelan gaze fell upon the other two Eira and kain before he spoke" Seems these gods threaten powerful beings as yourselves like pets".
" And what exactly are you protecting here?" Orin asks." All I see is a clearing and ruins of fallen homes".
Before they could respond, the ground began to tremble violently. The ruins themselves seemed to twist and crumble as a monstrous, god-forged construct emerged from the shadows,Eira froze their surroundings making the chains visible as they freed themselves from it.
"You're free now "she shrieked as she walk majestically back to the group.
"Thank.....you".liora expressed, seeming surprised.
"No time to burn out" Draven said, readying his gauntlets. "Let's move!"
The group found temporary refuge in a clearing nestled amidst the ruins, the colossal construct they had narrowly escaped lying in shattered pieces a distance away. The night settled in, a tapestry of stars illuminating their surroundings. Liora and Draven tended to a makeshift campfire, its crackling flames casting dancing shadows on the ancient stone walls.
Elara sat apart, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon where Kaelan had vanished. Despite the warmth of the fire, her fingers traced the edges of her Starlight Shield absently. Her worry was palpable, and Eira, noticing, approached her.
"Kaelan will be fine," Eira said softly, taking a seat beside her. "He's... resilient."
Elara nodded but didn't look away. "I know. But Elderion isn't just another challenge. He's the god of time. Someone like Kaelan, with his bloodline…" Her voice trailed off, and her grip on the shield tightened.
Kain, leaning casually against a stone pillar not looking more of a shadow who is blending in with the night ,spoke up. "If there's anyone who can handle Elderion's games, it's Kaelan. That scythe of his isn't just a show off,shadow for shadow I can feel it."
Draven, who had been sharpening a blade, chuckled. "Bold words for someone who hasn't faced Elderion himself. The gods don't play fair, especially with someone like Kaelan,he is a threat."
"And you'd know?" Kain shot back, his tone half-teasing but edged with curiosity.
Draven paused, his expression hardening. "I've seen what Umbros does to those who disappoint him. The gods aren't merciful, even to their own.You are probably cursed by him due to your shadow state."
Kain only grunted and disappeared into the shadows.
A tense silence fell over the group, broken only by the crackle of the fire.
Liora cleared her throat, her fiery hair catching the light. "If we're going to survive this—and help your friend when he returns—we need to trust each other." She glanced around the group. "We've fought together, but we barely know one another. That's a weakness we can't afford."
Eira nodded. "Agreed. Why don't we start with how each of us ended up here?"
Liora leaned back, her expression contemplative. "I was sent by Astraea, the Goddess of Stars, to guard these ruins. She foresaw a disruption in the balance, though she didn't say what—or who—would cause it. I never expected it to be... allies." Her gaze softened. "But if she sent me here, it must mean our paths are meant to cross."
Draven smirked but didn't look up from his blade. "I wasn't 'sent' anywhere. Umbros demanded obedience, and I gave it—for a time. But even the god of shadows couldn't see the depth of my loyalty. Or my lack of it."
"That sounds ominous," Kain said, raising an unnoticed eyebrow.
Draven shrugged. "The gods aren't perfect. They're as flawed as mortals, just not on a larger scale. I saw through their facade and decided to carve my own path."
Eira shifted uncomfortably. "That's... brave. Or foolish."
"Both," Draven admitted with a grin.
Elara, still staring into the distance, finally spoke. "Kaelan didn't ask for this. He didn't choose his bloodline, or the powers that come with it. But he's carrying it all anyway—like he has something to prove." She glanced at the others. "He's not like the gods. He's better."
The firelight flickered, casting long shadows as the group fell silent.
Later that night, as the others rested or kept watch, Elara wandered away from the camp. She stood at the edge of the clearing, her eyes scanning the darkened landscape.
Eira approached quietly. "You should rest."
"I can't," Elara admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not while Kaelan's out there."
Eira placed a hand on her shoulder. "He's stronger than he knows. And he's not alone. You're with him, even if you're not there physically."
Elara closed her eyes, drawing strength from the words. "I just wish I could do more. This trial... it's not just about him proving himself to Elderion. It's about him proving himself to himself."
Eira smiled faintly. "And he will. Because he has you to remind him who he is when he forgets."
Time seemed meaningless here. Seconds felt like hours, and eternity compressed into fleeting moments. At the center of this void stood Elderion, his towering form radiating a calm yet commanding presence. The god's staff, carved from the World Tree itself, glowed faintly as he studied Kaelan with eyes that seemed to hold the weight of all existence.
"You stand before me, last of a forbidden lineage," Elderion intoned, his voice resonating through the void. "The gods decreed your bloodline's extinction, yet you persist. Why?"
Kaelan met the god's gaze, his grip on the scythe tightening. "Because I refuse to let their hatred define my purpose. I'm not here to destroy the balance you claim to protect. I'm here to prove that my existence has worth."
Elderion's expression remained impassive. "Words are but echoes in the stream of time. Prove yourself, Kaelan Darksong. Face the trial I have set for you and survive—if you can."
With a sweep of his staff, Elderion conjured a scene that materialized around Kaelan like fragments of a shattered mirror reassembling. He stood now in a dense forest, the air thick with fog and the sounds of unseen predators.
"You must reach the heart of this forest," Elderion's voice echoed. "But time here flows against you. Every moment you delay hastens your demise."
Kaelan barely had time to react as shadows emerged from the mist—twisted, monstrous forms that seemed to shift and writhe unnaturally. They lunged at him with claws of void, their movements erratic as if time itself warped around them.
Kaelan swung his scythe, its dark edge slicing through the first wave of creatures. He swung himself away to avoid an ambush, then behind a larger beast and striking it down with a burst of Soulfire. But the monsters kept coming, their numbers seemingly infinite.
The forest itself seemed alive, branches tangling and shifting to block his path. Kaelan's breaths grew labored, the weight of the trial pressing down on him. He could feel time slipping through his fingers, the distortion dragging him toward exhaustion.
"I won't fall here," he growled, forcing himself to press on.
As Kaelan pushed deeper into the forest, he stumbled into a clearing where the fog parted slightly. Standing in the center was a towering figure, his frame clad in stone-like armor that seemed to meld with his skin. His piercing eyes locked onto Kaelan, and his hands tightened around a massive hammer engraved with runes.
"Who dares trespass in these woods?" the boy demanded, his voice a low rumble like shifting earth.
Kaelan raised his scythe defensively. "I'm not your enemy."
"Prove it," the boy growled, charging forward with a speed that defied his bulk.
The clash was fierce. Thorne's hammer crashed against Kaelan's scythe, sending shockwaves through the clearing. Kaelan was lucky enough to dodge a powerful strike, but Thorne anticipated the next move, slamming his hammer into the ground and creating a shockwave that threw Kaelan off balance.
"Enough!" Kaelan shouted, holding his ground. "I'm not here to fight you!"
Thorne paused, his hammer poised mid-swing. "Then why are you here?"
"I'm undergoing a trial," Kaelan said, panting. "Elderion sent me. If you're here, then you must have a reason too."
Thorne studied him for a long moment, then lowered his weapon. "You're different from the others who've wandered here. Most would lie or flee. Maybe you're telling the truth."
Kaelan nodded cautiously. "And you are?"
"Thorne Ironclad," the boy replied. "Guardian of these woods, or at least I was until the gods abandoned this place." He extended a hand. "If you're seeking the heart of the forest, you'll need help. These woods is driven by a sort of time loop a little mistake drives you back to the beginning ."
Kaelan hesitated before clasping Thorne's hand. "Kaelan Darksong. Let's hope you're as good with that hammer as you look."
As they traveled together, Thorne proved to be an invaluable ally. His knowledge of the forest allowed them to avoid traps and ambushes, while his immense strength crushed any threats they couldn't evade.
"You fight like a warrior with nothing to lose," Thorne remarked during a rare moment of calm.
Kaelan glanced at him. "Maybe because I don't. Not really."
Thorne frowned. "Then why fight at all?"
"Because if I don't," Kaelan said, his voice resolute, "everything my parents sacrificed would mean nothing. And I'd rather die proving I'm more than my bloodline than live as a shadow of what I could be."
Thorne nodded slowly, respect gleaming in his eyes. "You've got fire, Kaelan. And fire, when tempered, forges steel. Maybe you're not like the gods after all."
The heart of the trial
Kaelan and Thorne pushed deeper into the forest, the oppressive fog growing thicker with every step. The shadows stalking them grew more cunning, their attacks relentless. But together, they pressed on, their synergy as allies becoming more apparent with each passing battle.
Kaelan's shadowblade combined with Thorne's unyielding strength allowed them to outmaneuver and overpower their enemies. As they reached the heart of the forest, a massive ancient tree stood towering above them. Its roots were like serpents, writhing and shifting, guarding a glowing core of radiant energy.
"This is it," Thorne said, his voice heavy with awe. "The heart of the forest. But something's wrong—this place is... tainted."
Kaelan stepped forward, his scythe glowing faintly in response to the energy. Suddenly, the roots sprang to life, forming a massive guardian made of bark and vines. Its hollow eyes locked onto Kaelan as it let out an ear-splitting roar.
"This must be the final test," Kaelan muttered, gripping his weapon.
"I'm with you," Thorne said, stepping beside him.
The guardian attacked with devastating force, its massive limbs crashing down like hammers. Kaelan darted through its strikes, his scythe slicing through its vines and bark, but the wounds regenerated almost instantly.
"This thing's drawing power from the heart!" Thorne shouted. "We need to sever its connection!"
Kaelan nodded, his mind racing. He laced on the guardians roots using them as a step to jump on the guardian's back, using the ethereal vision granted by his lineage to trace the flow of energy back to the tree's glowing core.
"I'll hold it off!" Thorne yelled, planting his feet and slamming his hammer into the ground, creating a shockwave that staggered the guardian.
Kaelan surged toward the core, his scythe blazing with Soulfire. He plunged the blade into the radiant energy, severing the connection with a burst of light. The guardian let out a deafening wail before collapsing into a heap of lifeless wood and vines.
As the forest stilled, Elderion's form materialized before them, his presence silencing even the whispers of the wind.
"Well done, Kaelan Darksong," Elderion said, his tone unreadable. "You have completed the trial. But tell me, what have you learned?"
Kaelan stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. "That strength alone isn't enough. It's the bonds we forge and the trust we place in others that allow us to rise above even the greatest challenges."
Elderion regarded him with a flicker of surprise. "Unexpected wisdom from one so young. Yet, do not think this victory changes the will of the gods. Your bloodline remains a stain upon the divine order."
"Then why give me this chance?" Kaelan demanded.
"Because balance demands it," Elderion replied. "Your existence defies our decree, yet your resilience intrigues even me. Perhaps you are more than a relic of a cursed lineage."
He turned his gaze to Thorne. "And you, mortal. Why do you follow him?"
Thorne straightened. "Because I see a fellow fighting for something greater than himself, someone achieving what I couldn't.I've seen enough false gods and broken promises to know the difference between a tyrant and someone worthy of loyalty."
Elderion's expression softened for a moment, but it quickly hardened. "Your path will not grow easier, Kaelan. If you seek purpose, you will need to challenge the very foundations of the divine order. But be warned: even if you succeed, the gods do not forgive."
The god lifted his staff, and the forest began to fade, leaving Kaelan and Thorne standing at the edge of the ruins of Tetheris.
Kaelan zoomed off through the dense forest immediately,his shadowy form flickering faintly as he tried to focus on the other's whereabouts.The weight of Elderion's words lingered like an iron chain around his thoughts. The oppressive silence of the woods seemed to mock him, its stillness a stark contrast to the chaos within his mind.
From behind him, a familiar voice called out.
"Kaelan! Hold up!"
Kaelan turned to see Thorne pushing through the underbrush, his massive frame illuminated by faint moonlight. The titan-like warrior caught up, resting his hammer on his shoulder as he studied Kaelan with a knowing gaze.
"You're terrible at sneaking off, you know," Thorne said, a wry grin on his face. "These woods aren't exactly safe for a loner".
Kaelan looked away. "I needed space and I'm not alone I have to get to the others but Elderion's trial... his words...
Thorne clapped him on the back before he could finish,his strength almost knocking Kaelan forward. "You think too much. You passed his test. That's what matters."
Kaelan let out a bitter laugh. "Did I? He still called me a stain—a relic of a cursed lineage. How am I supposed to move forward when even the gods see me as nothing more than a threat?"
Thorne's expression softened. "Look, kid. You can't change what you are, but you can prove that what you are is worth something. The others—they're counting on you. That means you don't get to wallow. You've got to fight."
Kaelan took a deep breath, nodding. "Let's get back to them."