surged up like ghostly hands reaching from the void. He fell but not into mere darkness. He plummet

ons. Kael stood at the heart of a forgotten battlefield.

e legacy in

orward, his figure slowly revealed. Kael's heart nearly stopped. His father

, why didn't

... you were already gone

the voic

er's screams pierced the night. A younger version of himself ran forward, but his body wouldn't move. He could only watch a

spirit. "Avenge us? Or forgive them? Kill every tr

ands. "He's the one who murdered me," the voice

ed from his hands until Aria's image appeared, fra

n blood, who wi

laws dropped. He

hispered. "I won't be controlled by b

ked ground dried. His father's

you

violently. She awoke with a cry Kael's name on her lips.

Kael's wounds?

this was only the first trial. The forest changed again. The trees vanished

Elders sat in a stone ring around the Pool of Light

k gathered, tense and silent. Rowan stood at the front, fists clenched. Aria, h

Trial of the Soul begins. Witness

endering Aria to Maeron to preserve peace. Kael murdering Gerrard in cold blood. Kael choosing power over love, marrying Lyra to

d through the sacred pool. "I may have Alp

n the mirror. She was bound, blee

ve me, you must gi

s this the trial? To choo

s heart. Outside, the pool trembled viol

himself," one

an muttered, "he's not jus

ed the mirrors. The shadows vanished. He stepped forw

se you. No mat

rial. The pool calmed. Kael stood within the forest, his breat

d. "The Trial of the Soul i

ttling like fog. But Maeron's grip on his s

igid, biting to the bone. Kael found himself dragged into a dead zone

love will save you, Kael?"

bloodied, broken. "My daughter

red, her eyes empty. "I believed

hispered. But the forest showed no mercy. "Choose, you

through his skull. "You are the

"No! Aria is not something to cho

h shattered. His skin blackened, blood poured from hi

on't survive. A weak-hearte

. Through the mist, Aria ran. Her breath was ragged. Feet bloodied. But she was guided by a

bit her finger let her sacred blood fall to the groun

ened. "Don't die...

l who felt warmth, healing love. He rose slowly. Wounds vanished. His body shimmered with

. she s

choose neither. I choose to cr

turned cloudy.

ked. "The fire is gone but no on

ed from the forest. His body bore the scars of his trials but his eyes blazed with a new fire. H