The temple's ancient walls hummed with quiet power, as if they were alive—watching, listening. The flickering glow of enchanted torches cast long shadows across the stone floor, making the space feel even more vast and unknowable. Raine exhaled, rolling his shoulders, still adjusting to the weight of energy coursing through him. He felt different now—stronger, sharper, more aware of himself and the world around him.
But he wasn't strong enough.
Not yet.
Seraphis stood before them, arms crossed, her silver eyes calm yet unreadable. "You have taken the first step, but your journey is far from over."
Sylara shifted, her expression still hardened with skepticism. "Is it ever?"
Seraphis ignored the sarcasm. "The powers you've unlocked will not be enough against Varian. Nor will they be enough to stand against the true forces moving behind the scenes."
Raine frowned. "You're talking about the Abyssal Court, aren't you?"
Seraphis nodded. "Among others."
Sylara let out a slow breath, gripping the hilt of her sword. "Then tell us what we need to do. If we can't face them as we are, how do we get stronger?"
Seraphis studied them both before finally speaking. "There is an ancient rite. A trial undertaken by those seeking to reach beyond their natural limits. It is not for the weak-hearted. It does not guarantee survival."
Raine smirked. "Sounds like everything else we've been through."
"The Trial of Ascendance," Seraphis continued, unphased by his comment. "It is not a simple test of strength, but of will. To pass, you must face your truest self, strip away your doubts, and endure pain beyond anything you've known. Only then will you be worthy of wielding the power necessary to challenge the fate set before you."
Sylara raised a brow. "And let me guess—you just happen to know where this trial takes place?"
Seraphis nodded toward the far end of the temple, where another set of massive doors stood, untouched by time. "Beyond this passage lies the Sanctum of Echoes—a place where warriors of the past once ascended beyond their mortal limits. If you step through, there is no turning back until the trial is complete."
Raine took a step forward without hesitation. "Then let's go."
Sylara grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Wait. This isn't something we should rush into."
Raine met her gaze. "If we wait, we're giving our enemies time to get stronger. We need every advantage we can get."
Sylara sighed, running a hand through her silvery hair. "I know. But we don't know what we're walking into."
"Then we figure it out as we go." Raine placed his hand over hers, gently pulling it away from his arm. "Together."
For a moment, she hesitated. Then, with a reluctant exhale, she nodded. "Together."
Seraphis extended her hand toward the massive doors. At her command, they groaned and rumbled, shifting open with an unseen force. Beyond the entrance lay a staircase, descending into utter darkness.
"Your trial awaits," she said.
Raine and Sylara exchanged one last glance before stepping forward—into the unknown.
The Sanctum of Echoes
The air inside the sanctum was thick with an eerie stillness, as if the space itself was untouched by time. Ancient symbols lined the walls, glowing faintly with golden light.
They walked cautiously, their footsteps echoing through the vast chamber. At its center stood a massive circular platform, engraved with markings unlike anything Raine had ever seen.
"This place…" Sylara murmured. "It feels… alive."
Seraphis stood at the edge of the chamber, her gaze distant. "It remembers those who came before."
Raine stepped onto the platform, a strange warmth spreading through his body as the symbols beneath his feet pulsed with energy. "So, how does this work?"
Seraphis raised her staff. "The sanctum will judge you. It will force you to face the deepest parts of yourself—the doubts, the weaknesses, the fears that still hold you back. If you overcome them, you will rise stronger. If not… the sanctum will cast you aside."
Raine clenched his fists. "Then let's get started."
Seraphis nodded, then slammed the bottom of her staff against the ground. A wave of golden light spread across the chamber, and instantly, the world around them shifted.
The Trial Begins
Raine blinked, finding himself no longer in the sanctum. Instead, he stood in an endless void, stars stretching infinitely in every direction.
A voice echoed around him.
"What are you?"
The question sent a chill down his spine. He turned, and in front of him stood—himself.
But this wasn't just a reflection. This version of Raine stood taller, his presence commanding, his eyes filled with something unreadable.
"You call yourself strong?" the figure said, stepping forward. "You think you can change fate?"
Raine gritted his teeth. "I don't care about fate. I'm fighting for what I choose."
His counterpart smirked. "You're lying to yourself."
Before Raine could respond, the figure lunged.
Faster than thought, he blocked Raine's strike effortlessly, twisting his arm behind him and slamming him into the ground.
Raine gasped, pain shooting through his ribs.
"You're weak." The figure's voice was emotionless, cold. "You think because you've gained a sliver of power, you're strong? That you're worthy?"
The figure stepped over him, looking down at him like he was nothing. "You are not ready."
Raine struggled to push himself up. He was stronger than this. He had fought through worse. He had survived.
He refused to be broken here.
With a roar, he summoned his magic, lightning crackling across his hands. The void shook as he unleashed a blast of energy.
The figure caught it with a single hand.
And then, in an instant, he was behind Raine.
A sharp strike to his back sent him crashing down again. This time, when he hit the void's surface, he couldn't move.
His limbs felt heavy. His breathing was ragged. His vision blurred.
The figure crouched beside him, voice barely above a whisper. "If you cannot rise now, you will never rise again."
Raine clenched his fists. His body screamed at him to stop, to give up.
But he wouldn't.
He couldn't.
Not after everything he had been through. Not when Sylara was waiting for him. Not when he had finally found something—someone—worth fighting for.
Slowly, painfully, he forced himself up.
The figure watched him, expression unreadable.
Then, he smirked.
Raine didn't hesitate. He launched himself forward, fists crackling with lightning, and this time—his attack connected.
A shockwave tore through the void as his punch landed. The figure stumbled back.
Raine stood tall. "I'm not here because fate chose me."
His lightning surged around him, more controlled than ever before.
"I'm here because I chose to fight."
The figure smiled. And then, in a flash of light—he vanished.
The void shattered around him.
Raine gasped as he fell back into the real world, collapsing onto the sanctum's platform.
His body felt different. Stronger. More in sync with his magic. More complete.
He looked up to see Sylara standing over him, eyes filled with something new—respect.
She offered him her hand.
"Welcome back," she said.
Raine took it, pulling himself up.
He wasn't the same as before.
He was stronger.
And this was only the beginning.