ering shadows along the stone walls. Every step echoed around her, a constant reminder of how utterly alone she

dn't shake the ominous tone with which he'd spoken, as if the

ely illuminating the edges of the space. Towering pillars of stone rose from the ground like

rb about the size of her fist, engraved with runes that shimmered like liquid lig

ard. This had to be the trial Voryn mentioned. The orb was the key to something, w

rough the ground, and the runes on the orb flared brightly. Shadows erupted from the edg

t creatures with hollow eyes that glowed faintly. Their bodies were shrouded in tattered clo

voice a hollow rasp. "To claim th

move. Kaelira's heart pounded as she reached for the dagger at her belt

t you!" she called ou

hough considering her words. "A trial

unged toward her, its movements unnervingly fast. She dodged, rolling to the

er feet. She swung her dagger wildly, the blade pas

These aren't p

for anything she could use. The orb's glow ca

reatures shrieked, their cries echoing through the chamber as they gave chase. She could f

her fingers touched its surface, a wave of energy surged through her, forcing her

a voice not unlike Voryn's but so

mpered by shadow. Wie

ergy coursing through her was almost unbearable, but she focused on the

ade. The shadowy figures shrieked, their forms unraveling into wisps of smoke before van

tly in her hands. Its glow had dimmed, but it continued

d slowly, expecting more shadow creatures, but instead found Voryn standing at the edge of

he said, his voice heavy with somet

t, her legs trembling. "That was

y. "You carry the blood of the betrayer, but you have al

orb. "What is this? And why di

hadows you faced were echoes of those who defied the gods long ago. They are drawn to the li

t unfamiliar yet oddly comforting.

more of you than the last. But if you fail, the gods will

d barely survived this first test, how could she possibly

e said, her voice steady des

mortal. For the light you wield will not only dra