“Trust me, I’m not a fan of heights, but I’m starting to think this is going to be more about what’s in our heads than what’s under our feet,” Finn said, his voice a mix of forced levity and genuine concern.
Lysandra shot him a sidelong glance, her brow furrowed in thought. “It’s not the height that worries me, Finn. It’s what we might see down there—what we might have to face.”
Maelis, always the pragmatist, gave a slight nod. “If this trial is anything like the last one, it’s not just our courage that’s going to be tested. We need to be ready for anything, even if that means confronting our worst fears.”
Alaric, who had been silently observing the vast chasm before them, finally spoke, his tone steady but with an undercurrent of unease. “The guardian said we’d need to trust in the light within. That’s the only way we’re getting across this.”
The chasm stretched out before them, a seemingly endless void filled with swirling mist that obscured the bottom. The only way across was a narrow, crumbling bridge of stone, barely wide enough for one person at a time. But even from where they stood, it was clear that the bridge wasn’t just physically precarious—it was laced with illusions, shadows that flickered and danced, creating images that were both haunting and deceptive.
Finn let out a low whistle, trying to keep things light despite the ominous task ahead. “Great. A bridge that could fall apart at any moment, and it’s playing mind games with us too. Whoever designed this must have had a twisted sense of humor.”
Lysandra smiled faintly, though her eyes remained focused on the bridge. “If we can’t trust what we see, we’ll have to trust each other. No matter what happens, we stay together.”
Alaric took a deep breath, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. “One at a time, then. I’ll go first.”
Maelis placed a hand on his arm, her gaze serious. “Just remember, the path forward is not always what it seems. Trust in the light within, or you will fall.”
He nodded, appreciating her words more than he could express. Without another word, he stepped onto the bridge, the stone shifting slightly under his weight. He moved cautiously, each step measured, his eyes scanning the path ahead for any sign of danger.
The moment he was halfway across, the illusions began. The mist swirled, forming images in the air around him—visions of battles lost, comrades fallen, and a future where the darkness consumed everything he had fought to protect. His heart pounded in his chest as the images grew more vivid, more real, threatening to overwhelm him.
But Alaric focused on the light within him, a deep, unwavering resolve that had guided him through countless challenges. He pushed the illusions aside, forcing himself to see the bridge for what it truly was—a narrow, fragile path that he could cross if he kept his mind clear.
As he reached the other side, the illusions dissipated, leaving him standing on solid ground, breathing heavily but unharmed. He turned back to the others, giving them a nod of encouragement. “It’s not easy, but it’s possible. Just don’t let the illusions get to you.”
Lysandra was next. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before stepping onto the bridge. The moment her foot touched the stone, the air around her shimmered, and she was confronted with visions of her past—moments of doubt, of failure, of times when she had questioned her own strength.
The illusions were powerful, drawing on her deepest insecurities, but Lysandra refused to give in. She kept her focus on the light within her, the determination that had carried her this far. Step by step, she crossed the bridge, the illusions growing weaker as she approached the other side.
When she finally reached Alaric, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “It’s like they know exactly what to show you, what will hurt the most.”
Alaric placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “But you made it through. We all will.”
Maelis was next. Her steps were confident, but as she crossed the bridge, the mist twisted into dark, foreboding shapes—visions of the violence she had seen, the bloodshed she had caused in the name of protecting the light. The images taunted her, questioning whether she was any different from those she fought against.
But Maelis wasn’t easily shaken. She knew who she was, and she knew why she fought. She forced the illusions away, crossing the bridge with the same calm determination that had carried her through every battle she had faced.
When she reached the other side, she gave Alaric and Lysandra a brief smile. “It’s going to take more than some old ghosts to stop us.”
Finally, it was Finn’s turn. He stepped onto the bridge with a forced grin, trying to mask his unease with humor. “Here goes nothing,” he muttered, though his heart was racing.
As he walked, the mist coalesced into images of failure—times when he had been too slow, too weak, too afraid. The visions showed him losing his friends, failing to protect them, leaving him alone in a world consumed by darkness.
For a moment, Finn hesitated, the weight of the illusions pressing down on him. But then he remembered Lysandra’s words: Trust in the light within. He thought of his friends, of the bond they shared, of the countless times they had saved each other. He knew he wasn’t alone. He wasn’t the person the illusions showed him to be.
With renewed resolve, Finn pushed forward, the images fading as he neared the other side. When he finally joined the others, he let out a shaky breath, a relieved grin spreading across his face. “Well, that was fun. Let’s never do that again.”
Lysandra chuckled softly, though there was a hint of lingering tension in her voice. “Agreed. But we made it. That’s what matters.”
Just as they were about to continue, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The stone of the bridge cracked and shifted, sending small pieces tumbling into the abyss below.
“Everyone, move!” Alaric shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
The group sprinted toward solid ground, the bridge crumbling behind them. The chasm seemed to grow wider, the gap between them and safety expanding with every second.
Finn was the last to reach the edge, the ground giving way just as he leaped toward his friends. For a heart-stopping moment, it seemed as though he wouldn’t make it, but Lysandra and Maelis grabbed his arms, pulling him to safety just as the last remnants of the bridge collapsed into the darkness. They all lay there for a moment, breathing heavily, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins.
“That was too close,” Lysandra said, her voice shaky.
Finn managed a weak laugh, though there was no humor in it. “Close? I’m pretty sure I just met my ancestors down there.”
Alaric helped Finn to his feet, his expression serious. “We’re going to have to be more careful. The trials are only going to get harder from here.”
Maelis nodded in agreement. “And more dangerous. We can’t afford to let our guard down, not even for a second.”
Finn dusted himself off, trying to shake off the lingering fear. “Well, if the next trial involves anything with less crumbling bridges and more solid ground, I’m all for it.”
Lysandra smiled faintly, though the tension in the air was palpable. “I wouldn’t count on it, Finn. If the guardian’s words are any indication, the worst is still ahead of us.”
The group shared a look, the reality of their situation sinking in. They had barely made it through the first trial, and there were many more to come. Each step forward would bring them closer to the True Flame, but it would also bring them closer to greater danger, greater challenges.
But even as the weight of their quest pressed down on them, there was a sense of resolve, a determination that they would face whatever came their way, together. The bond between them, forged in the fires of countless battles, was stronger than any illusion, any fear. And it was that bond that would see them through the trials ahead.
As they prepared to move forward, Alaric spoke, his voice filled with quiet determination. “The path forward is not always what it seems. Trust in the light within, or you will fall.”