Chapter 8: The First Trial — Vault of Stormglass
Darkness swallowed them whole.
Ren's eyes struggled to adjust as he plummeted through the void. He felt no air, no weight — just the pull of an ancient force dragging him downward. And then… he landed.
Softly. Like falling into clouds.
A low hum echoed all around. When he opened his eyes, the scene before him was surreal.
The trio stood inside a massive chamber made entirely of glass-like crystal — glowing faint blue and reflecting their movements in distorted, ghostly echoes. The walls shimmered with magical script. The floor had shifting patterns beneath the glass, as if the ground itself was alive.
Yuna stood, her eyes narrowed. "We're in the trial chamber."
Akio clutched his side. "Well, the landing sucked, but the place is… kind of amazing."
Then, a voice filled the space. Calm. Ancient. Familiar.
> "Trial One: The Vault of Stormglass. Three flames must act as one. Trust will be tested. Power must not be forced — only shared."
Three glyphs appeared in the air — fire, wind, and lightning — then floated toward them and embedded into their chests.
Yuna's body shimmered red. Akio glowed faint green. Ren's glowed electric blue.
A stone gate rose ahead, covered in magical locks.
Three paths split behind them — each leading to a different chamber.
Yuna clenched her fists. "I don't like this."
"We'll be fine," Ren said, though he wasn't sure. "Let's go. We take our paths and meet at the gate."
They split up.
---
Ren's Trial — Lightning Chamber
The air crackled. Static danced across his skin.
Inside the chamber, floating platforms hovered over an endless abyss. Lightning arced between them, creating random bridges of energy.
Ren had to move fast — timing each jump to ride the sparks safely. One wrong step, and he'd fall.
With each jump, the mark on his hand pulsed stronger. His mind began understanding the timing, the energy.
On the last platform, a voice whispered:
> "You are stormborn. Chaos is not your enemy… it is your nature."
---
Yuna's Trial — Flame Chamber
A narrow bridge stretched across lava. Creatures of fire hissed in the shadows.
Yuna gritted her teeth and stepped forward.
The fire didn't scare her — it listened to her. She raised her hand, and the flames parted. She didn't need to burn everything. She needed to control it.
Midway, a flaming wraith attacked — but instead of fighting, Yuna calmed it. The flames dimmed, and the wraith vanished in peace.
> "You are not destruction. You are balance. Fire obeys you because you understand it."
---
Akio's Trial — Wind Chamber
His room was a maze of mirrors and howling wind. Whispers flew through the air — memories, doubts, regrets.
"You'll slow them down."
"You're not chosen."
"You're the weakest."
Akio covered his ears, but the winds grew louder. Finally, he screamed.
"SHUT UP!"
The wind calmed.
He looked up.
> "Only when you stop running from the noise… will you hear your own voice."
---
Back at the main gate, the three met again.
Their marks glowed in perfect sync.
The door opened.
Ahead of them… was a massive hall made of pure silver ice, and inside, suspended in a floating crystal:
A girl. Eyes closed. Hands glowing faint blue. Hair drifting like snow.
The fourth.
Still asleep.
Yuna whispered, "We found her."
But something stirred behind them.
A shadow stepped into the hall. Cloaked in black and violet robes, a cruel grin on his face.
"Well done," the man said. "You brought me right to her."
Ren's heart dropped.
The real trial was just beginning.
---