Eclipse of Eternity: The lost Kingdom's Curse

The Trial of Roots

The path of twisted roots stretched endlessly before them, winding deeper into the heart of the Whispering Forest. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and ancient wood, and the trees seemed to lean closer, their branches forming a canopy that blocked out the sky. Kael’s mark glowed faintly, casting a soft light on the path ahead.

Elara walked beside him, her daggers still in hand. “This place gives me the creeps,” she muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows. “I don’t trust magic. It always comes with a price.”

Kael glanced at her. “You don’t have to come with me, you know. I didn’t ask for this.”

She smirked. “And leave you to stumble around on your own? You wouldn’t last a day. Besides, I’ve got my own reasons for sticking around.”

Before Kael could ask what she meant, the path ahead split into three. Each fork looked identical, but the air around them felt different. The left path was shrouded in mist, the middle path was lined with glowing flowers, and the right path was dark and silent.

The voice from the tree echoed in Kael’s mind again. *"Choose wisely, for each path holds a trial. Only one will lead you closer to the amulet."*

Elara crossed her arms. “Of course. Nothing’s ever simple.”

Kael stepped forward, studying the paths. “Any ideas?”

“Not really,” Elara said. “But I don’t like the look of the dark one. Too obvious.”

Kael nodded. “The middle path, then. The flowers might be a sign.”

Elara shrugged. “Your call.”

They stepped onto the middle path, the glowing flowers casting an eerie light. As they walked, the air grew warmer, and the scent of the flowers became almost overwhelming. Kael felt a strange sense of calm, but Elara’s expression grew tense.

“Something’s not right,” she said, her grip tightening on her daggers. “This feels… too easy.”

As if in response, the ground beneath them began to shift. The flowers closed their petals, and the light faded, plunging them into darkness. Kael’s mark flared, but the light barely pierced the gloom.

A low growl echoed through the trees, and Kael spun around, his sword raised. “What was that?”

Elara didn’t answer. She was gone.

“Elara!” Kael called, his voice echoing in the silence. He turned in circles, but there was no sign of her. The forest seemed to close in around him, the trees pressing closer, their branches reaching like claws.

A voice whispered in his ear, soft and mocking. *"You cannot save her. You cannot save anyone."*

Kael swung his sword, but it cut through empty air. The voice laughed, a sound that sent chills down his spine. “Show yourself!” he shouted.

The darkness shifted, and a figure emerged—a shadowy version of himself, its eyes glowing with malice. “You’re weak,” it said, its voice a twisted echo of his own. “You’ll never break the curse. You’ll fail, just like your ancestors.”

Kael’s heart pounded, but he forced himself to stand firm. “I’m not afraid of you.”

The shadow laughed. “You should be.”

It lunged, and Kael swung his sword, the blade clashing against the shadow’s claws. The force of the impact sent him stumbling back, but he recovered quickly, his training as a blacksmith giving him strength and precision. He struck again, the blade cutting through the shadow’s form, but it simply reformed, its laughter growing louder.

“You can’t win,” the shadow taunted. “You’re nothing.”

Kael gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He couldn’t fight the shadow with brute force—it was feeding off his fear and doubt. He closed his eyes, focusing on the mark on his wrist. It pulsed with warmth, and he felt a surge of energy.

The voice from the tree echoed in his mind again. *"The trial is not of strength, but of will. Face your fears, and the path will reveal itself."*

Kael took a deep breath and lowered his sword. The shadow hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Kael said, his voice steady. “You’re just a reflection of my doubts. And I won’t let you control me.”

The shadow let out a roar and lunged again, but Kael stood his ground. As the shadow reached him, it dissolved into smoke, the darkness lifting. The glowing flowers reopened, their light brighter than before.

Elara appeared a few feet away, her daggers raised. She looked around, confused. “What just happened?”

Kael exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. “It was a test. We had to face our fears.”

Elara raised an eyebrow. “Speak for yourself. I was just about to stab something.”

Kael couldn’t help but smile. “Come on. Let’s keep moving.”

The path ahead was clearer now, the trees parting to reveal a small glade. At its center stood a stone pedestal, and on it rested a small, intricately carved box. Kael approached cautiously, his mark pulsing in time with his heartbeat.

He opened the box, revealing a shard of crystal that glowed with a soft, golden light. The voice from the tree spoke again. *"You have passed the first trial. Take the shard, for it will guide you to the next."*

Elara peered over his shoulder. “What is it?”

“A piece of the puzzle,” Kael said, closing the box and tucking it into his satchel. “We’re one step closer.”

As they left the glade, the forest seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. But Kael knew the hardest challenges were still ahead. The Curseweaver was watching, and the next trial would be even more dangerous.