Morning arrived with a cold wind. Kael stood outside the small cave where they had spent the night. The pain in his body had eased a little, but the black mark on his arm was still there. Every now and then, it gave off a faint pulse. Lyria walked over and handed him a piece of dried meat. "You need to eat." Kael accepted it with a smile. "Thanks." A few steps away, Darius was tightening the straps on his armor. His shoulder was wrapped in clean bandages, but the wound from Captain Aric still hurt. "We leave now," he said. "Frostvale is at least five days away if we keep moving." Lyria unfolded an old map. "The Second Shrine lies beyond Frostvale, deep in the northern mountains." She pointed to a narrow path. "This is the only s

The mountain pass echoed with the sound of marching soldiers.Darius stood alone in the middle of the narrow path, his greatsword resting on his shoulder.Behind him, Kael and Lyria stood frozen.Neither of them wanted to leave.Darius glanced over his shoulder and smiled."Why are you still here?"Kael shook his head."I'm not leaving you.""You have to.""There has to be another way!""There isn't."Darius's voice remained calm."Listen to me, Kael.""You are not the one meant to die today.""You still have a journey ahead of you."Kael clenched his fists."I won't abandon my friends."Darius chuckled."You're a stubborn kid."Then his face turned serious."If you stay...""...everything your parents died for will be lost."Those words hit Kael harder than any sword.Lyria gently placed a hand on Kael's shoulder."He is right."Kael looked at her.Tears had already filled her eyes."We have to trust him."The commander of the royal army raised his sword."Attack!"Hundreds of soldie

The ancient hall fell silent.Kael stood in the center of the chamber, staring at the Shadow Armor covering his left arm.The voice had disappeared.Only the blue flames along the walls remained.Lyria slowly stood up and brushed the dust from her robe."Did you hear that too?"Kael nodded."It said... 'Welcome home.'"Lyria looked around the hall."This place wasn't built for just anyone.""It was built for someone from your bloodline."Kael looked at the statues surrounding the room.Their heads were still lowered, almost as if they were bowing to him.He felt uneasy."I don't understand any of this.""You don't have to understand everything today," Lyria said. "Just keep moving."Kael gave a small nod.He knew she was right.---As they searched the chamber, they discovered another stone pedestal hidde

The stone gate stood open.Kael stared into the darkness beyond it.Nothing moved.Yet he could feel something watching them.Lyria held her staff tightly."Kael, don't go in yet.""Why?""I don't know what's waiting inside."Kael looked back at the mountain pass.The Ice Wolves were still there.But they had stopped growling.They stood far away, staring at the open gate.Almost as if they were afraid to come closer.Kael took a deep breath."We came here for the Second Shrine."He stepped forward.Lyria followed.The moment they crossed the gate, the stone doors slammed shut behind them.BOOM!Kael spun around."Great."Lyria sighed."At least we're inside."They walked through a long stone tunnel.The walls were covered with old drawings.Some showed warriors fighting strange creatures.Others showed people kneeling before a figure wearing a black crown.Kael stopped at one of the drawings."That's him."Lyria looked at the picture."The Shadow Monarch?"Kael nodded.But something

The black flames disappeared.Kael stood in the middle of the shrine, breathing heavily.For a few seconds, nothing happened.Then the floor beneath him began to glow.Silver lines spread across the stone, forming a large circle.Lyria suddenly appeared beside him."Kael!"He turned quickly."Lyria?"She looked relieved."I've been calling your name.""What happened?""I don't know. You disappeared the moment those flames surrounded you."Kael looked at his hands.The strange flames were gone, but something felt different.The Shadow Core inside his chest was quieter.For the first time since it awakened, it wasn't hurting him.Lyria noticed the change."Your mark..."The black lines on Kael's arm had stopped spreading.Kael looked at them."It feels calmer."Before Lyria could answer, the shrine began to shake.A deep sound came from beneath the floor.Then a voice filled the chamber."The heir has passed the trial."Kael looked around."Who are you?"The silver circle beneath him be