Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Volume 2: Shards of Unity

Chapter 12: The Shard's Truth

Solas wasted no time. As Eryth stepped closer to the table, the glowing crystal pulsed with faint energy, casting elongated shadows on the walls. Kael and Nyx lingered nearby, the tension in the room palpable.

"Sit," Solas instructed, gesturing to the black stone table. Eryth obeyed, placing the shard in front of them. Its golden glow flickered faintly, tinged with crimson streaks.

Solas circled the table, their silver eyes never leaving the shard. "This is no ordinary fragment of power. It's one of the Ancient Shards, remnants of a being that once ruled over the fabric of existence itself. Each one carries not just power, but purpose."

Eryth swallowed hard. "And what's this one's purpose?"

Solas's lips pressed into a thin line. "That's what we need to find out. But know this—if the shard has begun to influence you, it means it has already judged you worthy… or desperate enough to serve its will."

Kael stepped forward, his tone sharp. "What happens if it decides Eryth isn't 'worthy' after all?"

Solas didn't answer immediately. Instead, they placed both hands on the table, and the runes flared brighter. "Then the shard will consume them—body, mind, and soul. There will be nothing left but a husk, twisted and subservient to its original purpose."

Into the Shard's Depths

Solas gestured for Eryth to place their hands on the glowing crystal. "You must enter the shard's essence. Face its truth. Only then can you begin to master it."

Eryth hesitated, the weight of Solas's words sinking in. "And if I fail?"

"Then you won't leave this chamber alive," Solas said bluntly.

Kael stepped forward. "Wait—there has to be another way!"

"There isn't," Solas said firmly. "This is the path of a Shardbearer. They must face it alone."

Eryth exhaled shakily, their fingers brushing against the crystal. Nyx growled softly, its glowing eyes fixed on them.

"It's okay, Nyx," Eryth murmured, offering a faint smile. "I can handle this."

The shard pulsed once, its light intensifying as Eryth's hands made full contact with the crystal. The world around them dissolved in an instant, plunging them into a vast void.

The Shard's Realm

Eryth floated in an endless expanse of shifting colors—gold, crimson, and black blending into a chaotic swirl. Whispers filled the air, indistinct and overlapping, until one voice rose above the rest.

"You seek control, but control is an illusion."

A figure materialized before Eryth, its form amorphous and ever-changing. At times it resembled a towering humanoid wreathed in flames; at others, a beast with glowing eyes and countless limbs.

"Who are you?" Eryth demanded, their voice echoing in the void.

"I am the shard, and I am a fragment of the Sovereign's will," the figure replied. "But more importantly, I am a reflection of you. Your fears, your desires, your doubts—all that you hide from the world."

Eryth clenched their fists. "I'm not afraid of you."

The shard laughed, the sound reverberating through the void. "A bold claim. But courage without understanding is meaningless. Let us see what lies beneath your resolve."

The colors around them shifted, solidifying into a scene from Eryth's past. They stood in a burning village, the screams of its inhabitants echoing in their ears. A younger version of themselves knelt in the ashes, clutching a lifeless figure.

"No…" Eryth whispered, their breath catching.

"This is where it began," the shard said. "This is the moment that shaped you. Tell me, Shardbearer—why did you survive when others did not?"

Eryth shook their head, tears streaming down their face. "I… I didn't want to. I begged for it to end, but…"

"But it didn't," the shard finished. "Because the world doesn't care about your wishes. It takes and takes, leaving only those strong enough to endure. And you… you are still running from that truth."

The scene dissolved, replaced by another—a battlefield littered with corpses. Eryth stood at the center, the shard glowing in their hand as the power surged uncontrollably.

"You think I want this?" Eryth shouted at the shard's manifestation. "I didn't ask for any of it!"

"And yet it is yours," the shard replied. "You cannot change what has been given to you, but you can choose how to wield it. Show me that you are more than your past, or be consumed by it."

The Trial of Will

The void shifted again, and Eryth found themselves facing a monstrous version of Nyx. The nightmare creature's sleek form was twisted, its eyes burning with crimson light, its claws dripping with shadow.

"This isn't real," Eryth said, backing away.

"Isn't it?" the shard countered. "This is the fear you hide—the fear that even those who stand beside you will turn against you. Prove your resolve, or be devoured by it."

The monstrous Nyx lunged, and Eryth barely managed to dodge. They scrambled to their feet, summoning the shard's power. A golden blade formed in their hand, its edge flickering like fire.

"You're not real," Eryth said again, their voice stronger. "And you're not Nyx."

The beast roared, charging again. This time, Eryth stood their ground, the blade slicing through its shadowy form. The creature howled as it dissolved into the void, leaving behind only silence.

The shard's voice returned, quieter now. "You have taken the first step. But the path ahead remains perilous. Will you rise, or will you fall like so many before you?"

Return to Reality

Eryth gasped as they were pulled back into the chamber, collapsing onto the stone floor. Nyx was at their side instantly, nuzzling them with a low whine.

Kael knelt beside them, his expression anxious. "Eryth! Are you okay?"

Solas watched silently, their gaze unreadable.

Eryth sat up slowly, clutching the shard. Its light was steady now, no longer flickering with crimson streaks.

"I'm fine," they said, their voice hoarse. "But this… this is far from over."

Solas nodded approvingly. "You've survived the shard's trial. That's more than most can say. But if you want to master its power, you'll need more than resolve. You'll need allies, knowledge, and the will to face the Sovereign's forces head-on."

Eryth met their gaze, determination burning in their eyes. "Then tell me what we need to do."