Chapter 18
THE CHAMBER shifted around Zar’Ryn, the air thickening with an oppressive weight. The golden barrier separating him from Elara dissolved into shimmering motes of light, and a new pedestal rose up from the floor with a low whine.
The Custodian’s voice resonated through the chamber, calm and unyielding. “The second challenge begins now. Greater balance must be achieved to proceed. Your bond will guide you.”
Zar’Ryn’s jaw tightened as the ground beneath his feet solidified into smooth stone, marked with glowing patterns that twisted and pulsed like living veins. Beside him, Elara stood in a separate section of the chamber, her staff clutched tightly in her hands. The metallic constructs that had been dormant during the first trial now stirred to life, their glowing red eyes fixing on her. Each step they took sent an ominous echo through theroom.
“Elara,” Zar’Ryn called, his sharp amethyst gaze locking onto hers. “You must focus. Iwill solve the puzzles. You must eliminate the constructs.”
She swallowed hard, nodding, but he could see the fear in her eyes as the first construct advanced. “I am not sure I can handle this,” she said, her voice trembling.
“You will,” he replied firmly, his tone brooking no argument. “Trust the bond. Iwill guide you.”
Her knuckles whitened around the staff as the first construct lunged. Its blade-like appendages swung in wide arcs, forcing her to leap back. The ground shifted beneath her feet, uneven and unpredictable, as though the chamber itself sought to unbalanceher.
“Focus,” Zar’Ryn’s voice rang clearly through the bond, calm and commanding. “Do not hesitate. Use its momentum against it.”
Elara inhaled sharply, the bond’s steady presence cutting through her fear. As the construct lunged again, she sidestepped and swung her staff at its legs, knocking it off balance. The metallic creature staggered, and she drove the staff into its glowing core. Sparks erupted, and the construct collapsed with a resounding clang.
Zar’Ryn, meanwhile, turned his attention to the puzzle on the pedestal. Symbols etched into the surface shifted in chaotic patterns, their movements accelerating each time he tried to focus on a single piece. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to slow his breathing.
“This is not a fight,” he muttered to himself. “Think like her.”
The bond thrummed faintly, and he caught a flicker of Elara’s presence—her determination, her fear, her will to push through. It steadied him. He reached for the first glowing symbol, aligning it with a faint groove on the surface. The pedestal pulsed, the symbol locking into place.
Above the puzzle, atimer flickered into view, its glowing countdown adding to the weight of the task. He frowned. The time was limited, and failure would not be an option.
On the other side of the chamber, Elara faced her second construct. This one was faster, its movements sharper and more deliberate. It feinted left before lunging right, catching her off guard. The blade grazed her arm, slicing through her sleeve and leaving a shallowcut.
She hissed in pain, stumbling back. “Zar’Ryn, Ican’t—”
“You can,” his voice cut through her panic, sharp and unyielding. “Listen to the bond. Iam here.”
Elara gritted her teeth, forcing herself to focus. The bond pulsed, and she felt Zar’Ryn’s calm washing over her, steadying her trembling hands. As the construct charged again, she moved with precision, her staff striking its wrist joint. The blade dropped from its grasp, and she spun, landing a decisive blow to its core. The construct collapsed in a burst of sparks.
“I got it,” she muttered breathlessly, her heart pounding. She glanced toward Zar’Ryn, who was carefully aligning another symbol on the pedestal. The timer above him flickered, the seconds slipping away too quickly.
Zar’Ryn’s hands moved deliberately, the bond sharpening his focus. As he locked the second symbol into place, the puzzle pulsed again, and the patterns shifted. The next sequence grew more complex, the grooves less defined. His frustration flared, but through the bond, he felt Elara’s determination and used it to steady himself.
“Elara, are there more constructs?” he called, his voice tight.
“Yes,” she replied, her tone strained. “They are waking up faster now.”
The third construct loomed before her, its glowing eyes more vivid than the others. This one moved with unnerving speed, its attacks relentless. Elara barely dodged its first strike, the blade slicing through the air just inches from her face. She stumbled, her back hitting the uneven wall behindher.
“Zar’Ryn,” she called, panic rising in her chest.
“Hold steady,” his voice surged through the bond, firm but reassuring. “Its core is exposed when it overextends. Wait for the right moment.”
She swallowed hard, adjusting her grip on the staff. The construct lunged again, and this time she stood her ground. She sidestepped at the last second, ducking and driving her staff into its glowing core. The construct shuddered and fell, its light flickeringout.
On the pedestal, the final sequence began to glow. Zar’Ryn worked quickly, aligning the last symbol with precision. The bond pulsed in sync with his movements, amplifying his focus. As the final piece locked into place, the pedestal emitted a soft chime, and the glowing timer vanished.
“It is done,” Zar’Ryn said, his voice rough but steady. He turned toward Elara, who leaned heavily on her staff, her chest heaving. The bond thrummed between them, stronger now, more certain.
Elara looked up, meeting his gaze with a tired but triumphant smile. “We made it,” she said softly.
Zar’Ryn stepped toward the center of the chamber as the Custodian’s voice filled the space. “The second challenge is complete. Prepare for the third.”
The chamber shifted once more, and Zar’Ryn barely had time to steady himself before the ground beneath him trembled. The stone surface on his side cracked apart, glowing fissures forming a jagged path to a new platform that rose from the depths of the chamber. Across from him, Elara stumbled as her footing shifted, the constructs she had faced collapsing into the floor as new ones emerged from hidden recesses. These were taller, sleeker, and carried weapons that crackled with arcs of energy.
“The final challenge begins now,” the Custodian intoned. “In this trial, your bond must guide you to balance in chaos. You will have no other choice.”
Zar’Ryn’s gaze darted to Elara, who was already adjusting her grip on the staff, her knuckles white. She met his eyes, her fear evident but tempered with resolve. “What do we do?” she called, her voice strained.
“You survive,” Zar’Ryn answered bluntly, his tone hard as steel. He turned toward the pedestal that rose before him, its surface now segmented into multiple glowing grids, each shifting erratically. The symbols on this puzzle were no longer just patterns; they formed a series of interlocking sequences that moved in tandem. One mistake would throw the entire mechanism into disarray.
“Focus on your side,” Zar’Ryn said sharply. “I will handle this.”
Elara hesitated but nodded, her attention snapping to the constructs advancing toward her. The first one moved with frightening speed, its energy weapon slicing through the air. She ducked, rolling away as the blade cut through the space where she had stood. The crackling sound of the weapon filled her ears, and the hair on her arms stood on end from the residual charge.
“Elara,” Zar’Ryn’s voice surged through the bond, steady and commanding. “Do not let them push you back. You must control the space.”
“Easier said than done,” she muttered under her breath, but the bond’s pulse steadied her movements. She sidestepped another swing and lashed out with her staff, connecting with the construct’s arm. Sparks flew, but the weapon stayed active, forcing her to retreat.
Zar’Ryn’s hands hovered over the shifting grids on the pedestal. He inhaled deeply, the bond thrumming as he felt Elara’s struggle. Her fear, her determination, and her pain all bled into him, sharpening his focus. He pressed the first grid piece into place, watching as the others shifted in response. The mechanism’s glow flickered, awarning that any error could reset the entire sequence.
“Zar’Ryn, the constructs… they are adapting,” Elara’s voice pushed through the bond, strained and breathless. “I cannot keep up with all of them.”
He gritted his teeth. “You will.” His voice was cold but resolute. “Do not waste energy on hesitation. Anticipate their movements. You can outthink them.”
The bond pulsed, and Elara felt his confidence flood into her like a wave of fire. She parried another strike, then drove the staff into the core of the first construct. It fell with a screech, but two more stepped into its place, their weapons humming with lethal energy.
Zar’Ryn locked another piece into the grid, sweat dripping down his temple as the puzzle grew increasingly complex. The segments began to shift independently, their movements faster and less predictable. He growled low in his throat, forcing himself to slow down and think. Elara’s determination echoed through the bond, groundinghim.
The second construct lunged at her, its blade arcing in a sweeping strike. She ducked under it, spinning to deliver a blow to its leg. The strike landed, but it barely slowed the machine. Her chest heaved as she backed away, her eyes darting toward Zar’Ryn. “I cannot keep this up much longer!”
“You will,” Zar’Ryn snapped, his voice a growl. “Because I will not fail.”
As the final piece of the puzzle locked into place, the pedestal emitted a deafening chime. The constructs froze mid-attack, their glowing weapons dimming as they collapsed to the floor. Elara fell to her knees, the staff slipping from her trembling hands. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as the bond pulsed softly, afaint echo of relief shared betweenthem.
“The trial is complete,” the Custodian announced, its voice resonating through the chamber. “You have demonstrated unity and balance in chaos. Your bond grows stronger still.”
Zar’Ryn stepped toward the center of the chamber, his amethyst gaze locking onto Elara. She looked up at him, exhaustion etched into every line of her face, but her eyes burned with quiet triumph.
“You fought well,” he said simply, his voice carrying a rare note of pride.
She gave a weak smile. “So did you.”
The bond between them thrummed, stronger than ever, as the chamber began to shift again.