The Final Trial
Delphine and Kora thought they were done with magical mishaps. But when the ancient compass Delphine had “borrowed” from the town museum started glowing, they knew trouble had found them again.
The compass pointed toward the old quarry, its needle spinning wildly when they tried to ignore it. Reluctantly, they followed, arriving at the quarry just as the last rays of sunlight disappeared.
The air turned icy, and a voice boomed out of the darkness. “You dare disturb the Sentinel’s Rest?”
A figure emerged from the shadows, clad in gleaming obsidian armor. His eyes burned like embers, and a massive sword rested in his hands.
Delphine stepped forward, clutching the compass. “We didn’t mean to disturb anything. This thing just brought us here!”
The Sentinel raised his sword, the blade humming with energy. “The Compass of Trials chooses only those worthy of the final test. Prove your valor, or perish.”
“Test? What kind of test?” Kora asked, panic rising in her voice.
Before they could get an answer, the ground beneath them shifted. The quarry transformed into a battlefield, filled with shifting obstacles: collapsing bridges, walls of fire, and shadowy beasts that snarled as they closed in.
“You must reach the Obsidian Gate,” the Sentinel called, his voice echoing over the chaos. “Only then will you be free.”
Delphine grabbed Kora’s hand. “Run!”
The two darted through the maze, dodging falling rocks and leaping over fissures that appeared out of nowhere. The beasts chased them relentlessly, their glowing eyes cutting through the dark.
When a fire wall surged ahead, Delphine froze, her mind racing. “We can’t go through that!”
Kora grabbed her arm, pointing at the compass. Its needle spun before locking on a narrow ledge to their left. “That way!”
Climbing the ledge, they found themselves face-to-face with one of the beasts—a towering shadow wolf. Its growl reverberated in their chests, and for a moment, they were too scared to move.
Kora grabbed a loose rock and hurled it. “Go away!” she shouted.
The beast lunged, and Delphine reacted without thinking, swinging the glowing compass like a weapon. It struck the wolf, and the creature dissolved into mist.
“Guess this thing isn’t just for directions,” Delphine muttered, breathless.
They pushed onward, battling shadow beasts and navigating traps with the compass as their guide. Each step brought them closer to the Obsidian Gate, a towering arch that shimmered with dark energy.
As they reached the gate, the Sentinel appeared again, blocking their path. “The final trial: prove your unity,” he said, raising his sword.
“What does that mean?” Kora shouted, panic in her voice.
The Sentinel attacked, forcing the girls to fight as a team. Delphine used the compass to deflect blows, while Kora distracted the Sentinel with quick, unpredictable movements.
When the Sentinel raised his sword for a final strike, Delphine and Kora moved as one, dodging the blade and shoving him back. The compass flared brightly, and the Sentinel froze, his form dissolving into light.
“You have proven your worth,” his voice echoed as the Obsidian Gate opened.
The girls stepped through and found themselves back at the quarry, the compass now a dull, ordinary object.
Kora slumped to the ground. “No more magical stuff. Ever.”
Delphine nodded, her hand still gripping the compass tightly. “Agreed. But… that was kind of awesome.”
They laughed, the tension finally breaking. As they walked home, the quarry behind them faded into silence, and the compass crumbled into dust, its purpose fulfilled.
ns 15.158.61.11da2
