After surviving the first night of trials, I collapse in a makeshift bed of old furs and blankets in a corner of the chamber. my body aches from the brutal training, and my mind swirls with questions about The Spider, my choice to stay, and what she's becoming. As exhaustion pulls me under, my dreams are plagued by flashes of what's to come: fire, blood, and the looming presence of the patriarch, a dark figure that haunts me every step.
The next day, I was awakened by a soft nudge—a strange, shadowy figure standing over me. It isn't The Spider, but another servant of the lair. The figure hands me a bowl of something hot and bitter, the scent almost sickening but strangely rejuvenating.
The trials intensify from here on out. I trained not only in combat but also in mental endurance. The Spider teaches me about fear, deception, and control—how to manipulate mt enemies' expectations and emotions. But along the way, I began to notice something odd about my surroundings. As my senses were sharpened, I a catch glimpse of whispers in the dark, shadows that seem to move on their own, watching me. I feel a growing connection to something more ancient than The Spider's methods—a force tied to the lair itself as if the place is alive.
One night, as I explore the lair while The Spider is absent, I stumbled upon a locked room deep within the chambers. Behind the door, she hears faint voices—not just any voices, but familiar ones. I press my ear to the cold stone and recognizes them. Kai and Rose. They're talking about me. Plotting.
"They said she's coming back different. But what if she doesn't come back at all?" Rose's voice is sharp with concern.
Kai's reply is more measured but tinged with worry. "We made this deal. We have to trust her... but you're right. She's changing."
The realization hits me hard. I'm no longer just training for the fight against the patriarch—I'm also fighting to stay myself. The Spider's methods are changing me in some kind of way, and the closer I get to completing the training, the more I question whether I can still trust my instincts—or if I'm slowly being twisted into something else.
The final trial is announced one morning in a whisper from The Spider: I must now face my deepest fear to complete this transformation. The pit awaits me one last time. But this time, it isn't a creature that greets me. It reflects myself—stronger, colder, and more ruthless than she ever imagined.
The final battle isn't just for survival but for my soul.
I stared at the reflection, the pit around me silent and foreboding. The version of myself that stood across from me was terrifyingly perfect—calm, unflinching, and devoid of doubt. My reflection held a sword, shimmering and sharp, while I clutched my own weapon, the blade chipped and worn from the trials I had endured. The coldness in my reflection's eyes unsettled me. It wasn't the enemy she was expecting—it was me, stripped of everything except strength and ruthlessness.
My reflection spoke, its voice a low, steady echo of my own. "This is who you must become to survive. Strong. Unyielding. Without fear, without weakness. The Spider can give you this power, but only if you let go of who you are now."
My heart pounded in my chest. This final trial wasn't just physical—it was a test of my identity. Could I become this version of myself and still protect the people I cared about? Could I embrace the darkness The Spider was offering without losing myself completely?
My reflection moved toward me, sword raised. I raised my own weapon instinctively, and metal clashing echoed through the pit. The reflection was fast—faster than I had ever been. It moved with precision, every strike perfectly aimed, every step calculated. I was barely able to keep up, and my movements were clumsy.
As the battle raged on, I felt exhaustion creeping in. my muscles screamed in protest; my mind clouded with doubt. The reflection's strikes were relentless, each one driving me closer to the edge. For a moment, she considered letting go of the fear, doubt, and vulnerability. Maybe if I became this stronger version of myself, she could finally defeat the patriarch and end the war.
But then a memory flashed in my mind—Kai's concern, Rose's sharp wit, the bond they shared. They hadn't just trusted my strength; they had trusted my heart. And if she gave that up, what was to be left of me? Would she be any different from the patriarch she was trying to stop?
The reflection lunged; its blade aimed at my heart. I dodged, rolling to the side, and in that moment of clarity, she realized the truth. I couldn't win this fight by becoming my reflection. I had to fight as myself—flawed, uncertain, but still powerful in my own way.
I stood up, gripping my sword tightly. "I'm not you," I said, my voice steady. "I won't let The Spider take everything from me."
My reflection paused for a split second, and I took the opportunity. With a surge of energy, she lunged forward, striking with everything she had. The reflection faltered, its cold, emotionless gaze flickering as my sword found its mark. The reflection shattered into a thousand pieces, dissolving into the darkness around me. I collapsed to my knees, gasping for breath, my body trembling from the effort. The pit was silent once more, but she had won. Not just the battle but the battle for my soul.
A rope descended from above, and I grabbed it, pulling myself out of the pit. The Spider was waiting as she emerged, their masked face as unreadable as ever. "You have chosen wisely," the Spider said softly. "You have faced yourself and found your strength not in what I offered but in who you are. You have power beyond your imagination and it's just waiting to be unlocked. This was the true test."
I wiped the sweat from my brow, my heart still racing. "What now?" she asked. The Spider tilted their head. "Now, you are ready. The time has come to face the patriarch. But remember Luna—you will face him as yourself. Strong, but with your heart intact. That is the path you have chosen."
I nodded; my mind clearer than it had been in days. I wasn't just fighting for survival anymore—I was fighting for my friends, my world, and the person she wanted to be. And no matter what came next, she knew she wouldn't face it alone.
The next day
The cold wind whipped through the courtyard of the patriarch's fortress, carrying the scent of damp stone and the distant echo of clashing steel. Me, Kai, and Rose stood at the edge of the looming castle, its dark spires piercing the sky like the teeth of some ancient beast. They had prepared for this moment for weeks, each sharper, stronger, and more focused than ever. But the fortress was dangerous, and the patriarch's forces were waiting.
"I count about a dozen guards at the entrance," Kai murmured, scanning the fortified gate. His eyes flicked to me. "Ready?"
I nodded, my mind buzzing with tension. I could feel the weight of my training in every muscle, the hard-earned lessons from The Spider coursing through me. But this was different—this was real. There was no pit to climb out of here. This time, they were going for the kill.
"Time to move," Rose whispered, already crouching low as she approached the shadows. me and Kai followed, hidden behind crumbling walls and stone pillars, as they approached the gate.
The guards were alert but not prepared for what was coming. With a silent signal, Rose darted forward, her daggers flashing in the moonlight as she took down two guards before they even realized she was there. Me and Kai moved in sync, cutting through the remaining guards brutally. It was quick but far from easy. Every clash of steel sent jolts of adrenaline through my veins, but she stayed calm and methodical. When the last guard fell, Kai turned to the others, his eyes intense.
"That's the easy part done. We need to get through the courtyard and into the keep. The captains will be waiting inside."
My heart raced. The captains were the patriarch's most elite soldiers, trained in deadly combat. And there would be more than just one. They pushed through the gate, entering the castle's courtyard. The space was vast, with towering statues of long-dead rulers looming over them like silent sentinels. But they didn't have time to admire the architecture. The captains were already moving toward them—three figures clad in black armor, their weapons gleaming in the torchlight.
Rose let out a low whistle. "Guess we're not getting a warm welcome."
The first captain, a massive man wielding a battle axe, charged at them with terrifying speed. Kai was on him in an instant, their blades colliding in a shower of sparks. The second captain, a lithe woman with twin swords, circled toward Rose, her strikes fast and precise. I found myself face-to-face with the third captain, a towering figure with a long spear and cruel eyes that glinted behind his helmet.
He wasted no time, thrusting the spear toward me with deadly accuracy. I was barely able to dodge, my body moving instinctively as the spearhead grazed my side. I countered with a strike of my own, but the captain was fast, his spear blocking my blade with ease.
The clash of battle surrounded me. Kai fought furiously against the axe-wielding captain, his movements fluid but strained as he parried heavy blows. Rose danced around her opponent, her daggers flashing, but the woman's twin swords kept her on the defensive.
I gritted my teeth, pushing myself harder. Every time I struck, the captain met me with precision, his spear cutting through the air with deadly grace. I could feel the frustration building. I needed something more—something beyond the skills I'd homed in the trials.
Then, in the middle of the fight, it hit me. The Spider's lessons—the whispers, the shadows. I had learned to control not just my body, but the world around me. The lair had been alive, its shadows almost sentient. And here, in this castle, the same power thrummed beneath my feet.
The realization surged through me, and suddenly, the battlefield around me seemed to slow. I closed my eyes for a split second, reaching out with my mind, feeling the air, the earth, the shadows. When she opened them again, the darkness responded.
I dodged another spear thrust, but this time, the shadows at my feet twisted, wrapping around the captain's legs. He stumbled, his balance thrown off for just a moment—but it was enough. I moved in, my blade slicing through the gaps in his armor with deadly precision. The captain let out a guttural cry as he fell to the ground.
I didn't stop. As the second captain cornered Rose, I reached out again, my mind connecting with the shadows. The darkness crept up the woman's legs, slowing her movements just enough for Rose to strike, her daggers finding their mark. Kai finished his fight with a brutal slash, sending the first captain to the ground in a heap of armor.
He turned to me, breathing hard but with a look of awe in his eyes. "What did you just do?"
I glanced at my hands, still trembling with the power I had unlocked. "I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice shaky. "But I think I can control the shadows."
Rose let out a low laugh, wiping blood from her cheek. "About time you learned some magic."
Before they could catch their breath, the great doors to the keep creaked open. A figure emerged, draped in heavy robes of deep crimson, a crown of black iron resting on his brow. The patriarch.
His presence was overwhelming, the air growing heavier as he entered the courtyard. His eyes, cold and calculating, flicked over them with disdain. "You've come far," he said, his voice like a blade cutting through the night. "But you will not leave this place alive. "Me, Kai, and Rose stood shoulder to shoulder; their weapons raised.
The final battle had begun.
____________________________________________________
-To be continued
P.S. Felt a little inspired to write a lil more than what I usually do today (づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ♡
68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWk73ivKzH
