Chapter 211: Shadows on the Peaks
The ascent into the Silver Veil was more grueling than any of them had imagined. The path was narrow, winding, and slick with frost, while the wind howled mercilessly. Every step was a test of endurance, and the weight of their mission pressed heavily on their shoulders.
Mira led the way, her hand never straying far from her sword. Behind her, Talen muttered incantations under his breath, his staff glowing faintly to light the treacherous path.
"How much farther, Mira?" Erynn asked, her voice strained as she climbed.
Mira glanced at the map in her hand. "The temple should be at the summit. If the vision was accurate, we'll find the Heart there."
Solen paused, scanning the rocky outcrops above them. "We're not alone. Look."
The group followed his gaze to see shadows flickering against the pale light of the snow. They moved too fast to be natural, darting in and out of the jagged terrain.
"Voidspawn again?" Erynn guessed, drawing her daggers.
"Something worse," Talen murmured.
A Deadly Ambush
Before anyone could react, the shadows surged toward them, materializing into grotesque creatures with skeletal bodies and glowing, hollow eyes. Unlike the Voidspawn they had faced before, these monsters were more solid, more intelligent.
"Mira!" Solen shouted, loosing an arrow that shattered one of the creatures before it could leap at her.
"Formation!" Mira ordered, her sword flashing as she cut through another creature.
The group closed ranks, their movements practiced and precise. Erynn darted in and out of the fray, her daggers finding weak points in the creatures' twisted forms. Solen provided cover from a higher ledge, his arrows lighting up the battlefield.
Talen channeled his magic, summoning a shield of light that repelled the creatures, but the strain showed on his face. "They're stronger here," he gasped. "The Void's power is concentrated in this place."
"We have to keep moving!" Mira shouted, her blade cutting through another foe. "If we stay here, we'll be overrun!"
The Bridge of No Return
The group fought their way up the path, eventually reaching a narrow stone bridge that spanned a deep chasm. The wind howled fiercely, and the bridge swayed slightly with each gust.
Mira stepped onto the bridge cautiously, testing its stability. "We cross here. One at a time."
"No time for that," Erynn said, glancing behind them. The creatures were regrouping, their glowing eyes visible in the distance.
Mira gritted her teeth. "Then we move fast. Go!"
The group sprinted across the bridge, their steps careful but swift. The wind buffeted them, and the bridge creaked ominously.
Halfway across, the creatures attacked, swarming onto the bridge from both ends.
"Talen!" Mira shouted.
He raised his staff, sending a wave of light down the bridge. The creatures screamed and dissolved, but more replaced them.
"They're endless!" Solen shouted, firing arrows as fast as he could.
Mira pushed forward, her sword glowing with Elara's enchantments. She slashed at the creatures, clearing a path for the others. "Keep moving! Don't stop!"
Erynn reached the other side first, spinning to cover the rest of the group. "Hurry!" she shouted.
One of the creatures leapt at Talen, knocking him off balance. Mira caught him, pulling him back just as the bridge trembled violently.
"We're not going to make it!" Talen said, his voice panicked.
"Yes, we are," Mira said firmly, her eyes blazing with determination.
With a final surge of effort, they reached the other side. The moment they stepped off the bridge, it collapsed, sending the remaining creatures plummeting into the abyss.
The Temple of Light
Breathing heavily, the group stood at the base of the summit. The temple loomed before them, its architecture ancient and radiant even in the dim light. It was carved into the mountain itself, its entrance flanked by massive statues of robed figures holding glowing orbs.
"This is it," Mira said, her voice hushed.
Talen stared at the temple in awe. "The Heart of Aetharion is inside."
Erynn approached the entrance cautiously, her daggers at the ready. "Doesn't look like we're the first ones here."
She pointed to the footprints in the snow leading into the temple—large, heavy prints that didn't belong to any of them.
"Whoever it is, they've already entered," Solen said grimly.
Mira tightened her grip on her sword. "Then we can't waste time."
The First Trial
The group stepped into the temple, the air growing warmer as they entered. The walls were lined with intricate carvings that glowed faintly, illuminating their path.
They came to a massive chamber with a circular floor. At the center stood a pedestal, and above it hovered a sphere of light, pulsing gently.
Talen examined the carvings on the walls. "It's a test," he said. "Only those worthy can approach the Heart."
"What kind of test?" Erynn asked, eyeing the sphere suspiciously.
As if in answer, the room shifted. The walls seemed to dissolve, replaced by swirling shadows that formed into humanoid shapes. Each shadow bore the likeness of one of their group, mirroring their movements.
"Great," Erynn muttered. "We have to fight ourselves?"
"Not quite," Talen said. "These aren't just reflections. They're manifestations of our fears and doubts. To defeat them, we have to confront what they represent."
Mira stepped forward, her reflection facing her. It spoke in her voice, but its tone was cold and mocking.
"You think you're a leader, but all you bring is destruction. How many have died because of you?"
Mira's grip on her sword tightened. "I've made mistakes," she said, her voice steady. "But I fight to protect those who can't fight for themselves. That's who I am."
The shadow hesitated, and Mira struck, her blade cutting through it in a burst of light.
One by one, the others faced their reflections, each overcoming the doubts that plagued them. When the last shadow dissolved, the sphere of light above the pedestal grew brighter, illuminating a door at the far end of the chamber.
"This is only the beginning," Mira said, stepping toward the door. "The Heart is close. We can't stop now."