Chapter 25: Echoes of the Forgotten

Through the Abyss

The descent seems unending. As Derek and his friends descended down into the island's interior, the chilly air shot past them. The murmurs of the lost souls reverberated everywhere, getting louder and more forceful with every passing second as the darkness engulfed them completely.

They landed softly on the earth all of a sudden. The landing was remarkably soft, as though the island itself had softened their drop, even after the harrowing plunge. With a moan, Derek opened his eyes and got up. Around him, the others awakened, confused but uninjured.

"Where… are we?" Emma questioned, her voice faltering.

They entered a large, empty cavern that was only dimly illuminated by odd, glowing patterns etched on the walls. An unearthly force permeated the air, and the shadows that moved across the chamber's surface appeared to have lives of their own.

Lila glanced at the shimmering symbols and said, in a scarcely audible voice, "This place... feels ancient." "Like it's been here for centuries, waiting for someone to find it."

Kai stood, admiration bulging in his eyes. "These symbols are written in the ancient speech, which is the language of the gods. This had to be one of the difficulties that the prophesy mentioned.

Derek looked around, his hand going involuntarily to his sword hilt. "Whatever this place is, it's not going to let us pass easily." It was like the island itself was bearing down on them; this horrible pressure was testing them while observing.

Abruptly, the murmurs intensified, and the symbols adorning the walls started to glow. Shadowy shapes sprang out from the floor, making the earth beneath them quake. These were ethereal entities, their forms twisting and flickering like smoke.

Lila said the words, "The souls of the fallen," hardly raising her voice above a whisper. "They're trapped here, bound to this place by their failures."

The Shadow Trial

A spectral apparition advanced, staring at Derek with soulless eyes. It held up a transparent hand to gesture at him, and its voice resounded through the room like a faraway wail. "The same fate awaits you. No one has succeeded in completing the trials. The curse of the island has not spared any."

Derek caught the shadow's eyes, his chest thumping with his heart. "Our goal is not to fail. Our goal is to uncover the truth and end this vicious cycle."

With a head tilt, the shadow appeared to be observing him closely. "Then present evidence for it. We'll find out if your commitment is greater than that of those who came before when you face the Trial of Shadows."

Suddenly, the room grew black, and the shadows materialized into actual people as they advanced toward them. They attacked with unfathomable speed, their forms altering and morphing all the time.

Derek pulled out his sword, its edge blazing with a scorching force. "Remain near! We won't be able to go over these problems easily."

Emma nocked an arrow, aiming it toward a shadow, her gaze narrowing. "You can count on me," Derek!" She let go of the arrow, and it hit the shadow, scattering it into a mist of black smoke.

Kai enveloped the group with a light barrier that he created by channeling his spiritual force. "We must not stop traveling! These items will continue to overwhelm us the longer we stay here."

Lila used the vines she called forth from the soil to restrain the shadows and impede their progress. We are unable to defeat them all! We have to leave this place!"

However, the shadows persisted, appearing to be indefinite in number. Regardless of the number they vanquished, more would emerge to supplant them. With sorrow and sadness in their voices, the murmurs of the spirits became audible.

"There's no end to them!" Emma yelled, breathing heavily while she continued to shoot arrows. "We're going to be overrun!"

Derek clenched his jaw, his thoughts whirling. This has to be stopped somehow. Their will was put to the test as much as their power during the Trial of Shadows.

"Focus on the light!" A thought began to emerge in Derek's thoughts as he yelled. "Without darkness, shadows cannot exist. We must increase the amount of light in this room."

Kai nodded, instantly understanding. "I'll amplify the barrier!" He closed his eyes and focused, sending all his energy into the encircling light barrier. The shadows were pushed back and their shape weakened as the radiance became stronger.

Lila did the same, calling out radiant flowers that blossomed around the room with her elemental force, their gentle light filling the shadows.

The shadows started to waver, their outlines dissolving and flickering as the light expanded. The fallen's spirits appeared to withdraw into the walls as the voices became softer, almost imploring.

The Chamber's Center

The room started to change again as the shadows faded. A short passageway leading further into the island's center was visible as the walls separated. From within, a soft, warm light radiated and called them on.

Emma bowed and remarked, "That must be the next part of the trial." "We did it. We passed the Trial of Shadows."

Derek nodded, but he couldn't get rid of the impression that this was just the start. Island of Lost Souls was putting them to the test, pressing them to their absolute maximum. And it was only the tip of the iceberg.

The stifling force started to dissipate as they traveled farther down the corridor. The murmurs persisted, but they were now quieter, as if they were a far-off memory of those who had failed before them.

The corridor led to a huge room that was unlike anything they had ever seen. A massive stone altar dominated the space, and a blazing crystal humming with raw magical energy hovered above it.

With a tone full of wonder, Kai said, "This... is the Hall of Memories." "The wisdom of the past is preserved in the crystal. We might be able to locate the solutions we need if we can access it."

Derek moved warily toward the altar, his heart racing. The radiance from the crystal was captivating, yet it had a disturbing quality. The murmurs came again, stronger and more intense as he extended his hand to touch it.

"Warning...," a voice called to him. "The truth comes with a price."

After a little pause, he prepared himself. They were too far gone to go back now. He took a deep breath and touched the crystal.

Note from the Author:

The action-packed adventure in Chapter 25 continues as our heroes navigate the difficulties of the Island of Lost Souls. Though the Trial of Shadows put their determination to the test, the Hall of Memories will be the real challenge. What will they find out, and how much will the truth cost them? Keep an eye out for the following chapter!