Chapter 26: The Price of Truth

The Memory Hall

Derek's mind was instantly filled with visions as soon as his hand made contact with the blazing crystal. He glimpsed many lives—trials of wizards, soldiers, and explorers—each one experiencing unique difficulties on this ill-fated island. They battled, stumbled, and collapsed. Their remorse and anguish were evident on their faces; the weight of their failure was too great to bear.

But suddenly, in the middle of the mayhem, Derek noticed hints of something more. These were not merely chance recollections; rather, they were fragments of a far bigger picture, a narrative long hidden behind ages of folklore and myth. The island served as a jail as well as a trial site. Something powerful, something old, and something restless was housed in this jail.

"Derek!" Emma's voice emerged from the cloud, bringing him back to the present. "What did you see?"

His breathing became labored as he withdrew his hand from the stone. It's not what we had anticipated. This island has life on it. Furthermore, something hazardous is resting beneath it."

Stepping forward, Kai's eyes widened. "Perilous? similar to a creature? A ghost?"

Shaking his head, Derek continued to attempt to put everything together. "I'm not certain. However, it has been sealed here for a very long time. The tests and the curses are all intended to keep it within. However, the seal is weakening now that so many people are entering and upsetting the delicate equilibrium."

Lila scowled and said in a worried tone. "If the seal breaks, what happens?"

"Everything could come crashing down," was Derek's somber response. "This island may be devastated, and everything within will be let loose into the world."

His comments had a heavy weight that enveloped the assembly like a dense mist. Nobody said anything for a while. It was terrifying to think that they had unintentionally discovered something so harmful.

A Sign Made Clear

Kai's eyes brightened with unexpected insight. "The foretelling! It went beyond the difficulties. It has to do with the island's actual function. Our purpose was to prevent this creature from escaping, not only to survive."

Emma wrinkled her brow, trying to take it all in. However, how? How can we put an end to something that has been hidden for centuries?"

Derek's thoughts were racing as he turned back to the crystal. "The solutions are in the Hall of Memories. It highlights the errors for us of those who came before us, but the solution to putting an end to this lies somewhere in this."

He touched the crystal again, but with greater caution this time. He was prepared, but the images came back. He went through the memories, looking for anything that may be of assistance to them.

Then he caught sight of it.

A group of fighters facing the same crystal while positioned in the same room. These fighters, though, were unique. They wielded a sword that emitted a soft, golden light, and they were older and wiser. The energy of the island seemed to resonate with the sword, and as the party leader held it aloft, the island itself appeared to react.

The closure became more secure. The dark areas receded. The island became silent.

Derek took his hand away once again, his eyes wide with understanding. "A weapon is present. A sword made with the power of the island. It is the only thing that can strengthen the seal and keep anything imprisoned here from escaping."

Lila's gaze expanded. "Where is it located? Are you aware of this?"

Derek gave a nod. Indeed. It is located deep beneath the island and is hidden by the most recent trial."

The Last Trial

The troop moved on without hesitation, using the way that had become available at the far end of the chamber. The deeper they went, the colder it got, and the heavy vibe that had followed them around got to be nearly uncomfortable. The island seemed to know what they were about to do since it was resisted their every move.

Walking for what seemed like hours, they came to a huge stone door that was engraved with symbolic and elaborate designs. There was a slot in the middle of the door that was just right for a sword.

"This is it," Derek murmured in a barely audible whisper. "The final trial."

Kai moved forward and examined the door. "Now what should we do? The sword is not yet with us."

Derek inhaled deeply. "I believe the other side is having the trial. We must unlock this door, confront whatever is within, and seize the sword."

Lila scowled. "How do we open it, though? No key or mechanism is present.

The earth underneath them trembled suddenly. The stone door cracked slowly open, revealing a small, dark passageway as the island began to react to their presence.

Emma nocked an arrow while glancing around in the shadows. "This feels like a trap."

"It probably is," a smirking Derek answered. "But we don't have a choice."

They then entered the door and were once more engulfed in darkness. The tunnel meandered back and forth, and as they descended more, the temperature dropped. All around them, the sounds of the lost souls grew more urgent and louder in their murmurs.

At last, they emerged into an enormous hall with old sculptures of long-forgotten warriors along its walls. The sword was perched on a pedestal in the middle of the room.

Derek had never seen anything like that. A gentle, golden glow danced over its blade, and matching symbols graced the hilt on the walls of the island. The blade had a palpable energy pulse, almost as if it were alive.

"That concludes it," Kai murmured in wonder. "The weapon we need to stop this."

With his heart thumping in his chest, Derek stood up. But the ground rumbled beneath them again as he grabbed for the blade.

Figures started to emerge from the shadows: warriors wearing antiquated armor, their eyes gleaming strangely. The last hurdle before they could take possession of the sword was to face these guardians of the island.

Derek silently said, pulling out his own blade, "Looks like we're not getting it without a fight."

Emma, Lila, and Kai positioned themselves, staring at the charging warriors.

The War of the Sword

The soldiers of old suddenly attacked, their moves accurate and quick. Derek parried the initial hit, the power of which knocked him backward. These warriors possessed strength beyond anything they have encountered thus far.

They weren't unbeatable, though.

As she covered Derek, Emma shot arrow after arrow, each one finding its target. While Kai formed shields of light to protect the party from the attack, Lila conjured vines from the soil and used them to tie the warriors and delay their march.

Derek gave it his all in the battle, sending sparks flying from his sword as it struck the warriors' swords. But more kept coming, regardless of how many they managed to defeat.

"We can't keep this up!" Lila screamed, straining to keep her voice steady command over the vines.

Derek's gaze fixed itself on the blade. "That's not necessary! All I have to do is reach the weapon!"

Derek leaped out of the crowd and raced in the direction of the pedestal. Emma's arrow hit the warrior who was obstructing his route and killed it in the nick of time.

Derek arrived to the pedestal and wrapped his hand around the shimmering sword's hilt. As soon as he touched it, a golden light filled the chamber and a pulse of energy shot through him.

The island appeared to be quiet as the ancient warriors froze, their bright eyes going dark. The heavy force that had been hanging over them since their arrival subsided, and the earth ceased to tremble.

Derek felt the sword vibrate in his hand, its force coursing through his being.

Kai said, "We did it," in a tone full of relief.

Even though Derek knew their adventure was far from complete, he nevertheless nodded. Now that they had successfully completed the last test, they needed to fortify the island's seal with the sword.

Furthermore, time was running short.

Note from the Author:

In Chapter 26, we travel to the center of the island, where our heroes must endure one last ordeal in order to get the sword. The stakes are bigger than ever, though, now that the island's actual purpose has been discovered. Can they prevent the ancient power from making its way out? Await the release of the next episode!