Chapter 4: The Trials of the Gods

As the three of them traveled more into the hallowed territories where only the bravest dared to walk, the tension in the air intensified. They had arrived in the world of the gods, marked by the ominous, sharp mountains. Though they were aware that fate itself was setting a trap for them, Sienna, Lucian, and Reyna were unable to avoid it. Their frail, recently discovered love will be tested, and not by insignificant mortal obstacles.

The goddess of fate, Astrid, was standing over them in her celestial realm. Astrid has long held sway over the strands of fate, her hair like spun silver and her eyes seeing behind the curtain of time. With exacting perfection, she woven and untangled the destinies of both humans and immortals, never once permitting her feelings to tamper with the magnificent tapestry. However, she had felt uneasy about the trio's relationship—their complex, disorderly love. It was impossible to keep a love so intense and unanticipated and untested.

Astrid, intrigued and frustrated by what she perceived as a defiance of fate, determined that their love would have to endure the Trials of the Gods, five trials in all, each more difficult than the previous, before it could continue. She urged the other gods to be there for the voyage of the three, which was a sight not seen in ages.

The Mirror of Truth in the First Trial

The three of them were standing at the foot of the heavenly mountains in front of a massive mirror. By moonlight, its surface glistened like water. Astrid's icy voice resounded in the breeze and aloof.

"Your innermost realities will be seen to you in this mirror. You cannot move on until you accept them."

With caution, Sienna, Lucian, and Reyna moved forward. One by one, the images in their mirrors became their worst nightmares.

Sienna's mirror revealed her lonely and banal past. She witnessed the wonder of her present existence gradually vanishing as she saw herself, forgotten and alone. Her biggest worry was going back to a society that would never comprehend her and losing the connection she had built with Lucian and Reyna.

Lucian's mirror showed a damaged man who was unable to break free from the curse of his immortality. In centuries, he saw himself still alive, and all the people he had ever loved—Sienna and Reyna included—had passed away. His biggest concern was that regardless of how much he loved, he would always be abandoned and alone in a world that didn't need him.

Strong and passionately devoted, Reyna saw a vision of her pack being killed by invisible attackers. Her loved ones were the ones she was afraid of, not herself. She had always been a guardian, but what would happen if her power was insufficient? What would happen if she lost Lucian and Sienna the way she had so many others?

With their concerns threatening to overwhelm them, the three stood immobilized by the weight of their reflections. However, Sienna was the first to speak, her voice weak but determined.

"Our worries are not who we are. I refuse to allow destiny to control our existence.

She spoke again, and Lucian and Reyna turned to face her the power they believed they had lost. They extended their hands in unison, smashing the mirror and banishing their uncertainties. The first trial was finished, but there were far more difficult obstacles in store.

The Second Trial: The Sacrifice Abyss

Their tenacity astonished Astrid, but the next test would need them to face something far harder: sacrifice.

The three of them stood on the brink of an unending chasm. They were separated from the route ahead by a gaping abyss, and the others could only move on by allowing one of them to fall. It was an inhumane experiment meant to break them. The air was filled with Astrid's voice once more.

"You have to give up something for the others. That's when the path ahead will become clear."

Reyna was the one who was the first to approach the edge, her expression determined.

"I'll handle it," she declared. "All my life, I have defended the people I care about. Nothing about this is unique.

When Sienna realized she may lose Reyna, her heart tightened. "No, we work together on this. There must be an alternative.

With kind yet focused gaze, Lucian took a step forward. "I already have the curse of eternal life. I ought to be doing it.

They quarrelled, neither ready to concede defeat to the other. The chasm appeared to taunt them, an unending emptiness that insisted on losing one of them. But in the end, it was Lucian who spoke up. He gave Sienna a forehead kiss and gave Reyna a nod.

He said in a whisper, "Take care of each other," and then he let himself sink into nothingness.

However, as soon as Lucian vanished into the shadows, the chasm started to close. The path ahead became apparent once the sacrifice was made. However, the loss of Lucian left Sienna and Reyna with broken hearts, making their victory meaningless.

The Return in the Third Trial

As hopelessness was about to overwhelm them, Lucian materialized from the emptiness, his body intact but his spirit transformed. He was back, but not the same, from the depths. Though he smiled at them, there was a shadow behind his eyes—a part of him that had been permanently damaged by the trial—because he had confronted something in the dark that neither Sienna nor Reyna could comprehend.

The wind conveyed Astrid's voice, which sounded even colder.

"Love calls for understanding as well as sacrifice. The third attempt will evaluate how strong your relationship is. The relationship will end if you are unable to communicate with one another."

Reyna and Sienna were having trouble getting through to Lucian since he was far away, troubled by what he had seen in the abyss. Their connection seemed to wane as he withdrew from their touch, leaving them with hurt feelings in their hearts. The gods' cruel game would destroy their love unless they could discover a way to let Lucian recover and return to them.

The Heart's Decision in the Fourth Trial

They had a choice between two routes at the top of the heavenly mountains during their fourth try. There was a route that led to endless life together, but it was an everyday existence devoid of magic and adventure. The other option would enable them to retain their abilities and immortality, but it would entail enduring unending conflicts and hardships similar to those encountered previously.

Their decision was very important to them. Even though Sienna missed the ease of her former existence, she was unable to fathom a world devoid of the power she had learned from Lucian and Reyna. Reeling from the third trial, Lucian was reluctant to take a chance on adding to the misery of those he cared about. Ever the warrior, Reyna was prepared to face any challenge that came her way.

However, this decision was not about them alone. It was about the life they desired and the future they would create together. With sorrowful hearts, they stood at the crossroads knowing that whatever they chose, they would confront further challenges in the future.

The Fifth Trial: The Last Examination

Astrid observed as they made their decision. To love even in the face of sadness would be the ultimate test, the hardest yet.

Would their relationship endure the harsh trials of the gods? Or would the love that had bloomed in the moonlight be ruined by fate?