The Trial of the Unseen Chains

The Obsidian Citadel remained silent, yet Daniel could feel the echoes of his last trial weighing on him. The silver orb, unlike the crimson one before it, had not completely shattered. Instead, it pulsed faintly, as if its lesson had not been fully concluded.

Daniel clenched his fists. Had he truly passed? Or had he simply postponed the inevitable?

Mira studied him carefully. "You hesitated when you came back," she noted. "What happened?"

Daniel exhaled. "It was another trial—one that tested my choices rather than my strength." He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "It forced me to choose between saving an ally or preserving wisdom that could change history."

Mira's brows furrowed. "And what did you do?"

Daniel's jaw tightened. "...I refused to choose."

Mira was silent for a moment. Then she smirked slightly, shaking her head. "Of course you did."