The First Trial

Chapter 2: The First Trial

The Obsidian Spire loomed before the group, its jagged surface shimmering faintly in the dim light of a blood-red sun. Kael tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes tracing the impossible height of the tower. No one knew how deep it went beneath the earth or how far it climbed into the heavens.

Behind him, Lirael unrolled a map etched with glowing runes. "This is the last reliable record of the Spire," she said, her voice steady despite the ominous air. "The first floor is supposed to be a labyrinth, but the paths may have shifted since this was made."

"Supposed to?" Rokhan muttered, his dagger spinning deftly between his fingers. "Great. Nothing like a little guesswork to start the day."

Kael ignored the rogue's sarcasm. "Stay close. We don't split up for any reason."

The massive gates creaked open as they approached, as though the tower itself was inviting them in. Kael's instincts screamed at him to stop, to turn back, but he swallowed his fear and stepped into the yawning darkness.

---

Inside the Spire

The air grew cold the moment they crossed the threshold. Flickering torches sprang to life along the walls, casting strange, twisting shadows. The group stood in a circular chamber with six identical archways leading out in different directions.

"Which way?" Rokhan asked, scanning the archways for traps.

Lirael raised her hand, her fingers tracing symbols in the air. A faint glow spread from her palm, revealing faint glyphs etched into the floor before each archway. "These markings are... wards," she murmured, her brow furrowed. "One of these paths leads to the next level. The others..."

"Are probably death traps," Rokhan finished with a grim smile.

Kael stepped forward, his gaze lingering on the glyphs. They pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat. "Can you decipher them?"

Lirael nodded, though her voice betrayed doubt. "I think so. But it'll take time."

Time they didn't have. The sound of scraping claws echoed from the shadows, growing louder with each passing second. Rokhan turned, his eyes narrowing. "We're not alone."

---

The Shadow Hounds

A low growl rumbled through the chamber, followed by the gleam of yellow eyes in the dark. The creatures emerged—hulking, wolf-like beasts made of shadow and smoke, their fangs glinting like shards of obsidian.

"Shadow hounds," Lirael hissed. "They're bound to the Spire. They'll hunt us until we're dead."

"Not if we kill them first," Kael said, drawing his blade.

The hounds lunged as one, a blur of teeth and claws. Kael met the first with a sweeping strike, the steel of his sword blazing with a faint blue light. The beast howled as the blade tore through its smoky form, but it reformed almost instantly, snarling with renewed fury.

"They're regenerating!" Rokhan shouted, ducking under another hound's swipe. "Any bright ideas, mage?"

Lirael's eyes glowed as she muttered an incantation, her staff blazing with white fire. "They're weak to light! Hold them off while I cast!"

Kael gritted his teeth, stepping in front of Lirael as two more hounds closed in. His blade sang as he struck again and again, keeping the creatures at bay. Rokhan moved like a shadow himself, his daggers flashing as he harried the hounds, keeping them off balance.

Lirael finished her spell with a cry, slamming her staff into the ground. A burst of radiant energy filled the chamber, banishing the shadows. The hounds howled as their forms disintegrated, leaving only faint wisps of smoke behind.

---

The Labyrinth Awaits

The chamber fell silent once more, save for the group's heavy breathing.

"Well," Rokhan said, sheathing his daggers, "that was a warm welcome."

Kael glanced at Lirael, who was leaning heavily on her staff. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she said, though her voice was weak. "The magic here... it's harder to control than I expected."

Kael nodded, his gaze shifting to the archways. "Did the glyphs tell you anything?"

Lirael took a deep breath and studied the markings again. "Yes. The third archway on the left—it leads to the next level. But the wards suggest... something else is waiting for us."

"Something worse than shadow hounds?" Rokhan asked with a smirk, though his eyes were wary.

Kael didn't answer. He stepped toward the indicated archway, his hand tightening on his sword. "Let's move. The longer we stay here, the stronger the Spire's grip will become."

As they passed through the archway, the torches behind them flickered out, plunging the chamber back into darkness.