The Trial of the Self & The first tree

The weight of the forest settled around them, thick and suffocating.

Argolaith knew.

This was it.

The final trial before reaching his First Tree.

Kaelred and Malakar stood beside him, their expressions unreadable.

But then—

A deep, resounding chime echoed through the forest.

A sound that wasn't made by metal—but by something older.

Something alive.

The ground trembled, roots twisting and writhing beneath Argolaith's feet.

And then—

The trees moved aside, revealing a single path.

A path that led forward.

A path that only he could walk.

Kaelred took a step forward, but Malakar grabbed his shoulder.

"Not this time."

Kaelred frowned. "What?"

Malakar's gaze was unreadable. "This trial is for him alone."

Argolaith exhaled, his grip tightening on his sword.

He had known.

The moment he stepped onto this path, he would be alone again.