The Trial of the First Gate

Chapter 3: The Trial of the First Gate

As Kael stepped through the massive iron gate, the air grew heavier, pressing down on him like an invisible weight. The ground beneath his feet shifted, no longer cracked and barren but smooth, cold stone. The flickering red light of the sky disappeared, replaced by suffocating darkness.

His breath echoed in the void, the sound unnaturally loud. He stopped walking and strained to see through the pitch black, but there was nothing.

And then, the voice came.

"Welcome, child of shadow, to the First Gate."

Kael froze. The voice wasn't like Azrek's—this one was deep and resonant, filling the void with its presence. It was neither hostile nor welcoming, but it carried a weight of judgment that made Kael's skin crawl.

"Who are you?" Kael demanded, trying to sound braver than he felt.

The voice chuckled, a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the very air. "I am the Arbiter of the First Trial. You have entered the Path of Dominion, where only the strong may proceed. To prove your worth, you must face your greatest fear."

Kael's heart raced. His greatest fear? He thought of the mob, the fire, the cold hatred in their eyes. He thought of his parents lying lifeless on the ground.

Before he could respond, the darkness around him shifted. A faint light flickered to life, revealing a long, narrow corridor ahead. The walls were made of smooth black stone, their surface etched with strange, glowing runes.

At the end of the corridor stood a door, its surface carved with intricate symbols that seemed to writhe and twist. Kael swallowed hard and stepped forward, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

As he approached the door, the temperature dropped. Frost formed on the edges of the runes, and Kael's breath came out in visible puffs. He hesitated, his hand hovering over the door's handle.

"Open it, and face what lies within," the voice commanded.

Kael's fingers closed around the icy handle, and he pushed the door open.

---

The room beyond was vast and featureless, its walls and floor made of the same smooth black stone. In the center stood a figure, its back turned to Kael.

It was a boy, no older than Kael himself, wearing simple, tattered clothes. His dark hair was messy, and his frame was thin and frail.

"Hello?" Kael called out, his voice trembling slightly.

The boy turned slowly, and Kael felt his blood run cold. The boy's face was his own.

Kael stumbled back, his mind reeling. "What… what is this?"

The other Kael smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. It was cruel, twisted, and filled with malice.

"I'm you," the boy said, his voice mocking. "Or at least, the part of you you'd rather not see."

Kael clenched his fists. "You're not me."

"Oh, but I am," the boy replied, stepping closer. "I'm the hatred you carry. The anger. The darkness. You think you want justice? No. You want to make them suffer."

"Shut up!" Kael shouted, his voice echoing in the empty room.

The other Kael laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "You can't silence me. I'm the reason you're here. I'm the part of you that will do whatever it takes to survive."

Kael took a step back, his mind racing. He had faced hatred from others his entire life, but this… this was different. This was a part of himself, a reflection of the pain and rage he had buried deep inside.

"You're afraid of me," the boy said, his voice softening. "Because you know I'm right. You can't win without me."

Kael's heart pounded in his chest. "You're wrong. I don't need you. I can do this without becoming like them."

The boy's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating glare. "Then prove it."

---

The other Kael lunged at him without warning, his movements unnaturally fast. Kael barely had time to react, raising his arms to block the attack. Their bodies collided, and Kael was thrown to the ground.

The boy straddled him, his hands closing around Kael's throat. "You're weak," he hissed. "You always have been. That's why they hated you. That's why they killed your parents."

Kael gasped for air, his vision blurring. He felt the rage building inside him, a fiery storm that demanded to be unleashed.

With a surge of strength, he threw the boy off him and scrambled to his feet. "No!" he shouted. "You're wrong. My parents didn't die because I was weak. They died because the world is cruel. And I'll fix it."

The boy laughed, standing up slowly. "Fix it? You can't fix anything. The only way to survive is to become what they fear. Embrace the darkness. Let it consume you."

Kael shook his head, his fists clenched. "I won't become a monster."

The boy lunged at him again, but this time, Kael was ready. He sidestepped the attack and slammed his fist into the boy's chest. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, and the boy stumbled back, clutching his chest.

Kael advanced, his voice steady and determined. "You're not my fear. You're my shadow. And I'm done letting you control me."

The boy snarled, his form flickering like a dying flame. "You can't get rid of me. I'm a part of you."

Kael stopped, standing tall. "Maybe you are. But I'm the one in control."

He raised his hand, and the mark on his chest began to glow. A surge of energy coursed through him, and the boy's form began to dissolve, his screams echoing in the empty room.

When the boy was gone, the room fell silent once more.

---

Kael sank to his knees, his body trembling. The voice returned, its tone approving.

"You have faced your fear and emerged victorious. You may pass."

The far wall shimmered, revealing another door. Kael stood slowly, his legs unsteady but his resolve stronger than ever.

As he stepped through the door, he knew this was only the beginning. The Abyss had tested him, but there were more trials ahead.

And he would face them all.