Chapter 6: The Guardian's Trial

Chapter 6: The Guardian's Trial

"We mean no harm." Damon finally managed to say, trying to sound calm amid the tension that pulsed in the air around them. "We came to seek knowledge- the understanding of nature."

The beast narrowed its eyes, peering into both of them with eyes which seemed almost to probe the depth of their souls. "Knowledge comes at a price," it said, its tone changing from battle to pensive. "What do you seek?"

Elena's heart raced because she knew this animal was no mere guardian but an entity of immeasurable wisdom. "I want to understand all about my powers," she stated boldly while stepping a little forward despite Damon's protective stance. "I want to be in charge of my own destiny."

It examined her for quite some time, almost with an unreadable expression. "You're more than you know," it said mysteriously, "but first you have to face your own fears to be able to realize your true potential."

"Face my fears?" Elena echoed, confused now yet with determination. "What do you mean?"

"It is very powerful," continued the beast, locking eyes with hers. "It can bind you or give you freedom. Learn to embrace it if you want to see what lies ahead in rising above what binds you."

Damon had moved slightly, his brows deep in thought as he processed the creature' s words. "How do we confront our fears?" he asked, in a voice that was steady.

A little space was created and the wolf backed away from the altar behind it. "You shall face your fears beyond this world, in the place where shadows become alive and the truth revealed."

The uncertain place- an unknown territory caused Elena's heart to race at the possibility of crossing into it, but it couldn't be denied that there is an explicable thin strand of yearning buried somewhere deep inside her.

"Are you ready?" asked the wolf, golden eyes set against Elena with an intensity that made her feel naked and yet powerful.

"I am," she said flatly, much to her surprise at her adamancy.

Damon nodded along with her. "We're ready."

With a rumbling growl of approval, the wolf turned toward them and gestured down a path deep into the woods- an invitation into the unknown."Follow me," it commanded.

Thus, they stepped forward and followed the wolf leading them between low hanging branches and thick underbrush- and Elena felt fear and exhilaration whip through her veins. Each step was monumental, as if they went into that time and place where anything could happen.

Silenced several minutes before the world around them changed dramatically, the shadows twisted and danced, the trees whispered words-a hauntingly and beautiful symphony of voices wrested against rustling leaves to create an otherworldly like time and place.

The way branched out towards a large clearing that blazed in some unearthly light, incandescent flowers blossomed all around and with their very soft glows glittered everything within view, revealing landscapes beyond anything ever beheld in Elena's experience...

"Fantastic" Lila remarked by Elena, while sampling the life-urging colors-hues more than anything on earth and each shining with a life affirming energy- evoking emotions long buried behind layers of fear and doubt."

"Welcome to Shadow Realm," the wolf said even as it changed into what seemed to be nothing but the animal but an older-than-time guardian through which seeping rays joining its beautiful features its powers hunched over into a view purely strange about the magnificent being.

"What is this place?" Damon asked carefully stepping forward and keeping Elena very close beside him and Lila behind, heaving like fog rolling over the landscape around them, curiosity and yet apprehension now hung heavily in the air.

"This is where your true selves will be revealed," said the guardian gravely, its voice resonating with their danger-laden emotions.

Elena shivered from the empathy of the tense coldness; fear seeped into all her veins and propelled her forward, but the indefinite beyond loomed after.

"Eh... is this place just meant for exploring?" Lila inquired hesitantly while surveying all wonders and horrors outside her:

"No," came the reply of the guardian in a most commanding way, shaking its head a little, it gazed back at Elena again-the golden eyes piercing through the doubt yet hiding beneath the surface depths waiting for someone brave enough to confront the shadows lingering within.

"This is where you will battle your fears," it said, but steady though its voice was, it commanded attention that demanded respect and echoed through the clearing, resounding deep within the soul.

"What do you mean?" Elena said, interested but scared at the idea of the fears that lie just outside the line of sight, patiently waiting to be confronted. Then the guardian stepped a little closer, that electrifying ground-with associated holism reminding that they were not alone in this adventure of self-discovery.

"You must be brave against your fright," it said gently, gaze fixed as if searching for something deeply buried into Elena's heart.

"You'll never know your real limits."

Elena choked on the words and felt her heart palpitate as it thudded against the stress of responsibility because this journey proved to be a test of firing for survival and conjuring all those demons who were everywhere lurking just below the mental surface and ever patiently waiting for those who summon the courage to stand against the dark shadows of personal demons.

"What if I fail?" The question slipped out in whispered sound with a touch of vulnerability seeping into her voice and carrying with it an uncertainty hanging just a fingertip out of reach ready to pull her back into the insides of a despair so large it would envelop her whole.

"You cannot fail if you are truly in touch with your self," said the guardian with firmness but also touched with an assuring sound, credited from wisdom learned from all those ancient years of guarding the secrets lost in time waiting patiently for someone worthy enough to unleash the hidden depths down under.

With that voice echoing in her mind, Elena felt the storm of determination sprout inside her heart, kindling a fire and pushing her forward despite the above-words creating lingering doubt just beyond her ability to grasp that threatened her with potential retreat into depths of despair.

"Let's do this," she declared firmly, feeling strength within build up urging forward despite fear lurking just beyond sightline to confront the darkness hiding within shadows.

Damon nodded beside her, expressions fierce yet determined, and he faced down and readied himself for whatever shadows the path ahead was going to cast with chaos.

With new resolve flowing through their veins and pushing them closer into things very much unknown, where shadows danced alive revealing guises hidden as deeply as they lay waiting patiently for whoever is worthy enough to unlock mysterious buried long ago blessings awaiting for release.