Chapter 40 : The Commoners Destiny
The journey to the land of the Zephyrshade Clan was quieter than usual. The tension stemming from what happened with the former Clans ran high among them. Every step brought them closer to another hidden clan, one shrouded in mystery and feared for unparalleled mastery of space manipulation.
Mike trailed at the rear of the procession, his thoughts far away. Plucked as he had been from his lowly station into this most elevated adventure, the pluck still nagged in his mind. He did retain, however, that spear, an endowment derived from that providential collision that somehow resonated with the hum of the earth.
Jason turned around and paced more slowly, walking with Mike, asking him, "You are uncommonly silent, Mike; is there something disturbing your mind?
Mike hesitated, his grip on the spear tightening. "It's just. all these clans we've met so far, they're leagues ahead of us. What if I can't keep up?"
Jason gave him a reassuring smile. "Strength isn't about where you start. It's about what you do with what you're given. You've earned your place here, Mike. Don't doubt that."
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Arrival at the Zephyrshade Territory
The landscape shifted and morphed around them as they entered the realm of the Zephyrshade Clan. The air thickened, and the space around them began to ripple, like the very fabric of reality was bending.
"Be on guard," Jayden warned. "This isn't just any hidden clan. The Zephyrshade Clan doesn't lean on physical strength. Their ability to manipulate space makes them untouchable if they so choose."
"Perfect," Lucas muttered, his hands crackling with anticipation. "A real challenge.
"Focus, Lucas," Diane said sharply. "We're here for an alliance, not a fight."
As they ventured deeper, the group noticed oddities in their surroundings. Trees floated several feet above the ground, their roots dangling like tendrils. Rocks orbited invisible centers, spinning endlessly in defiance of gravity.
Suddenly, a voice echoed around them, low and melodic. "You've come far, travelers, but the Zephyrshade Clan does not welcome intruders."
The space in front of them blurred, and then he just appeared, as if he was stepping through some sort of unseen door. Clothed in robes that looked like solidified liquid metal the color of silver, the figure contemplated them with eyes as cold as calculations.
"We seek an alliance," Jason said, stepping forward. "The Dark Apostles threaten us all. Together, we can stand against them.
He cocked his head. "The Zephyrshade Clan owes no allegiance to the surface world. If you seek our aid, you must prove your worth. Only those who understand the fabric of space itself may stand alongside us."
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Trial of Space
No one had time to answer before the ground gave way beneath their feet. The group was split up, each of them standing on a floating platform surrounded by an endless void. Mike spun around, panicked by the open space.
"What's going on?" he yelled, his voice echoing.
A voice spoke in response, a calm, commanding voice. "This is the Trial of Space: one must learn to yield to its current in order to cross the void. Only then will you find your way back to your comrades."
The platforms began to drift further and further away from each other. Mike clutched his spear tightly, his mind racing. Attune myself to space? What does that mean?
He shut his eyes and tried to steady his breathing. The void was alive around him, pulsations of energy in waves. Slowly, he extended his senses, focusing on the rhythm of the space.
Then, suddenly, he felt a tug—a light tug, it was, as if something pulled him in a specific direction. Opening his eyes, Mike jumped from his platform to another, just when it started to dissolve. The tug grew stronger, leading him forward.
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Mike's Revelation
As Mike navigated the void, fragments of his past surfaced in his mind. He remembered the day he first picked up his spear, the day he decided to fight despite being a commoner. He recalled the fortuitous encounter that had changed his life, granting him strength he had never dreamed of.
I've always been chasing something, he realized. But maybe. maybe it's time to stop chasing and start becoming.
Mike pressed on with the pull, his determination anew. The space around him began to change, slowly, as if platforms were forming to lead him back to the group. Then one by one, the others began to reappear, each as if they too had their trial to face.
Finally, all of them stood together once more. The figure stepped forward as before: "You have passed the first trial. But there is more to learn."
The void dissolved and they were standing in a great hall. Some weird energy seemed to shimmer around the walls, runes etched into their surface glowing faintly.
"The second trial awaits," the figure said. "But only one of you may face it. Which of you shall step forward?"
Not waiting on another word from anyone else, Mike took that step forward himself. "I will.
Mike was led to a chamber at the center of the hall. Inside, a sphere of pure energy floated, its surface rippling with countless possibilities.
"This is the Heart of the Void," he explained. "To master space, you must master yourself. Touch the sphere, and it will reveal your truth."
Mike approached the sphere with much caution, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached out his hand, his arm trembling as he made contact.
Everything around him exploded in shards, and he stood in an expanse of stars. A figure finally appeared before him-a man clad in ancient armor.
"Who are you?" Mike asked.
"I am Kairo, one of the ancestors of the Zephyrshade Clan," the man replied. "You carry my legacy, though you do not yet realize it."
Mike stared aghast. "Your. legacy?"
Kairo nodded. "Your chance meeting was not an accident. The spear you possess was forged by my hand, a key to channel the power of space. But it is incomplete. To realize its true potential, you must embrace the void."
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A New Path
The vision faded, and Mike found himself back in the chamber. A single pulse, and the sphere disappeared, leaving a shard of crystal behind him.
The figure from the Zephyrshade Clan stepped forward. "You have been chosen by the Heart of the Void. The shard you hold is a fragment of its power. Use it wisely."
Mike nodded, his grip on the shard tightening. "Thank you."
When he rejoined the group, Jason greeted him with a proud smile. "You did it."
Mike looked at his spear-a sense of purpose welling up in him. "This is just the beginning.
It was the Zephyrshade Clan that finally agreed to help them, with their skill at manipulating space a very valuable asset. As they prepared to leave, Mike couldn't help but feel new confidence. For the first time, he belonged.
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