Chapter 79-Shadows of the Past, Winds of Fate

The silence of the night seemed endless as Elias stared into the crackling fire before him.

The warmth of the flames contrasted sharply with the turmoil stirring within his chest. His mind was a storm in itself, the battle with Zephiron and its aftermath weighing heavily on him.

He had won-but the victory felt hollow. A mere fragment of the Storm Tyrant had fallen, and yet, something about it gnawed at him, a feeling that lingered in the pit of his stomach. The gods, their true power, and their motivations remained shrouded in mystery.

Althea sat beside him, her face unreadable. though her eyes occasionally flicked over to

him. She knew something was wrong but seemed unsure whether to press him or leave him to his thoughts. Lyra, ever the composed one, leaned against the wooden wall of the inn, her eyes narrowed as she stared into the flickering flames. She hadn't spoken much since the battle, but Elias could sense her wariness-her unease mirrored his own.

The winds outside the inn had picked up, howling and rattling the windows as though nature itself was warning them. The gods were watching. The trial wasn't the only thing they had to contend with now.

"I can't shake it," Elias muttered, his voice rough. "That wasn't the real Zephiron."

Althea's brow furrowed. "Then who-or what-was that?"

Elias glanced at her, his silver eyes clouded with the weight of uncertainty. "I don't know. But it wasn't the god I've heard of. I felt it-something was off. The real Zephiron would have been stronger. That wasn't even half of what he could do."

"And yet it was enough to tear through the city," Lyra interjected, her voice calm but laced with concem. "Something doesn't add up."

"I've been thinking about that," Elias said, finally standing and pacing across the room. The firelight danced off his form, casting long, dark shadows. "If that wasn't Zephiron... then who was controlling that manifestation? And why now?"

Lyra shifted uncomfortably. "Do you think someone sent that to you deliberately?"

"That's the only explanation that makes sense," Elias replied, stopping to face her. "Someone out there is orchestrating this-testing me, pushing

me toward something. But I don't know what."

Althea stood as well, moving to stand beside him. "If someone's manipulating the Trial, it's not just us in danger. The whole city-hell, the world-could be at risk."

Elias nodded slowly, his mind racing. "We need answers. But where do we start?"

Suddenly, the door to the inn creaked open, and a gust of wind swept in, chilling the room. The trio turned as a tall figure entered, cloaked in shadow. The stranger's presence was unnerving, like a dark cloud in a room full of light.

The figure stepped forward, the door slamming

shut behind them. They were cloaked, their face hidden beneath a hood, their silhouette Imposing. The stranger didn't speak but instead approached with a purposeful, almost

calculated gait.

Elias instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his Divine Dagger, ready for any threat. The air in the room grew heavier, charged with an

unmistakable tension.

"I don't like this," Lyra whispered under her breath.

Althea took a step closer to Elias, her posture defensive. "Who are you?"

The stranger paused in the center of the room, their head tilting as if considering their words carefully. The silence stretched out, suffocating

the room.

Finally, the figure spoke. Their voice was low

and rich with authority, yet carried an edge of something... ancient. "I've been looking for you, Elias Vaelthorne."

The name sent a jolt through Elias's body, his heart skipping a beat. His grip tightened on the dagger. "Who are you?"

The stranger removed their hood slowly, revealing a face both ageless and haunting. Their eyes were a piercing blue, glowing faintly in the dim light. There was something about

their presence that made Elias's skin crawl, something predatory in the way they observed

him.

"I am called Arishel," the figure said, their voice carrying a strange resonance that seemed to vibrate through the very air. "And I have come to deliver a message."

Elias didn't lower his weapon, but the words struck him like a blow to the chest. "A message? What do you want from me?"

Arishel's gaze flicked briefly to Althea before returning to Elias. "Your trials in the Tower are but a distraction, a means of testing your

strength. But it is not the Tower that will break you. No... it is the world outside. Your real enemy is not what awaits you within those walls but

what lies in the shadows."

Elias clenched his fists, the weight of Arishel's words settling deep in his chest. The storm god had been only the beginning, and now, it seemed, the true battle had yet to begin.

"You're telling me that all this time, Elias said, his voice tight with barely contained anger, "I've been fighting only the tip of the iceberg?"

"Precisely," Arishel replied. "But now, the real

trial begins, and you will be forced to face the

consequences of your actions. There are those who do not want you to succeed. The gods will not watch idly as you ascend."

Elias took a deep breath, steadying himself. He hadn't come this far just to be stopped by some shadowy figure in the middle of the night. "I'm done with games. If you're here to stop me, then

make your move."

Arishel's smile widened slightly. "Oh, I don't intend to fight you, Elias. Not yet, anyway."

"What do you want, then?" Elias demanded, his patience thinning.

"I want you to understand the reality you face,"

Arishel said, stepping closer, their voice lowering to a near whisper. "The Tower is not the only force in play. There are greater powers at

work-forces that have no interest in your ascension. You'll need allies if you want to survive the trials that lie ahead."

"Then why come here?" Lyra interjected, her tone sharp. "Why threaten us if you don't intend to fight?"

Arishel turned their gaze to her, and for a

moment, the air grew colder. "Because, sorceress, you don't understand the true stakes. This world is not as it seems. And when the time comes, you will see who the real enemy is."

Elias's eyes narrowed. "You speak in riddles, but

I'm done with guessing games. I've already faced gods, and I'll face them again. If there's something more dangerous than them, I'll deal with it."

Arishel tilted their head, almost as if in amusement. "You think you've seen all there is to fear, Elias Vaelthorne? You've faced the Trial, but what awaits you beyond it will make even the gods tremble. You're not just up against mere enemies. You're up against fate itself."

Althea stepped forward, her expression intense. "And what part do you play in this? Are you the one pulling the strings?"

"I am but a messenger," Arishel replied, their voice as calm as a still sea before a storm. "The one you should be worried about is the one who truly controls your fate. The one who has been watching you from the beginning. The one who has set all of this into motion."

Elias's mind raced. "Who? Who are you talking about?"

Arishel gave a soft laugh, one that sent a shiver down Elias's spine. "You'll find out soon enough. But for now, know this: the trial ahead is nothing compared to the trials that await you once you leave the Tower. Trust no one. Not even your closest allies."

The words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, casting an ominous shadow over the group. Elias felt a chill settle deep in his bones. The game was far from over-and it was clear that the stakes were much higher than he could have ever imagined.

Arishel turned on their heel, ready to leave. But as they reached the door, they paused, their back to the group.

"One last piece of advice, Elias Vaelthorne," Arishel said, their voice cold. "The gods may be your enemies now, but the greatest threat to you may come from within."

With that, the figure vanished into the night, leaving Elias and his companions in a tense silence. The weight of the words hung heavy in the room, and Elias knew that this was just the beginning. A new chapter had begun, and the world outside the Tower was a far more dangerous place than he had ever realized.

Elias clenched his fists, the weight of his destiny bearing down on him. He was no longer just a challenger in a tower. He was a pawn in a far larger game. And the real battle was only just beginning.