Chapter 44: The Gates of Solmara

The obsidian fortress loomed over them, its blackened stone walls cracked but unbroken, standing as the last monument of a forgotten era. Elias and his team stood before the massive iron gates, their surfaces scarred from battle, yet still intact after all these centuries.

Lira exhaled sharply. "Alright, we survived the undead death knights, so please tell me we don't have to fight an actual fortress next."

Cecilia smirked, running a hand along the ancient metal. "No promises."

Kierian, standing in front of the gate, placed a hand against the stone, closing his eyes as if he could feel something within. "The magic protecting this place has weakened, but the seals still hold. Solmara does not open its gates for just anyone."

Reinhardt flexed his fists. "So, do we knock or…?"

Marco rubbed his temples. "Please do not punch the ancient magical door."

Elias stepped forward, inspecting the massive gate. "If the fortress was built by the Obsidian Vanguard, there has to be a way in. A way only they could use."

Kierian nodded. "There is." He turned to Elias. "A test."

Lira groaned. "Of course there's a test."

Elias crossed his arms. "What kind of test?"

Kierian gestured toward the engraved symbols on the gate—intricate patterns forming a complex array of ancient script. "Only those who understand the Vanguard's principles may enter."

Marco frowned. "And those are?"

Kierian exhaled. "Innovation, Adaptation, and Resolve."

Elias's mind raced. The Vanguard was different from the mages—they rejected pure magic, relying on technology, strategy, and endurance. If the fortress was sealed by their ideals, then the test wouldn't be about brute force—it would be about proving their worth.

Cecilia tilted her head. "Okay, but what happens if we fail the test?"

Kierian's expression darkened. "Then the gates will not just remain closed. They will consume those who are unworthy."

Silence.

Lira sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Elias, I swear to every god that exists, if we die because you decided to solve a puzzle—"

Elias stepped forward, cutting her off. "Kierian, how do we begin?"

The ancient warrior gestured to the three engraved circles on the gate. "Each of these represents a principle of the Obsidian Vanguard. You must prove mastery over each one."

Elias studied them carefully.

The first circle glowed faintly with an intricate mechanism, gears and pulleys intertwined.

The second shimmered with arcane distortions, an illusion shifting within its surface.

The third stood still, silent and unmoving, yet emanating a pressure that felt overwhelming.

Kierian nodded toward Elias. "Begin when you are ready."

Elias took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Trial of Innovation

The first circle pulsed, and suddenly, the air around Elias changed. The others disappeared, leaving him standing in a dark void, a single mechanical construct floating before him.

It was a puzzle—an incomplete machine, gears missing, wires frayed.

A voice echoed.

"The Vanguard were builders, not just warriors. Create. Solve. Innovate."

Elias grinned. This was his kind of test.

He stepped forward, examining the machine. It had four missing components and a complex series of connections. If it followed logical engineering principles, then—

His hands moved instinctively, rerouting broken circuits, realigning gears. He reconstructed the core mechanism, ensuring stability before placing the final piece—

The machine hummed to life, gears spinning smoothly.

The void shattered.

Elias was back in front of the gate. The first circle glowed brightly before fading, unlocking its seal.

Marco blinked. "That was fast."

Elias smirked. "I build stuff for fun, remember?"

Kierian nodded approvingly. "You pass the first trial."

Trial of Adaptation

The second circle shimmered, and suddenly, Elias found himself somewhere else again—standing in a storm, visibility low, figures moving in the fog.

The voice returned.

"A warrior cannot rely on what they know. Adapt. Improvise. Survive."

The figures in the mist lunged—they were illusions, but their attacks felt real. Elias dodged, shifting his stance. His gauntlet wouldn't help him here—this was about reading the battlefield, adjusting to the unknown.

One figure swung a sword, but Elias sidestepped, using its momentum against it, pushing it off balance. Another came from behind, and he dropped low, rolling away before striking at a weak spot.

He wasn't the fastest. He wasn't the strongest.

But he could adapt.

The fog cleared, and Elias was back at the gate. The second circle faded, its seal unlocking.

Lira crossed her arms. "Okay, I know that took longer than the first."

Elias chuckled. "Had to adjust."

Trial of Resolve

The final circle remained still, unmoving. But as Elias stepped toward it, a crushing pressure filled the air.

He gasped, his legs shaking, his breath short.

The voice whispered.

"When the battle seems lost, when hope fades, do you stand? Or do you fall?"

Elias felt the weight of every failure, every fight he had barely survived. His body wanted to collapse, to give in.

But he didn't.

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself forward, step by step.

He thought of his friends. Of House Null. Of the war to come.

He wasn't going to fall here.

His fist clenched, and with a final surge of will, he reached out—touching the last seal.

The pressure vanished.

The gate rumbled.

Kierian nodded. "You have proven yourself."

The massive doors groaned open, revealing a dark hallway beyond, lined with ancient banners and forgotten weapons.

Solmara had finally let them in.

Elias wiped sweat from his brow. "Well. That wasn't terrifying at all."

Lira groaned. "I really need a drink after this."

Cecilia smirked. "No time for that. We just unlocked a lost fortress filled with centuries-old secrets."

Reinhardt grinned. "And maybe some really big weapons."

Elias stared into the depths of Solmara, feeling a thrill of anticipation.

They had passed the test.

Now, it was time to see what the Vanguard left behind.