chapter 54: the trials of evernight

The air inside the citadel felt heavier than before, pressing down on them with an almost suffocating weight. Shadows danced along the ancient walls, forming shapes that seemed alive. The group regrouped at the central chamber where their three paths converged. Their faces bore the marks of the trials they had already endured—cuts, bruises, and exhaustion etched into their expressions.

“What now?” Kael asked, his voice sharp with frustration.

Aria glanced around the chamber. The room was vast, with a ceiling so high it disappeared into darkness. At the center, a pedestal held a glowing orb, pulsating with an unnatural light. Ancient symbols carved into the floor surrounded it.

“The trials aren’t over,” Lucian said, his voice cold and clipped. He gestured toward the orb. “This is only the beginning.”

“Of course it is,” Kael muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on his sword.

Eryndor appeared from the shadows, his form still ethereal but more solid than before. “The Evernight Citadel does not grant passage easily,” he said. “To move forward, you must prove yourselves not just as individuals but as a united force.”

“Unity,” Kael scoffed, glaring at Lucian. “That’s rich, considering some of us seem determined to make decisions for everyone else.”

Lucian turned to him, his expression unreadable. “If I hadn’t made decisions, we’d still be wandering aimlessly. Your inability to focus on the mission is what’s slowing us down.”

Kael stepped forward, his frustration boiling over. “The mission? Or your obsession with controlling everything—including Aria?”

“Enough!” Aria’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding. She stepped between them, her eyes blazing. “This is exactly what the citadel wants. If we keep fighting each other, we’ll fail.”

Kael hesitated, his jaw clenching. He stepped back but didn’t look at Lucian.

Eryndor’s hollow gaze settled on Aria. “The citadel feeds on discord. If you cannot stand together, it will tear you apart.” He motioned toward the glowing orb. “This trial will test that unity. Approach the pedestal, and the trial will reveal itself.”

Aria took a deep breath and stepped forward, Kael and Lucian following reluctantly. As her fingers brushed the orb, a surge of energy shot through the room. The ground trembled, and the chamber was bathed in a blinding light.

When the light faded, they found themselves in a new setting—a sprawling, desolate battlefield. The air was thick with the smell of ash and blood, and the sound of distant screams echoed around them.

“What is this?” Selene whispered, her voice trembling.

“It’s not real,” Eryndor said, his voice carrying a note of warning. “But it will feel real. The citadel is forcing you to confront your worst fears and deepest doubts—together.”

The battlefield came to life as shadowy figures emerged from the haze, taking the forms of enemies from their pasts. For Kael, it was a monstrous vampire that had once slaughtered his comrades. For Lucian, it was the twisted image of his brother, who had died centuries ago in betrayal.

For Aria, it was herself—wielding the Heart, surrounded by destruction.

The shadows attacked without hesitation, and the group was forced into battle. Kael and Lucian fought back-to-back, their movements instinctively synchronized despite their differences. Selene covered them from a distance, her arrows finding their marks with deadly precision.

Aria hesitated, her eyes locked on her shadowy doppelgänger. The figure smirked, its eyes glowing with the same eerie light as the Heart.

“You can’t win,” it said, its voice a chilling echo of her own. “You’ll destroy everything you love. It’s inevitable.”

Aria clenched her fists, the mark on her hand burning. She summoned the Heart’s power, the crimson glow enveloping her. With a fierce cry, she lashed out, the energy obliterating the doppelgänger. But the effort left her trembling, her knees buckling as she fell to the ground.

Kael was at her side in an instant, his hand on her shoulder. “Aria, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said, though her voice was shaky. She glanced at Lucian, who was watching her with an unreadable expression.

As the last of the shadows dissolved, the battlefield faded, and they found themselves back in the chamber. The orb on the pedestal had dimmed, its light almost extinguished.

“You passed,” Eryndor said, his tone approving. “But barely. The citadel is merciless. You must find a way to stand together, or the next trial will break you.”

Kael helped Aria to her feet, his hand lingering on hers for a moment longer than necessary. She met his gaze, offering a faint smile.

Lucian turned away, his jaw tightening. “We need to move. The next trial won’t wait for us.”

As they prepared to continue, Aria couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was still to come—and that their fractured unity might cost them more than they were willing to sacrifice.The air grew colder as they exited the chamber, the oppressive silence of the citadel deepening with each step. The flickering torches lining the narrow corridor offered little light, casting long, shifting shadows that seemed to breathe. The group trudged forward, exhaustion weighing heavily on their shoulders.

“Barely passed,” Kael muttered under his breath, echoing Eryndor’s words. His voice carried a bitter edge. “That’s encouraging.”

Lucian shot him a sharp look but said nothing, his attention fixed ahead. He seemed to be in his element, unbothered by the gloom or the ominous whispers that slithered through the walls like living things.

Aria, caught between them, pressed her fingers to the mark on her hand. It still burned faintly, a reminder of the Heart’s power and the doppelgänger’s taunting words. You’ll destroy everything you love. She shuddered and forced the thought away.

“Does anyone else feel like we’re walking into a trap?” Selene’s voice cut through the silence, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.

“Everything about this place is a trap,” Kael replied. “But we don’t have much of a choice, do we?”

“No, we don’t.” Aria’s voice was firmer than she felt. She glanced back at Selene, offering a weak smile. “We’ll get through this. Together.”

Selene nodded, but her expression remained tense.

As they turned a corner, the corridor widened into a vast hall. It was grand yet decayed, with towering marble pillars and a domed ceiling painted with faded murals of a long-forgotten age. At the center of the hall stood a massive door, engraved with intricate runes that glowed faintly.

Lucian approached the door cautiously, running his fingers over the carvings. “This is the next trial,” he murmured.

Eryndor materialized beside him, his form flickering like a dying flame. “You are correct. Beyond this door lies a trial unlike any you’ve faced. It will not test your strength or your unity, but your deepest truths. Only those who can face their own souls will survive.”

Kael frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Eryndor said cryptically.

Before anyone could question further, the runes on the door flared with blinding light, and the ground beneath their feet gave way.

Aria felt herself falling, the air rushing past her in a torrent. She reached out blindly, her fingers brushing against Lucian’s arm before they were torn apart by the force. Her scream was lost in the void as darkness swallowed her whole.

---

When Aria opened her eyes, she was alone. The oppressive silence of the citadel was gone, replaced by a tranquil forest bathed in golden light. The sound of birdsong and the gentle rustle of leaves filled the air. It was beautiful—but wrong.

“This isn’t real,” she said aloud, her voice echoing slightly.

“You’re right,” came a familiar voice.

She spun around to see her mother standing there, smiling warmly.

“Mom?” Aria’s voice broke, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe.

Her mother stepped closer, her features glowing with an ethereal light. “You’ve grown so much, my little star. I’m proud of you.”

Aria took a step back, her chest tightening. “You’re not real. This is another trick.”

“Does it matter?” her mother asked gently. “You’ve carried so much pain, Aria. Would it hurt to let it go, even for a moment?”

Tears welled in Aria’s eyes, but she shook her head. “No. I can’t. I won’t.”

Her mother’s expression softened, sadness flickering in her eyes. “You’re stronger than I ever was. But strength comes at a cost. Be careful, my star. The Heart will take more than you’re willing to give.”

Before Aria could respond, the vision shattered like glass, and she was thrust back into the citadel’s dark corridors.

---

Elsewhere, Kael found himself in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded by the bodies of fallen comrades. The scent of blood and smoke was overwhelming.

“Kael,” a voice called, and he turned to see a young woman—one he had failed to save years ago.

“No,” he whispered, his voice cracking.

“You left me,” she said, her eyes hollow and accusing.

“I tried,” Kael said, his hands trembling. “I tried to save you.”

“But you didn’t,” she said, stepping closer. “How many more will you fail?”

Kael fell to his knees, his heart pounding. He closed his eyes, refusing to look at her.

“You’re not real,” he whispered.

When he opened his eyes again, the battlefield was gone, replaced by the citadel’s cold stone walls.

---

Lucian stood in a grand hall, facing a mirror that reflected not his current self, but the man he had been centuries ago—before the curse, before the bloodshed.

“You were a fool,” the reflection said, its voice dripping with disdain.

“I was human,” Lucian replied, his tone bitter.

“And weak. Look at what you’ve become. Do you even remember who you were fighting for?”

Lucian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. “I remember everything.”

“Do you?” the reflection sneered. “Or have you convinced yourself that this is who you were meant to be?”

The mirror cracked, and Lucian found himself back in the citadel, his breathing ragged.

---

One by one, the group reappeared in the hall, their faces pale and haunted.

Eryndor observed them silently, his expression unreadable. “You’ve survived the Trial of Truth,” he said. “But the citadel is far from finished with you.”

Aria looked at her companions, her heart aching at the pain in their eyes. She knew the worst was yet to come.