The moment the figures of the first wielders spoke their final words, Ava was torn from the ethereal world of the past and thrust back into the present. The swirling energy around her subsided, and the familiar, cold air of the clearing hit her like a wave. She blinked rapidly, her heart pounding as the weight of what she had just witnessed settled in her chest.
The Heartstone in her hands pulsed with a steady rhythm, as if in response to the surge of power she had just felt. She staggered for a moment, the overwhelming intensity of the vision still lingering in her mind.
Ava breathed deeply, trying to steady herself. "I saw... them. The first wielders. I saw how they sealed the gods away." Her voice was trembling, not just from the vision, but from the weight of the revelation. "I... I'm supposed to take their place?"
Marius, who had been watching in silence, stepped forward. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—concern, perhaps. Or maybe regret.
"The first wielders were powerful beings," he said, his tone low and serious. "They sacrificed everything to lock the dark gods away. They knew that one day, someone would have to take their place. That someone is you, Ava. But it's not going to be easy. The Heartstone will test you. It will push you to your limits, make you face the very darkness you're trying to fight."
Ava clenched her fists, the power of the Heartstone surging again, almost as if it were waiting for her to make a decision. She could feel it—deep inside her, the growing sense of responsibility, the pull of the power she now wielded. But the fear, the doubt, they were still there, gnawing at her. Was she truly ready to take on this mantle?
"You said I would face the darkness within myself," Ava said, her voice shaky but determined. "What did you mean by that?"
Marius gave her a long, calculating look. "The Heartstone is not just an artifact of power. It is a mirror, Ava. It will show you your deepest fears, your darkest memories, your deepest regrets. You will have to confront them if you want to unlock its true power. And only by doing so will you be able to stand against the dark gods."
Ava's stomach twisted. "So, I have to face my own darkness... my own weaknesses?"
Marius nodded. "Yes. And it will not be easy. It will take everything you have—and more. You will have to make a choice: either let your fears control you, or use them to fuel your strength."
Ava looked down at the Heartstone, its soft light flickering like a heartbeat. The weight of it, both physical and emotional, felt heavier than ever.
"I'm ready," Ava said, though the words felt uncertain even as they left her lips. "I can't do this alone, Marius. I need to understand this. I need to know how to use this power to stop the gods from coming back."
Marius studied her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers, as if weighing her resolve. Finally, he spoke.
"Then it's time to begin," he said. "The Heartstone will guide you, but the trials will be yours to face alone. The test has already begun."
Before Ava could respond, the world around them shifted again. This time, the ground beneath her feet trembled, and a wave of dark energy surged outward, as if the very earth was reacting to the Heartstone's power. The air grew heavy with the scent of burning wood and ash.
Ava looked up, her pulse quickening. The world had begun to change, twisting into something unrecognizable. She was standing in what appeared to be a war-torn city. Buildings, once grand, were now reduced to rubble. The sky above was a swirling mass of dark clouds, casting the land in an oppressive, stormy light.
"This is a memory," Marius said, his voice grim. "A past failure. This is a vision of what happens when the Heartstone's power is not used wisely. It is a glimpse of what the dark gods will bring if they are allowed to rise again."
Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she stepped forward. The streets were deserted, but the echoes of distant screams and clashes of metal filled the air. She could almost feel the weight of the war that had torn this place apart. The rubble underfoot was cracked and jagged, each step a reminder of the destruction that had taken place.
"This is what the world could become," Marius said, his eyes distant. "This is the darkness you must stop. But you will face a greater challenge than the ones who fought before you. You must prove that you can do better, that you can wield the Heartstone's power without losing yourself to it."
Ava nodded, her mind reeling. She could feel the pull of the Heartstone, the power coursing through her veins, urging her forward. But something felt... off. A dark presence was lingering, like an ominous shadow that she couldn't escape.
Then, without warning, a figure appeared before her—tall, cloaked in shadow, his face hidden beneath a hood. He was barely more than a silhouette, but the malice radiating from him was undeniable.
"I've been waiting for you," the figure said, his voice like a hiss. "I am your first trial, Ava. And you will fail."
Ava's breath caught in her throat. The figure's presence felt like a living nightmare, a nightmare she could almost remember, as though it was something from her past.
"What do you want from me?" Ava asked, her voice trembling but defiant.
The figure's lips curled into a cruel smile. "I want you to face your greatest fear. Your greatest regret. To see the darkness inside you. The Heartstone cannot protect you from that, Ava. It will be your undoing."
Ava stepped back, her mind racing. "I won't let you control me," she said, forcing the words out. "I've already faced my demons. I won't let you take me down."
The figure laughed, a cold, hollow sound that seemed to echo through the broken city. "We'll see. We'll see if you can face the truth."
Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet cracked open, and Ava felt herself falling, plummeting into the darkness below.