The Silent Echo

training with Aric, but now, more than ever, she felt as if something was pushing her toward the unknown. She had felt the power wi

her. The legacy. The book. Aric's cryptic words. The power. Everything was converging at once. She stared into her te

the night before. "The first trial

ut now, alone in her k

ing his usual calm demeanor, as if he, too, was preparing for something significant. The air between

ice sharper than usual. "

w feeling distant, as though they were part of a dream she could no longer touch. She had spent days practici

rest. The path narrowed, and the air grew cooler. Lena could sense the tension in Aric's movements, the subtle tens

one-smooth, polished, and ancient. It was surrounded by a circle of smaller stones, each placed with pre

to her. "This is the trial, Lena," he said, his vo

ient force that seemed to linger in the air. The stone at the center of the clearing seemed to pulse with an

Lena asked, her voice

r is strongest. It's been used by generations of those who have

aced. "What do

you-the doubts, the fears, the parts of yourself you try to ignore. They will manifest here

ed her for the reality of it. She had always feared facing her own darkness, the parts of h

ric asked, his eye

sn't sure if she was ready, but

roach the stone. "Step forward. The trial b

d beneath her feet seemed to pulse in rhythm with her heart. As she approached the stone, a wave of energy washed over her, and

was cold, and there was no ground beneath her feet. It felt as tho

hink you are ready, but you are nothing. You are

e-twisted, distorted, mocking her. She looked around, trying to find the sour

id of what you are. Afraid of the power inside you. You

he had spent her entire life trying to ignore it, trying to keep it buried deep within. But now, in this plac

haking her head. "I won

always have been. The power is not yours to command. Y

a pawn. She wasn't weak. The voice was wrong. She had

voice stronger this time. "I wil

flicker of light. She focused on that light, pushing the fear and doubt asid

ild current that flowed through her like fire. She felt her body hum with energy, her mind clearing as the power settled within

ice, and the fear. The void around her began to collapse, a

ring, the stone in front of her. She felt different-stronger, more grounde

ntently. His expression was unreadable, but

ed," he s

ng. She had faced her fears and emerged stronger for it.