Chapter 7: The Trial of
Courage
Rhea
blinked, trying to focus as the swirling colors settled into solid shapes
around her. She stood alone on the edge of a jagged cliff, overlooking a dark,
churning abyss. The cavern was immense, lit only by faint, flickering lights in
the distance. The oppressive silence was broken by the occasional rumble of
falling rocks and the eerie sound of something slithering below.
“Where
are Mira and Kiran?” Rhea called out, her voice echoing into the void.
“They are
safe,” Selan’s voice resonated in her mind, steady and calm. “The first trial
is yours alone, Rhea. It will test your courage. You must cross the abyss and
reach the other side. Do not waver, for fear will manifest as your greatest
enemy here.”
Rhea’s
eyes fell on a narrow stone bridge that arched precariously over the dark
chasm. The bridge looked fragile, its surface uneven and lined with cracks.
Beyond it, the far side of the cavern glimmered faintly, as if beckoning her
forward.
“I can do
this,” Rhea whispered to herself, taking a deep breath. She placed a tentative
foot on the bridge, and the stone trembled beneath her weight. The sound of
something moving in the shadows made her pause, her heart pounding.
Halfway
across, a chilling hiss echoed through the cavern. From the darkness below, a
massive serpent-like creature emerged. Its body was made of glistening, jagged
stones, and its eyes burned with an amber glow. The creature coiled around the
bridge, blocking her path.
“You are
unworthy,” it hissed, its voice scraping like metal against rock. “Turn back,
coward, and spare yourself the pain.”
Rhea’s
knees buckled as fear coursed through her. The creature loomed closer, its eyes
boring into hers. But as she clutched the edges of the bridge, Selan’s words
echoed in her mind: Do not waver, for fear will manifest as your greatest
enemy.
“This
isn’t real,” Rhea muttered, her voice shaking. “You’re just… my fear.”
The
serpent roared, lunging toward her. Instinctively, Rhea dove to the side,
clinging to the bridge’s edge as the creature’s stony coils slammed into the
structure. Rocks crumbled into the abyss, but the bridge held.
Gathering
her strength, Rhea pulled herself back onto the bridge. She stood, her fists
clenched. “You’re not real!” she shouted, her voice steady this time. “You’re
just a test, and I’m not afraid of you!”
The
serpent paused, its glowing eyes flickering. Then, with a deafening screech, it
shattered into a cloud of dust and light. The bridge steadied beneath her feet,
and the glow on the far side of the chasm grew brighter.
Rhea
crossed the remainder of the bridge with determination, stepping onto solid
ground as the cavern dissolved into light.
