《The Lethrian Trials》


 Chapter 1

    The dampened rhythmic sound of steel splitting wood woke Ash from a deep sleep. Each impact traveled through the cabin''s sturdy walls and into his room. His body ached. Even after a long night''s rest his muscles nonetheless screamed from yesterday''s training. This was nothing new, though. His body felt like this most mornings. He lay there for a moment, trying to shed the last vestiges of his unwillingness to start the day.


    With a grunt, he threw off his blankets and swung out of bed. A loud thud startled him as the book on Conjuration he was reading the night before slammed onto the stone floor. He cringed as it skidded to a halt only a few feet away from the hearth; faint whispers of last night¡¯s fire still playing inside. With a sigh, he picked up the book, inspecting it for damage. Satisfied, he gingerly placed it on the table across the room to rest among its similarly well-worn brethren.


    Now outside the comforting warmth of his bed, the room''s cold started to invade his lanky frame. He quickly threw on yesterday''s clothes and grabbed the thick fur coat that hung on the back of his desk chair. It was his favorite fur coat. This was due, mostly, to it being his only fur coat. He draped it across his shoulders, its white rabbit fur collar puffy around his face; the rest of the coat consisting of a thick black fur that reached down to his ankles.


    He wasn''t sure what animal it was from. Moradin, the man who was the likely source of this morning''s incessant chopping of wood, came home one day with 30 pounds of the stuff. When Ash had asked what beast it had come from, the oaf simply shrugged and said ¡°A big one.¡± Ash didn''t care too much. It was warm, and that''s all that really mattered.


    He tied it tight around his torso with the help of the rusty mirror on his wall.


    Hair''s getting long, Ash thought, playing with the white strands that hung in front of his eyes. Even the ones that framed his face were starting to mix with the rabbit fur collar of his coat. He''d have to deal with that soon.


    The rhythmic chopping of wood continued to sound through the door as if an impatient guest waited outside. He begrudgingly put on his boots, and with a sigh, opened the door.


    A heavy gust of cold air hit Ash like a wall. He pushed through it and closed the heavy wooden door behind him. Hand still on the handle, he leaned his head against the door¡¯s thick wood and strongly considered going back inside, starting a warm fire, and crawling back into bed. A subtle grin formed on his face at the idea, but he thought better of it. He sighed again and turned around, his breath forming a large cloud in front of his face. He stepped further onto the cabin¡¯s front porch and looked around at their little homestead. Two additional doors sat to the right. One led to a common area and the other to Moradin¡¯s room, the windows that sat next to both, absent of light. Bundling his coat tight around himself, Ash walked down the porch¡¯s creaky stairs and into snow.


    It was still dark out. The sun didn''t like to rise this time of year. However, a decently sized fire in front of the cabin proved ample light. The light flickered against the wide lumberwood trees surrounding their clearing and casted long shadows into the forest. The tall trees reached into the morning gloom like reeds into a murky lake. They made for good firewood, but their density made them impossible to cut. However, the giant of a man in front of him didn¡¯t make it seem that way. Steam rising from his muscled form, Moradin split logs like they were made of warm sourdough.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°A bit early, don''t you think?¡± Ash said, standing still as a stone. He hid his hands in the pockets of his coat and treated Moradin with a bleary eyed glare. The man was more than six heads taller than Ash. Not that Ash was short; he¡¯d like to think that he was an average height. Moradin was just freakishly tall. The man¡¯s brown hair, chiseled face, and half smile, that always seemed to be there, was a stark contrast to Ash.


    ¡°Good morning to you too, sunshine.¡± Moradin responded, his voice deep and affable. He gave Ash a smile as big as ever, before returning to hacking away at his pile of logs.


    Seeing that smile plastered on his face this early made Ash unreasonably upset for whatever reason. The madman didn¡¯t even have a coat on.


    Ash grunted and waddled over to a kettle of coffee in the coals next to the crackling fire, his steps crunching in the thin layer of snow. He warmed his hands before pouring himself some of the hot coffee into a small tin cup. The smell alone made him feel a bit better. He plopped on a nearby log, cupping the warm brew in both hands. Sitting there, arms and legs tucked in as much as humanly possible, he glared at Moradin hacking at log after log as he sipped his coffee.


    This is really tasty today, he thought as he gingerly sipped from the cup; its warmth and pleasant aroma sent waves of comfort through his body.


    ¡°Not half bad, huh?¡± Moradin said jovially, glancing back with a cheeky smile.


    Ash responded with a glare and a dismissive grunt.


    Moradin laughed at the gesture before continuing his work.


    He didn''t understand the man sometimes. It was less than twenty degrees out and the freak acted like it was the first day of summer.


    He wished he could call him a dullard, but Moradin taught him everything he knew.


    Does that make me a dullard? Ash contemplated between gentle sips. He closed his eyes for a moment, finding comfort in the contrast between the cold winter air on his face, the rich taste of hot coffee on his tongue, and the pleasant warmth and crackle of the fire beside. This is what he valued most: comfort.


    A log being tossed into the fire pulled Ash from his thoughts. It seemed Moradin was done chopping. Despite his size, Moradin''s footfalls barely made any sound in the snow as he walked by Ash. He hung his ax on one of the cabin''s walls before joining Ash by the fire.


    ¡°You¡¯re coming with me to the ruins out east today,¡± Moradin said as he donned his coat.


    Ash perked up at the comment. ¡°Ruins? You finally got them open?¡±


    Moradin nodded with a grunt as he poured himself some coffee. ¡°We¡¯ll have to head there early if we want to make any meaningful progress inside.¡±


    Any lingering tiredness Ash had vanished like snowflakes into a fire. ¡°You think I''m ready?¡±


    ¡°I think you''ll do just fine.¡± Moradin smiled, giving Ash a hearty pat on the back. ¡°Also, it''ll be nice having an extra pair of hands for once.¡±


    A pat that hard would usually put Ash in a sour mood, but he couldn''t care less right now. He was finally going to enter a fresh set of ruins.

 Chapter 2

    Ash wove through the snow-covered forest, trying his best to match Moradin¡¯s steady pace. Being forced to ghost walk behind him made it harder than it needed to. The paranoiac didn¡¯t like to leave two sets of trails for whatever reason. Ash didn¡¯t understand why. It wasn''t like there was anybody out here. The Old Wood housed nothing but thousands of miles of difficult-to-traverse forest, a vast majority of which was unexplored. People simply didn¡¯t like coming out this far. Yes, the place had a surprising number of ruins; however, the ones at the outer edges had been picked clean hundreds of years ago, and going after those further in wasn''t worth the time or the risk for most people. The deeper you went into the Old Wood, the more dangerous it got. Hence the reason why Ash had never seen another person in the entire seventeen years they¡¯d been out here. Ash sighed internally but continued following nevertheless.


    The snow was beginning to fall a little harder now, making Moradin¡¯s already shallow footprints even harder to see.


    Damn snow, Ash cursed to himself, the wind¡¯s chill stinging his face. So focused on his inner rant, he barely realized they were moving at what most people would consider a sprint.


    He¡¯s seeing if I can keep up, he thought as he vaulted a fallen tree, being sure to match Moradin¡¯s hand placement going over it. The man didn''t seem to be slowing down; in fact, quite the opposite.


    Taking a deep breath¡ªfeeling the cold air biting as it traveled through his nose to his lungs¡ªhe increased his speed. Ash didn¡¯t consider himself the strongest or the brightest, but there was one thing he knew for a fact: he was fast. A small smile crept onto his face as he leaned into his already growing momentum.


    ********


    But for the ponderously falling snow, all was still and quiet deep within the Old Wood. Like charcoal and bone, the weighty black of the lumberwood trees contrasted heavily with the white blanketing the forest floor. The canvas-like stillness was shattered momentarily as two black cloaked figures cut through the treeline like specters. Much like a passing gust of wind, the figures were gone as fast as they came, leaving the forest to settle back into its quiet mundanity.


    ********


    Ash''s mind was empty as he and Moradin flew through the Old Wood. It took every shred of focus he had to maintain this speed. He had never moved this fast. In fact, he had no idea his body was even capable of this.


    The wind whistling loudly by his ears and trees barreling past were like distant voices filtered through thick glass. All of his focus was locked onto Moradin, following the man''s every step, every shift of weight, every movement.


    He wasn''t sure how long they''d been going for. He honestly didn''t care. He just kept moving forward.


    Moradin¡¯s pace suddenly changed, his momentum slowing with every step. Ash, matching his movements, did the same. Soon they both came to a complete stop in a piece of woodland no different from any previous they had been through.


    It took a moment for the adrenaline clouding Ash''s mind to drain. He looked around, assuming they¡¯d reached their destination, but saw nothing but dark trees and white snow. He looked at Moradin. The man was still as a stone, focused on something in the distance. Ash¡¯s brows furrowed.


    ¡°Are we -¡± Ash was cut off by a quick gesture from Moradin, the man still staring off in the distance.


    Ash still didn''t see anything, so instead, he tried listening, and what he heard was¡­ nothing. It was quiet. Unnervingly so.


    ¡°It¡¯s pathing towards us,¡± Moradin whispered with slight frustration. He turned to look at Ash, the man¡¯s eyes full of a sharp severity. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Don''t make a sound,¡± he instructed, ¡°and, no matter what you see, remember: It. Can''t. See. You.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Ash nodded in response, confused.


    Moradin gave Ash a half-hearted reassuring smile, before turning back to the direction he was looking.


    Worry started to bubble up inside Ash. He still couldn''t see or hear anything in the distance, so he decided to try a third option. Closing his eyes, he reached out with his senses.


    His field of perception was nowhere close to Moradin¡¯s, but he could still scan a decent distance. He felt about for any sign of life, any hint of an aura. But there was nothing. Not even a mouse for a quarter mile.


    Alarm bells began ringing in his head. This felt wrong.


    A loud snap of a branch in the distance wrenched his eyes open. He looked in the direction it came from. Movement. Something big: its color blending into the trees, making it difficult to track, as it meandered in their direction. The density of the woodland made it hard to make out any discernible features at this distance.


    At around two hundred feet away, the thing finally moved into a patch of trees far enough apart that the back half of it was unobstructed.


    A deer, maybe? Ash guessed, but quickly discarded the idea. Its body was similar, but far too tall; its four hoofed legs unnaturally long, and strangely thin, like jointed stilts. They moved awkwardly as it eased forward, past the tree it stood behind, revealing the rest of it.


    Ash grew pale.


    A head attached to a reedy neck stretched out from behind the tree, stiff and serpentine. Plastered onto it was the face of a crying woman, its features grotesque and exaggerated. Thin black hair framed the still expression stretched onto the creature''s face.


    Its body stilled for a moment, its stiff serpentine neck swimming in the air searchingly, until, with a sudden jerk of motion, its eyes, large and bulbous, locked onto Ash.


    His instincts took over and forced his body to move: to run.


    Moradin¡¯s swift hand on his shoulder held him in place like a vice, grounding him. He tried to compose himself.


    It can¡¯t see you. Remember. It. Can''t. See. You. Moradin¡¯s words repeated in his mind.


    The thing started to lumber in their direction again, eyes still locked on Ash.


    One hundred and fifty feet.


    It can¡¯t see you.


    One hundred.


    It. Can''t. See. You.


    It wove through the trees, slow and steady, its gaze never leaving him. The neck twisted at odd angles in order to stabilize its head in place, giving the appearance that it floated in a perfectly straight line towards him.


    He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off it.


    Fifty feet.


    It can¡¯t see you.


    Twenty-five feet.


    He held his breath, heart beating like a drum in his ears.


    Ten.


    It! Can''t! See! You!  He screamed internally.


    It stopped.


    Besides its hooves lightly pressing into the snow, the creature was completely quiet. If Ash closed his eyes, he wouldn¡¯t even know it was there. It had no aura; it made no sound. But he couldn¡¯t stop looking. He had to keep his eyes on it. He had to know where it was.


    The head started to reach closer to him, the neck stretching unnervingly far.


    Five.


    It can¡¯t see you. Remember, it can''t see you. It can¡¯t see you. It can¡¯t see you, he repeated.


    One.


    Time passed like a falling feather. Everything in his body, everything in his mind screamed. To run. To fight. To do something. But Moradin¡¯s heavy grip kept him still.


    It was so close, but he couldn''t even feel it. All his other senses told him there was nothing there, but his eyes said the opposite.


    It can''t see you.


    Ash heard a step.


    It can''t see you.


    Then another.


    The nightmarish visage was still locked onto him, less than a foot away, until, suddenly, it wasn''t.


    Ash watched as the head and neck slowly returned to float above the creature once again. It continued at its meandering gait towards the direction they came from, its unnatural form eventually disappearing into the dense obscurity of the Old Wood.

 Chapter 3

    ¡°What¡ªWhat was that?¡± Ash asked between quick, shallow breaths, his eyes like disks. He stumbled, reaching out for any kind of support. Finding a tree, he leaned his back against it and slid to the ground.


    Moradin¡¯s footsteps crunched in the snow as he walked up and crouched to his level. ¡°Deep breaths now, Ash,¡± Moradin said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. ¡°It should wear off any moment now.¡± Subtle worry played in the man¡¯s eyes.


    Ash clutched his hair in his hands, his breaths coming quicker and more panicked. The air around him felt heavy. Everything felt too close. It was as if his consciousness itself was trying to smother him.


    Moradin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as an aura started to seep out from Ash, weighty and sharp. It was growing by the second. ¡°Look at me, Ash,¡± he probed, worry in his eyes.


    Ash instead curled deeper into himself, his breaths becoming gasps. He felt like he was drowning. He couldn¡¯t breathe. Tears and spittle fell from his face, mixing with the snow below him.


    His aura continued to grow, expanding like blood in the water. It reached Moradin, making the man wince, a razor-thin cut appearing on his cheek. The worry in his eyes quickly turned to alarm.


    ¡°Look at me, boy!¡± Moradin demanded, cupping Ash¡¯s face between two large hands, forcing Ash¡¯s wide, crying eyes to meet his. ¡°Deep. Breaths,¡± he continued, his tone soft but stern. ¡°Through the nose, down into your stomach, then up into your chest.¡±


    Eyes locked with Moradin¡¯s, Ash gave the man a shaky nod. He took a long, faltering breath in through his nose, then exhaled unsteadily out through his mouth.


    ¡°Good. Now, again.¡±


    Ash followed the instructions, his breath a bit steadier this time.


    ¡°Again,¡± Moradin repeated, a weight seemingly lifting off his shoulders as Ash¡¯s aura began to recede.


    Ash focused on the rhythm of his breathing, each inhale and exhale bringing him further from the grip of panic. The memory of the black doe still lingered, but its hold on him weakened with each passing moment.


    He looked up at Moradin, who watched him with a mix of concern and relief. "I''m okay now," Ash assured him softly.


    "Good to hear," Moradin replied, a genuine smile on the big man''s face. "Shall we continue?"


    *********


    Ash followed Moradin up a snowy incline, the last remnants of his panic attack beginning to fade. The wind had blessedly returned, blowing Ash''s winter-white hair about. It brought along with it the welcome oaky scent of the lumberwood trees. The sun shone past the branches that intertwined above and delivered a comforting warmth to Ash''s pale skin.


    The forest feels alive again, he thought as two red birds chased one another from tree to tree.


    They walked a bit longer in silence, their boots crunching in the snow, before Ash spoke up.


    ¡°So what was it?¡± he asked, a few feet behind Moradin, any sign of his previous panic seemingly gone.


    ¡°A black doe, I''ve heard it called,¡± Moradin responded casually, leading the two up an incline. ¡°Ran into one when I worked with the Solventum. Wicked things.¡±


    The conversation lapsed for a moment¡ªmatching the tempo of the unhurried pace they walked at.


    ¡°What did you mean when you said, ¡®it can''t see you?¡¯¡± Ash finally asked.


    ¡°Just that. The things are totally blind,¡± Moradin answered, stopping a moment to dig around the pockets of his coat. ¡°They rely on sensing movement.¡±


    ¡°But it was looking right at me. The damn thing didn¡¯t take its eyes off me for a second.¡± Ash countered.


    ¡°A conjured illusion. A strong one at that,¡± Moradin responded, pulling out a waterskin and taking a swig. ¡°It''s how it hunts. If you rely on sensing movement to find your prey,¡± Moradin continued, turning to hand Ash the waterskin, ¡°then you need a way to make them move,¡± he finished.


    Ash took the waterskin but didn¡¯t drink, instead pausing to think. ¡°But why the face of a crying woman?¡±


    The mention of that made Moradin pause for a moment, a hint of pity touching his face, before quickly disappearing. ¡°Everyone sees something different, lad. A mouse might see the face of a hawk, whereas a fox might see one of a hound. The illusion, along with its devastating aura, makes for an effective strategy for getting things to run,¡± Moradin explained, reaching to take back the waterskin.


    Ash took a hearty gulp and handed it back, Moradin storing it in his coat.


    Ash wiped the excess water off his lips with his sleeve before speaking. ¡°But it didn''t have an aura. I couldn''t sense it at all, even when it was right in front of me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it didn''t now?¡± Moradin''s smile grew as he turned to move up the incline once again. ¡°Then explain to me why you just spent the past hour curled up in a ball.¡±


    Ash''s eyes went wide in realization, but quickly went hot with embarrassment.


    Moradin gestured with a dismissive hand. ¡°Auras are complicated, kid. You''re still new at this, remember?¡±


    Ash stood there, trying to piece everything he had just heard together.


    Moradin reached the peak of the incline they had been climbing and looked back. ¡°Come on then. We¡¯re just about there.¡±


    *********


    The topography of the Old Wood changed, the dense woodland cutting off at a distinct tree line. The sun''s rays that had treated them only moments ago were quickly replaced by a windswept cloud-covered sky of twisting grays. With the tall lumberwood trees no longer blocking the view, Ash could now see the snowy expanse in front of him gradually rise into an enormous jagged peak that pierced the clouds. Ash had only seen the mountain from a distance¡ªeven then it seemed massive, but from up close it was monstrous in scale. Its white-covered slate surface towered over everything; immovable and unyielding.


    Ash bundled his coat around him, the lumberwood trees no longer protecting them from the wind''s chill. ¡°We''re not climbing that, are we?¡±


    ¡°Just a bit,¡± Moradin answered, walking forward and giving Ash a firm pat on the back, a white-toothed smile appearing on the large man''s face. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Ash stumbled forward and glared at Moradin''s back before reluctantly trudging after him.


    After thirty minutes of wading through knee-deep powder, Ash finally saw something man-made. A four-foot-wide jagged pillar carved of onyx stone jutted out of the snow at an odd angle, the top seemingly lost to time.


    Must be getting close, he hoped. The wind and snow were getting worse by the second.


    Another similarly worn pillar appeared, then another. The pillars soon accompanied crumbling stone walls, archways, and stairs leading to empty air. The elements did an effective job of wiping away their original purpose, whatever it was.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Soon, they approached a cliff face; its sheer top disappearing into the whiteout above. Built into it, Ash could barely make out a structure of stone similar in color to the dilapidated buildings that surrounded them. Whatever it was, it was massive; standing at what Ash assumed to be a hundred feet tall and fifty feet wide¡ªits rectangular base curving into a rounded arch at the top.


    Almost looks like a giant door, he thought, before quickly dismissing the idea. No way that could be right. Who in the gods'' names would need a door that big?


    ¡°Do you see the giant door?¡± Moradin yelled over the screaming wind.


    Ash simply stared at the man, his face flat and expressionless. Of course it''s a door. Why wouldn¡¯t it be?


    Out of the snow emerged a wide stone staircase. Large braziers, most destroyed, decorated its sides. The stairs led to the base of the imposing structure, the distance and angle still making it difficult to make out any discernible features.


    Ash climbed the staircase¡¯s many steps, meeting Moradin at the top. Embedded into the cliff face stood the mother of all doors. Thick stone covered in intricate geometric shapes framed the massive thing; the door itself was embedded a dozen yards deeper into the cliff.  Despite its size, the shallow grooves that ran up its surface were incredibly detailed. Ash couldn''t imagine how something like this was made.


    Following Moradin, Ash approached the door. He let out a sigh of relief as they entered the frame, the blessed thing giving them a reprieve from the wind and snow. Looking the door over, he couldn¡¯t find a way in. Seeing neither a handle to turn nor a knob to twist, Ash instead bunched up his coat tight around himself and looked at Moradin. ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°We enter, but first, a few ground rules.¡±


    Ash frowned slightly, clearly impatient, but nonetheless nodded for Moradin to continue.


    ¡°First, we don''t know what we''re walking into. Old places like this can be strange and deceptively deadly. Things that might have been common sense for the people of the old could go right over our heads. How dangerous does a knife seem to a man who''s never been cut?¡±


    Ash nodded, his previous impatience now replaced with focus.


    ¡°So,¡± Moradin continued, ¡°we move with a cautious curiosity.¡± He pointed at the ground. "If we get separated for any reason, your only objective becomes to meet back here.¡± Moradin paused for a moment and looked at him with serious eyes. ¡°I expect you to hold your own.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Ash said.


    ¡°Good!¡± Moradin replied with a smile, his serious gaze melting away.


    The large man turned toward the door and flared his aura, making Ash take a step back. It felt like hot steel. It radiated off of him like fire in a forge.


    Moradin raised his hand out to the side as if he was reaching for something. A heartbeat later, a hammer of solid steel appeared in his outstretched hand, seemingly formed out of thin air. The handle, marked with bronze filigree, was almost as long as Ash was tall. Pressurized jets of steam hissed loudly from the back of its massive head; the weapon seemingly trying to push itself forward in Moradin''s grasp.


    Although Ash wished for nothing more than warmth at that moment, the steam shooting from the hammer was uncomfortably hot, even from this distance. Thankfully the steam quickly abated, instead only releasing thin wisps of smoke. Ash had seen Moradin conjure a multitude of weapons over the years, but the war hammer seemed to be a favorite.


    Moradin spun the handle a few times in his grip¡ªas if trying to get reacquainted with it. After another moment, he looked at the door and began to raise his hands towards it.


    ¡°Hey! Big man with hammer,¡± Ash called from behind¡ªbeing sure to over-enunciate his words. ¡°Forget about something?¡± He held his hands out in front of him to emphasize their emptiness.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Moradin said with mischievous eyes, ¡°almost forgot.¡±


    Ash assumed he was going to conjure a weapon for him like he usually did during their training. Instead, Moradin reached into his coat pocket and searched around.


    ¡°Not in that one,¡± Moradin said with clearly fake confusion. He let his hammer fall to the ground¡ªthe weight of the head keeping the handle upright¡ªand began to search the other side of his coat with a furrowed brow.


    Ash''s bored eyes and straight face screamed that he was unimpressed at the man''s spectacle.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Moradin exclaimed with faux relief, ¡°there they are.¡±


    Surprise alighted in Ash¡¯s eyes as Moradin pulled out a long rectangular case of polished mahogany and presented it to Ash.


    ¡°Happy nineteenth name day, lad,¡± Moradin said, a warm and genuine smile reaching his eyes.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Ash didn''t know what to say as Moradin placed the box in his hands. It was surprisingly light. ¡°I had completely forgotten.¡±


    ¡°And what a day it''s been,¡± Moradin chuckled, ¡°if I had known we''d run into a black doe, I''d maybe have given you these sooner. Better late than never.¡±


    Ash looked down at the box, rubbing its smooth surface with his thumbs. ¡°Thank you,¡± appreciation clear in his tone.


    ¡°Oh stop. You haven''t even opened it yet. Go on,¡± Moradin said, his smile only growing bigger.


    Ash flipped up two metal latches on the box''s side and lifted the lid. Resting in padded slots lay two daggers; their design incredibly simple. Steel wrapped in thick dark leather made up the handles. Above their minimalistic pommels gleamed two glossy white blades the shape of spearheads. The only unique details on the daggers were a small red gem embedded in each handle and the crafter¡¯s mark  engraved in the blades¡ªa lowercase ¡°t¡± with an extra line crossing the bottom.


    ¡°Moradin¡­ I¡­¡± Ash again didn''t know what to say.


    ¡°Well don''t just stand there and drool on them, they might rust,¡± Moradin teased. ¡°Take them out!¡±


    Ash did as instructed and carefully grabbed both blades¡ªMoradin taking the box and returning it to his coat.


    They were light. Incredibly so. Ash flipped them around his hands, playing with the weight¡ªperfectly balanced.


    He went to go test the sharpness with his thumb, but Moradin spoke up, ¡°Whoa there. Calling those blades sharp is an understatement. If you''re trying to see if it catches on your skin, I''ll tell you right now, it won''t at all.¡± Ash''s eyebrows rose at the comment.


    ¡°They''re made from Iron Drake bones,¡± Moradin commented with pride. "Keeps an edge better than steel, it''s a tenth the weight, and four times as strong.¡±


    ¡°Moradin, you didn''t have to¡ª¡± Ash started, but was quickly cut off by the excited man.


    ¡°I had some lying around. Thought it could go to better use than collecting dust. But don''t mind that. What''s important is, how do they feel?¡± he asked, a knowing glint in his eyes.


    ¡°Amazing,¡± Ash said, beaming, ¡°beyond amazing, honestly.¡± He looked back down to the blades¡ªa wide smile finally appearing on his face. ¡°One quick question though. Where am I supposed to store them? I didn''t see any sheaths in the box.¡±


    Moradin grinned as if he was waiting all day for that question to be asked. ¡°That''s the best part,¡± he answered as he revealed a cherry-sized red crystal between his fingers¡ªthe color a perfect match to the ones in the daggers¡¯ handles. ¡°Open,¡± Moradin said, gesturing to Ash''s mouth.


    Ash went to ask why, but the second he opened his mouth, Moradin flicked the crystal, with surprising accuracy and speed, directly into the back of his throat.


    Curses and the sound of choking filled the air¡ªthe mixture of both making Moradin laugh as if it were the funniest thing he''d ever heard.


    After struggling for another moment, Ash finally decided to just give in and swallow that damn thing. ¡°It''s really not that funny,¡± he said between coughs.


    Moradin''s only response was to laugh even harder.


    While plotting his revenge, Ash suddenly felt a burst of energy wash through his body, dissipating as quickly as it appeared.


    Moradin seemed to sense this and calmed himself down a bit. ¡°See? Not too bad. It will be worth it, I promise,¡± he said with the occasional giggle escaping as he collected himself. ¡°Okay,¡± he said, wiping a tear from his eye. ¡°Try asserting your will over the blades.¡±


    Moradin had made him try this plenty of times in the past, but the most he could ever do was move a pebble a few inches. Ash nonetheless gave it a shot, focusing his will on the two blades. When he had tried this with other things, it always felt like wading through quicksand; here, it felt as simple as breathing. The second his will touched the blades, they disappeared, leaving faint wisps of red behind. Ash''s jaw dropped.


    Moradin just stared at Ash with his arms crossed, a knowing smile on his face.


    Ash was about to ask how to bring them back, but he quickly realized that he already knew the answer. He could feel them. Floating in a space he couldn''t describe¡ªwaiting to be called on. So he did just that. The two daggers instantly reappeared in his hands, the same red wisps as before drifting off the weapons. ¡°Holy shit,¡± Ash said under his breath.


    Moradin laughed. ¡°I thought you might like that part.¡± Without warning, he grabbed Ash by the shoulder and pulled him in close¡ªAsh dismissing the blades almost by instinct. Moradin ruffled his hair with a giant hand, the large man beaming. ¡°Happy name day, kid.¡±


    Ash thought he would get mad at the gesture, but found himself laughing instead.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Moradin said, letting Ash go from the embrace, ¡°let''s see if you can put those to good use.¡±


    Ash nodded in agreement.


    The giant man hefted his war hammer over a broad shoulder and turned towards the door. He once again extended his hand toward it, this time, pressing his massive palm against the marked stone. Moradin''s aura flared, more vibrant than before.


    Moments later, the stone began to shift.

 Chapter 4

    The door shook. A bronze glow ran up grooves that branched across its surface like the roots of a tree. It crawled to the edges, continuing onto the frame and the many shapes that marked it.


    They''re runes, Ash realized, as the patterns began to light up one at a time.


    Once the final one was lit, Moradin removed his hand, his aura fading. ¡°We might want to back up. I¡¯m not sure what it''s trying to do.¡±


    Ash did exactly that, stepping out of the massive frame.


    The wind buffeted them as they watched the door. It continued to shake, the sounds of unseen stone mechanisms shifting into place.


    The air before the door began to shimmer, as if heated by an invisible flame. The shimmer gradually solidified into an amber-hued translucent veil. Ripples expanded outward from its center like waves across a pond. Energy continued to pour into it, making it grow increasingly opaque.


    Suddenly, the shaking stopped, the sound of stone-on-stone halting. The glowing runes faded, leaving a horizontal pool of rippling amber to tower over the two of them.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ash asked.


    ¡°A portal,¡± Moradin answered, concern on his face.


    A portal, Ash mused while staring at the doorway. He had read about portals, but this was his first time seeing one in person.


    ¡°I don''t love this,¡± Moradin said with frustration.


    ¡°Why? It''s basically just a door with a few extra steps, yeah?¡±


    ¡°A door you can open and see through. A door you can break down and escape from. Portals, on the other hand¡­¡± Moradin trailed off while approaching the mana-dense wall. ¡°Portals are tricky. You don''t know where you''ll end up, or how you''ll get back.¡± He flicked it with a thick finger, making waves spread across its surface.


    ¡°So, what then? We turn back?¡± Ash asked, disappointment in his voice.


    Moradin turned to him, a devilish grin on his face. ¡°Might as well stay in bed if you''re not willing to take a risk every now and then. Fortune favors the bold.¡±


    Hearing those words caused a devilish smile to appear on Ash¡¯s face as well, a smile he quickly discarded. The old fool¡¯s rubbing off on me.


    Moradin¡¯s face went serious again. ¡°We enter at the same time. Reduces the chances of it separating us.¡± He stretched out his neck. ¡°You ready?¡± he asked with a smile.


    Ash nodded, trying to hide the anxiety welling up in his chest. He walked up to stand side by side with Moradin. Looking up at the large man, he gave a face that signaled he was ready.


    ¡°Cautious curiosity,¡± Moradin reminded Ash with confidence.


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Ash acknowledged.


    ¡°On three,¡± Moradin said, entering a prepared stance.


    Ash faced forward and waited for the count, his heart racing in anticipation.


    ¡°3¡­ 2¡­ 1.¡±


    They both dashed forward.


    When the portal¡¯s amber energy enveloped Ash, it felt neither hot nor cold. In fact, he noticed there was nothing to sense. Only the tremendous amount of mana encompassed him. Strangely, it felt nice, drifting in deprivation.


    However, the calm feeling was ripped away from him like warm sheets on a cold night. He felt like he was falling in every direction at once¡ªdown was up, right was left. His body was being pulled in directions that he didn¡¯t have a name for. Blood rushed to his head and rushed right back out, over and over. His equilibrium screamed.


    The next thing he knew, he slammed into a bed of coarse sand as if it was a brick wall. He reeled in it like a dying worm, his body still trying to figure out what direction was which. He rolled to his side and vomited. Keeping still, he clenched a handful of sand as he waited for his equilibrium to readjust.


    ¡°Moradin?¡± he tried, spitting out bits of sand.


    No response.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he cursed under his breath. The world was still spinning around him like he was a drunk out on a bender. He maneuvered into a seated position and took a moment to gather himself, wiping the sand from his coat. He grabbed his waterskin from his coat and tried to clean his mouth out as he scanned his surroundings.


    He seemed to be in some sort of walled-off colosseum. Empty rows of seats circled the arena of sand he sat in. The light brown stone of the colosseum contrasted heavily with the encircling gray walls that rose up to form a dome high up above him. On the wall of the arena itself loomed three gates, each with a differently colored gem embedded in its center.


    Where in the hell am I?


    He reached out with his senses to see if he could feel Moradin close by.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The only things he could feel were auras that emanated from the three gates. Each felt slightly different; however, they were too faint to make out any details. He was going to take a moment to look at them more closely; however, his attention quickly shifted to the fourth aura he sensed¡ªthe one radiating from directly behind him.


    ¡°Hello!¡± the voice of a chipper girl called out from his back.


    Ash whirled, pushing off the ground and twisting midair to confront the unseen figure. The sand splashed as he skidded backward to a stop thirty feet away, red mist already evaporating from his summoned daggers.


    ¡°Now, that was pretty cool,¡± the girl said with obvious sarcasm.


    Ash didn''t know what to say¡ªthe girl''s appearance catching him off guard. Maybe a few years older than him, she wore a well-tailored outfit of various shades of white and gray that fit nicely over her lean build. Her pale auburn hair was kept in a loose braid with bangs that stopped just above her smug eyes.


    She stood in a loose, but confident, stance, her hands interlocked behind her back.


    ¡°Cat got your tongue,¡± she mocked with a Cheshire grin.


    ¡°I¡­ uh¡­¡± Ash stammered. He blinked, trying to get his words together, but when he opened his eyes, the girl was gone.


    ¡°Nice pokers you got there,¡± Ash heard from his side, the girl crouching down to tap at the tip of one of his daggers.


    He whirled a second time, kicking off the sand again to gain some distance.


    ¡°I''m going to start calling you Rabbit if you keep hopping around like that,¡± she said as she watched Ash glide through the air away from her.


    He slid to a stop.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± he managed to get out.


    ¡°That''s not very polite, you know, asking for a girl''s name before you''ve given your own,¡± she said with a pout.


    He paused for a moment, thinking over how wise it was to give¡ªwhoever this girl was¡ªhis name. ¡°I''m Ash,¡± he eventually called out, instantly regretting his decision to do so. Stupid, he chided himself.


    ¡°Ash¡­ hmmm,¡± she looked up and to the side as if she were playing around with how the name felt in her mouth. ¡°I think I prefer Rabbit,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Suits you better. You even have the hair to match.¡±


    Ash''s face went hot at the comment. ¡°Your name?¡± he called out.


    ¡°Hm?¡± she looked at him, confused, until realization suddenly appeared on her face. ¡°Oh! I almost forgot.¡± She cleared her throat with a faux ¡°Ahem,¡± before bending over to give Ash an exaggerated bow. ¡°My name is Reylia, the Third Watcher of the Lethrian Trial. It is my duty¡ªno¡­, my honor¡ªto guide you through this challenge, young Aspirant,¡± she said in an overly formal voice.


    ¡°Hello, Reylia,¡± Ash started, his tone unimpressed. ¡°I didn''t understand half of what you just said.¡±


    ¡°As expected, young aspirant,¡± she continued in the same voice, still deep in her bow. ¡°Rabbits do have small brains, after all.¡± She looked up at him with a mocking grin.


    Ash just stared at her blankly, his face straight as the edge of a table.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, dropping the polite act¡ªobviously upset that she couldn¡¯t get a rise out of him. ¡°As I said, this is the Lethrian Trial.¡± She gestured to the three gates. ¡°Made to test aspiring youth and give them the tools that might aid them in their journey ahead,¡± she said as if she were reading from a script.


    Ash just stood there, no longer in a defensive stance¡ªhis flat stare unchanged.


    ¡°Sharp as a marble, this one,¡± Reylia muttered to herself as she rubbed the bridge of her nose with frustration. ¡°Do you want to take the trial or not? I wouldn''t have let you in here if you weren''t at least somewhat capable of completing it.¡±


    Ash didn''t know what she was going on about. His top priority right now was finding Moradin. ¡°Have you by chance seen my friend? Giant. Big hammer,¡± he asked.


    ¡°Oh, that old monster? I didn''t let him in,¡± she answered while looking over her nails. ¡°I shot him right out of the portal. Tried his best to get in. Still is, actually. Persistent bastard, that one.¡±


    Old monster? Ash wasn''t sure she was talking about the same person. ¡°The big guy''s okay though, yeah?¡±


    She looked at him like he just asked if water was wet. ¡°My little portal isn''t going to hurt someone like him.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Ash nodded, relief filling him. He unsummoned his daggers. ¡°Could you show me to the exit, then, please?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± she said with disbelief at the comment.


    ¡°The exit. Or you could just point me in the right direction.¡±


    ¡°Kid, did you hear anything I just said? You realize this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? I won''t let you back in here if you decide to leave.¡±


    Learning that he couldn''t return gave him pause. Moradin had spent the better part of a month getting this place open. It would be a shame to see all that go to waste. And, if everything this girl was saying was true, then Moradin would probably slap him over the head for not taking the opportunity, whatever it was. The big man''s words rang in his head. ¡°Fortune favors the bold¡­ Cautious curiosity¡­¡±


    ¡°What do I get for completing your trial?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Depends on how far you get,¡± she answered, arms crossed. ¡°However, even the lowest-tier reward will put those little pokers of yours to shame.¡±


    Ash looked over the three gates that surrounded him. ¡°And what does the trial entail?¡±


    ¡°Can''t say.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Against the rules.¡±


    ¡°Whose rules?¡±


    ¡°Can''t say,¡± she finished with a smirk and a quick raise of her eyebrows.


    Ash glared at the woman. She wanted him to take her damn trial but wouldn¡¯t give him a lick of information. ¡°Who even are you anyway? Why are you stuck in some random ruins in the middle of nowhere?¡±


    ¡°Can''t say,¡± she replied again.


    Ash was growing visibly frustrated.


    ¡°Fiiiii-ne,¡± she said, drawing out the word. ¡°If you manage to make it to the end, in addition to any reward you get, I''ll also answer one question.¡±


    ¡°Any question?¡± he clarified.


    ¡°Any. Question,¡± she confirmed.


    Ash took a moment to think about it, weighing all the factors. Generally, he would take the safe option and back out; there really wasn''t enough information about what he was getting into. However, the ruins; the portal; the colosseum. There had to be something worthwhile here.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he eventually said.


    ¡°Fine? As in, you agree to take the trial?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± he answered, already regretting the decision.


    ¡°Yay!¡± the girl cheered, clapping her hands together. ¡°So,¡± she started, pointing at the gate closest to him. ¡°Something big and scary is going to come out of there. All you have to do is try not to die for three minutes.¡±


    ¡°Wait, hold on¡ª¡± Ash tried to cut in, but failed.


    ¡°Any questions? No? Perfect!¡± She hopped up and down like a kid in a candy shop. ¡°Good luck! I''m rootin¡¯ for ya,¡± she finished with a wink, before disappearing into thin air.


    The massive crystal embedded in the gate began to glow a crimson red, an ominous aura blaring out of it.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Ash cursed, daggers appearing in both hands.

 Chapter 5

    Crimson mana began to bleed out of the crystal embedded in the gate, tendrils of energy reaching out to runes carved into the walls and floor behind its thick metal bars. As the runes brightened, a red veil shimmered into existence between them, reminiscent of the portal Ash had used to enter. It continued to solidify, taking on the appearance of a vertical pool of blood.


    Ash watched in dreadful anticipation as a massive form casually stepped out from the rippling surface, the sounds of metallic clinking accompanying its arrival. It waited patiently as the gate slowly raised into the ceiling, the portal blinking out of existence.


    He felt as though a lead blanket was thrown over him as the creature¡¯s aura washed over the arena.


    Holding his daggers in a backward grip, Ash crouched low into a defensive stance, ready for anything.


    A thirteen-foot-tall humanoid sauntered confidently into the light, the thick iron chains that hung loose from its wrists dragging lines in the sand behind it. Its pale skin stretched over its lithe and powerful body as it walked, the muscles underneath looking like they were carved from marble. Its perfect posture was a strange contrast to its mostly naked form. Everything about it was human, unnervingly so; however, its face was everything but. Covering its eyes, a thick metal band wrapped all the way around its bald head; the nails keeping it attached were driven deep throughout. Its lipless mouth bore a permanent smile that stretched beyond where its nose should have been, its white, oversized teeth surrounded by bright red gums.


    It stopped in the center of the colosseum and glanced around, as if the metal blocking its vision wasn¡¯t there. The colossus¡¯s gaze eventually rested on Ash.


    Its aura flared, the sand at its feet misting. It closed the fifty-foot distance between them in a heartbeat.


    It''s fast, Ash thought as he barely sidestepped the massive hand reaching for his head.


    The creature continued to go at him, quiet, not letting out even a grunt as it attacked.


    Each swing and attempted grab flowed into the next with casual efficiency, never repeating the same pattern twice. Its movements felt precise and deliberate, yet also passionless and bored. Ash weaved through the barrage with relative ease. However, he quickly found that each attack was getting closer to hitting its mark than the last.


    It swiped at him with a reverse backhand, the chain attached to its wrist whistling in the air.


    Ash crouched low, ducking the swing, only to be greeted by a fist plunging down at him from above. He was finally forced to flare his own aura, his body filling with potential. Already crouched, he sprang off the ground, barely clearing the blow as it impacted the sand below him like a cannonball. He lightly landed on the arm as it drove deep into the ground. Swiping his daggers downward, he sliced two deep gashes into its forearm.


    The creature didn¡¯t even flinch.


    Not wanting to stick around, Ash channeled all of his mana into legs and pushed off, arcing away into the air.


    It casually removed its arm from the sand and stood up straight.


    Ash landed, skidding backward in the sand. He felt confident after that exchange. Maybe the crazy girl was exaggerating, he hoped as he waited for the next assault.


    Instead of attacking, the giant touched the deep cut near its wrist, tapping at the blood that oozed out. It looked down at its stained fingers and released a deep and breathy hiss, finally showing some semblance of emotion.


    The energy that encompassed the colossus undulated as it stared at its own ichor. The leaden aura pooled down its arms, before, to Ash¡¯s dismay, it continued down to encompass the long chains that hung from its wrists. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    It''s a manipulator, Ash thought in terror. The second he realized, he jumped back, trying his best to get as much distance between him and the chains as possible.


    He didn¡¯t get far before the colossus shifted its attention back to him. It stretched both of its arms wide behind itself, the chains hanging from it, growing denser with aura. Letting out another breathy hiss, it used every muscle in its body to wrench its manicled wrists forward at incredible speed.


    The chains whipped through the air like metal vipers, growing longer as they traveled; their rhythmic clinks accelerating the further they went. They scraped the walls of the arena, carving off large chunks of stone as they pincered their target.


    Ash couldn''t dodge both.


    He ran towards the chain approaching from his right. He barely maneuvered so it whipped past right above his head, a small lock of his white hair getting sliced off in the process.


    Spinning to face the other, he tried to cross his daggers in front of him and prepare for the impact.


    The giant suddenly yanked on the chain, its muscles bulging. The momentum surged up the chain like a sadistic wave. The end snapped like a whip from hell.


    He tried to catch it on his blades, but it was like trying to block a meteor with a toothpick.


    An ear-splitting CRACK resounded off the colosseum walls.


    Ash went flying, blood spurting from his mouth as he ragdolled through the air. He impacted the arena¡¯s stone wall, a crater forming where his body hit. He fell limp from it and onto the sand like a bloody rag.


    He couldn''t breathe. Every attempt was replaced with a sharp pain and a mouthful of blood. He tried to focus his mana inward to repair his twisted and broken insides, but his mind was hazy. The edges of his vision were going dark and spotty. A breath. All he needed was a breath.


    The colossus took its time walking to him, its long clinking chains making wakes in the sand as they retracted to their original length.


    He pulled himself up on all fours, red painting the sand beneath him as he coughed up what felt like a liter of blood. But as the blood left, air was able to take its place. He breathed deeply, the darkness around his vision fading. Grabbing his daggers from the sand, he managed to prop himself up against the wall and face his opponent. Although he could breathe, he wasn''t sure how much else he could do.


    The colossus moved casually towards him, much in the same way it entered the arena. Straight-backed. Confident.


    He wiped the blood from his lips onto his sleeve, trying his best to stand unsupported. As a last resort, he flung both daggers at his approaching executioner, the blades thudding into its chest like darts into a board.


    It was as futile as throwing pebbles at a mountain.


    The colossus continued walking, unfazed, not even bothering to pull the blades out.


    It stopped in front of him to look down at his bloody form.


    As if there were some sort of unspoken agreement, Ash didn''t struggle as it reached down to grab him by the neck.


    He didn''t see the point of running.


    It raised him up into the air. Then, it began to squeeze. The blessed air he had just regained was denied to him once more.


    His face turned red as he helplessly struggled in its grasp.


    It hissed as it watched him squirm, its breath hot and putrid. However, the sound stopped as something caught its attention.


    Its head tilted in confusion as it watched thin red wisps of crimson energy rise from its chest, the daggers that had been impaled there now gone.


    It barely had time to notice the two white blades slicing cleanly through its arm. Its manacled wrist and the hand attached to it fell limply to the sand below.


    It looked down to find the culprit, but Ash was already behind him, cutting at the tendon that ran up its heel like a surgeon with a scalpel.


    It buckled, falling to one knee with a heavy impact.


    Reaching back, it tried to grab him.


    However, Ash was prepared.


    He dodged the massive hand. Then, like threading a needle, he deftly slid his dagger through the metal links attached to the creature¡¯s shackled wrist. Ash screamed as he stabbed the blade deep into the creature¡¯s back, securing the chain in place.


    It attempted to bring its arm back in front of itself to retaliate, but the chain went taut, the dagger¡¯s razor-sharp blade dragging across its own back, the wound opening wider.


    Using his other dagger, Ash severed the remaining tendon.


    With nothing to support it, its massive body fell forward into the sand.


    It writhed.


    Ash was already atop its back, putting all of his weight onto the blade that pinned the giant¡¯s arm in place. It sporadically slammed its head into the ground in futility, still trying to rip the dagger out. The wound on its back widened as it continued to struggle. However, it didn''t stop, its insides spilling out like a twisted fountain. It groaned sorrowfully as it continued to try and yank its arm free, over and over.


    With one final pull, it went still.


    Ash remained on its back for some time, gripping the dagger with white-knuckles just in case the colossus suddenly woke.


    However, it remained still, the blood pooling around its form reminiscent of the very portal that had brought it here.