The low hum of the library intensified, resonating through the towering shelves. Shadows stretched and twisted, crawling along the floor, walls, and even the ceiling. The fragments' glows flickered violently, as if the library itself were taking a deep breath, preparing to strike.
Kailen's eyes narrowed. "Stay close. The first trial begins now."
Without warning, the fragment near the center of the room pulsed sharply. Shadows erupted from the floor like black flames, coalescing into a humanoid shape. Its form was jagged, indistinct, yet impossibly solid. The air thickened, pressure rising, making each breath a conscious effort.
Everlong instinctively raised her hands. "A guardian…?"
Kailen's shadow swept forward, intertwining with the growing darkness around the guardian. The entity halted, its movement stuttering, as if the shadow's presence disrupted its flow.
