Darkness surrounded Leonhardt.
There was no floor.
No walls.
No ceiling.
Only an endless void.
Leonhardt stood alone.
His hand remained firmly wrapped around Fate's Edge.
The words of the temple continued to echo in his mind.
The Path of the Forgotten.
Leonhardt looked around.
—So this is supposed to be my trial?
No answer.
He took a step forward.
Nothing happened.
Another step.
Still nothing.
Leonhardt frowned.
—This is getting annoying.
Suddenly…
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"You seek answers."
Leonhardt stopped.
—Yes.
"You seek the truth of your power."
—Yes.
"You seek the origin of your destiny."
Leonhardt tightened his grip.
—Yes.
Silence.
Then the voice asked:
"Then why do you fear the truth?"
Leonhardt froze.
—Because I don't know what I'll find.
"Wrong."
The darkness shifted.
Images appeared around him.
His companions.
Saya.
Evelyn.
Victoria.
They were standing together.
Happy.
Alive.
Leonhardt stared.
Then the scene changed.
Saya was lying on the ground.
Blood covered her clothes.
Evelyn was crying.
Victoria was holding her sword with trembling hands.
Leonhardt's heart stopped.
—No…
The vision changed again.
The three of them were gone.
The world was burning.
Leonhardt stood alone.
Kael was standing in front of him.
—This is your destiny.
Leonhardt raised his sword.
—No.
Kael smiled.
—You can't save everyone.
Leonhardt attacked.
The vision shattered.
The darkness returned.
The voice spoke again.
"The Eye shows possibilities."
Leonhardt looked around.
"But the bearer chooses which possibility becomes reality."
Leonhardt slowly lowered his sword.
—Then why show me this?
"To remind you of what you will lose."
Leonhardt's expression hardened.
—I'm not going to lose them.
The darkness trembled.
"You cannot protect everyone."
Leonhardt raised Fate's Edge.
—Maybe not.
His Eye of Destiny activated.
Golden light filled the void.
—But I'll protect the people I choose.
The darkness cracked.
A massive door appeared.
Leonhardt walked toward it.
—That's my destiny.
He placed his hand against the door.
—Not yours.
The door exploded.
Leonhardt opened his eyes.
He was standing in a completely different place.
A vast city surrounded him.
But the city was abandoned.
Buildings were destroyed.
The sky was dark.
No people.
No sound.
Leonhardt slowly walked forward.
Then he heard footsteps.
He turned.
Someone was standing behind him.
Kael.
Leonhardt immediately drew his sword.
—You.
Kael smiled.
—You've finally arrived.
Leonhardt's eyes narrowed.
—This isn't real.
—Isn't it?
Leonhardt activated his Eye.
Nothing.
He couldn't see Kael's future.
—You're not the real Kael.
Kael smiled.
—Maybe.
Leonhardt attacked.
Their swords collided.
CLANG!
The impact echoed through the abandoned city.
Kael attacked again.
Leonhardt blocked.
Another strike.
Another.
The battle became faster.
Leonhardt activated his Eye.
He saw Kael's movement.
He dodged.
Then countered.
His sword cut Kael's shoulder.
The illusionary Kael stepped backward.
—You've grown stronger.
Leonhardt stared at him.
—You're not him.
Kael smiled.
—Then why are you afraid?
Leonhardt froze.
The illusion disappeared.
The city changed.
Leonhardt found himself standing in front of a massive mirror.
His reflection stared back.
But it wasn't him.
The reflection had golden eyes.
And behind it…
A shadow.
Leonhardt stepped closer.
—Who are you?
The reflection smiled.
—The part of you that you forgot.
Leonhardt's heart began to beat faster.
—What does that mean?
The reflection raised its hand.
The Eye of Destiny burned.
Leonhardt saw a memory.
A young boy.
He was standing in a dark room.
A woman was kneeling in front of him.
She was crying.
—You must never awaken the Eye.
The boy looked confused.
—Why?
The woman placed her hands on his face.
—Because they will come for you.
—Who?
The woman looked toward the door.
Fear filled her eyes.
—The Forgotten.
The memory ended.
Leonhardt stepped backward.
—The Forgotten…
His reflection spoke.
—The people erased from history.
Leonhardt looked at it.
—Why?
—Because they discovered the truth.
—What truth?
The reflection smiled.
—That destiny can be changed.
Leonhardt froze.
The mirror shattered.
At the same time…
Saya opened her eyes.
She was standing in a forest.
—Great.
She looked around.
—Where am I?
A voice answered.
—Your trial.
Saya immediately drew her daggers.
—Show yourself.
A creature appeared.
It was fast.
Very fast.
Saya barely dodged.
The battle began.
She moved through the forest.
The creature followed.
Every time she attacked, it disappeared.
Saya became frustrated.
—Stop running!
The creature appeared behind her.
Saya turned.
Too late.
A blade stopped centimeters from her throat.
The creature disappeared.
A voice spoke.
"Instinct is not speed."
Saya frowned.
—Then what is it?
"Knowing when to strike."
The creature appeared again.
This time, Saya didn't move.
She waited.
The creature attacked.
At the last moment…
Saya smiled.
She moved.
Her dagger struck.
The creature disappeared.
Saya looked at her weapon.
—So that's the lesson.
She smiled.
—Not bad.
Evelyn opened her eyes.
She was standing in a massive library.
Thousands of books surrounded her.
A voice echoed.
"Knowledge is not knowing everything."
Evelyn looked around.
—Then what is it?
A single book appeared.
She opened it.
The pages were blank.
Evelyn frowned.
—What am I supposed to do?
"Find the answer."
Evelyn looked around.
There were thousands of books.
She began searching.
Hours passed.
Nothing.
Then she realized something.
The books weren't meant to be read.
They were meant to be understood.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Her magic reacted.
The blank book began to glow.
Words appeared.
"The Eye of Destiny has no master."
Evelyn froze.
—What?
The words disappeared.
A new sentence appeared.
"It chooses its bearer."
Evelyn stared.
Then another.
"But the bearer does not control destiny."
Her expression changed.
"The bearer only chooses which future survives."
Evelyn closed the book.
—Leonhardt…
The trial ended.
Victoria stood alone in a massive arena.
A sword was placed before her.
A voice spoke.
"Strength is not power."
Victoria picked up the sword.
—Then what is it?
A figure appeared.
Victoria immediately attacked.
Their swords clashed.
The battle continued.
The opponent was stronger.
Faster.
More experienced.
Victoria was pushed back.
But she didn't surrender.
She adapted.
She changed her stance.
She changed her rhythm.
Finally…
She won.
The figure disappeared.
"Strength is the ability to continue when victory seems impossible."
Victoria lowered her sword.
—Then I understand.
The trial ended.
The four companions opened their eyes simultaneously.
They were standing in the central chamber.
Leonhardt looked around.
Saya.
Evelyn.
Victoria.
Everyone was there.
And standing beside them…
Was Lyra.
But something was different.
The golden light around her eyes had disappeared.
She looked exhausted.
Leonhardt immediately noticed.
—What happened?
Lyra looked at him.
—The temple accepted you.
Leonhardt frowned.
—Accepted me?
Lyra nodded.
—You were the first person to enter the Fifth Path.
—What does that mean?
Lyra looked toward the center of the chamber.
A new symbol had appeared.
The Eye.
But this time…
There were five paths surrounding it.
Lyra's expression became serious.
—It means the ancient records were wrong.
Leonhardt stared.
—About what?
Lyra looked directly into his eyes.
—There were never four paths.
Silence.
—There were five.
Leonhardt stepped forward.
—Then why was the fifth erased?
Lyra hesitated.
—Because it was too dangerous.
Saya crossed her arms.
—That's becoming a common answer around here.
Lyra ignored her.
—The Fifth Path belonged to those who refused to accept destiny.
Leonhardt's expression changed.
—The Forgotten.
Lyra nodded.
—Exactly.
Leonhardt looked at his Eye.
—Then why can I use it?
Lyra stared at him.
—Because you are not simply the bearer of the Eye.
Leonhardt froze.
—Then what am I?
Lyra's answer was interrupted.
The temple began to shake.
BOOM!
The entire chamber trembled.
Lyra looked upward.
—No.
Victoria immediately drew her sword.
—What is it?
Lyra's face became pale.
—Someone has entered the temple.
Leonhardt activated his Eye.
A familiar energy appeared.
His expression changed.
—Kael.
A voice echoed through the temple.
—Correct.
The doors opened.
Kael stepped inside.
But he wasn't alone.
Behind him stood several figures.
All wearing black armor.
All carrying the symbol of the Eye.
Kael looked directly at Leonhardt.
—The trial is over.
Leonhardt raised his sword.
—Then what do you want?
Kael smiled.
—Now?
His eyes moved toward Lyra.
—I want her.
Leonhardt's expression changed.
—Why?
Kael's smile disappeared.
—Because she is the last Guardian.
Lyra raised her staff.
—Don't listen to him.
Kael looked at her.
—You know it's true.
Leonhardt stood between them.
—You're not taking her anywhere.
Kael looked at him.
For a moment…
He smiled.
—Good.
Dark energy surrounded him.
—Then let's see how far you've come.
The temple shook.
Leonhardt raised Fate's Edge.
The Eye of Destiny activated.
This time…
He could see Kael's movements.
But he also saw something else.
A future.
Kael standing beside him.
Fighting against a massive enemy.
Leonhardt blinked.
The vision disappeared.
He looked at Kael.
—What are you planning?
Kael smiled.
—You'll find out soon enough.
The battle began.