The air around Veilspire had grown colder as Arin left the Black Library behind. His hand throbbed faintly from the shard's pulsing energy, but the knowledge gained in the Library burned brighter than the pain. Every step he took now carried weight—every shadow, every whisper, every flicker of movement could conceal danger… or opportunity.
Lysar's words echoed again in his mind: "The first bond is only the beginning. True mastery comes from understanding the Keepers. Seek them, learn from them… or perish."
A City Alive with Secrets
Arin walked the twisting streets cautiously. Veilspire at night was no longer merely a city—it was a living puzzle. Buildings shifted slightly when unobserved. Alleyways bent and warped. Lanterns flickered with deliberate patterns, almost as if guiding him.
From above, faint violet glows shimmered on rooftops, eyes watching, measuring, judging. The Keepers—the elite guardians of secrets and shards—were everywhere. Their presence was subtle but undeniable, a silent warning to those unprepared.
He knew one thing: this trial would not be a simple test of strength. The Keepers demanded strategy, perception, and understanding of the powers he had only begun to master.
The Encounter
Arin entered a narrow square, lit only by a single lantern suspended above a cracked fountain. From the shadows, figures emerged—three cloaked individuals, each bearing sigils of the Keepers. Their movements were precise, synchronized, silent.
"You've awakened," the tallest of them said, voice low and even. "Few reach the Library and live. Fewer survive the Keepers' gaze."
Arin gripped his dagger tighter. The shard pulsed, as if sensing the danger and urging caution.
The second Keeper stepped forward, a hand weaving symbols in the air. Shadows thickened around them, blotting out the lantern's light. The third held a blade that shimmered with silver threads, a Resonant Weapon designed to pierce not only flesh, but willpower.
"You carry a fragment not meant for novices," the tallest said. "Why do you trespass into the trials of those who are bound to the eternal oaths?"
"I… I seek knowledge. Power," Arin answered, his voice steadier than he felt. "I… I wish to understand."
A pause. The Keepers exchanged silent glances.
"Then we test you," the tallest said.
The Trial
The Keepers moved as one. The shadows wrapped around Arin like living chains, pressing, suffocating, attempting to manipulate his perception. He swung the dagger, but it passed through mist, meeting resistance only when the shard pulsed violently. Symbols flared across the shard, projecting visions into his mind.
Iron… Veil… Iron… Veil… the shard whispered.
Arin realized instinctively: brute force would not work. He had to use strategy, timing, and the subtle resonance of the shard. He focused, letting the shard guide him. The dagger glowed faintly, energy flowing from it in waves, responding to his heartbeat and intent.
One Keeper lunged, blade first. Arin sidestepped, guided by the shard's subtle vibrations. The blade met air, then the dagger's energy, which pulsed like a living shield. Sparks danced. The Keeper recoiled.
The second Keeper's hand moved in intricate patterns, weaving symbols that aimed to bend Arin's mind, distort his perception, and manipulate memory. Arin felt his consciousness waver—but the shard reacted. Its glow intensified, forming a barrier around him that repelled the psychic intrusion.
The third Keeper, silent until now, circled, searching for an opening. Every step, every movement, every breath felt amplified through the shard. Arin was no longer merely reacting; he was predicting, resonating, understanding.
Discovery of True Power
Time seemed to slow. Arin's awareness expanded. The shard pulsed in sync with the Library's teachings, knowledge flowing through him like a river breaking its banks. Symbols formed in the air, responding to his intent. He realized the shard could do more than enhance weapons—it could manipulate the very flow of energy around him, bending attacks, shielding him, even guiding his movements with supernatural precision.
He struck.
The first Keeper staggered, thrown off balance by a sudden surge of energy from the shard. The second's psychic attack rebounded, leaving them disoriented. The third froze as the shard's resonance locked onto the rhythm of their blade, deflecting it with minimal effort.
Arin felt it—the first true bond between bearer and fragment. Not control over the shard alone, but synchronization. Awareness. Harmony.
Oathkeeper Status
The Keepers paused, impressed yet wary. The tallest spoke:
"You survive. But survival is not mastery. You have awakened the shard's first resonance… but the path is treacherous. To progress, you must bind yourself fully to its oath."
Arin hesitated, feeling the weight of choice. To swear the Oath meant his life would forever be linked to the shard and the secrets it carried. Freedom would be lost—but so too would the chance to ascend.
He pressed his palm to the shard, feeling the pulse, the life, the consciousness within. Words escaped softly:
"I swear… to uphold the bond. To learn… to endure."
The shard flared violently, burning pain and energy coursing through him, then settled. He was no longer merely a bearer; he was an Oathkeeper.
The Keepers bowed slightly, acknowledging his status. The shadows retreated, leaving him standing alone in the square.
Aftermath
Arin's breath came in ragged gasps, but clarity had returned. The trial was not just combat—it had been a lesson in patience, strategy, and understanding the shard's potential. He had glimpsed the depth of power the Keepers wielded and realized how far he had yet to go.
Above, unseen from the rooftops, cloaked figures watched, recording every motion. Whispered words carried on the wind:
"So, the Oath is sworn. The fragment grows stronger… but will the bearer endure what is to come?"
Arin looked at the city, its twisting streets, its lurking dangers, and the pulse of the shard in his hand. Every shadow held secrets. Every alleyway could hide an enemy—or a teacher.
He knew one thing: the path ahead would test not only his strength, but his wisdom, his courage, and his very soul.
And somewhere deep in Veilspire, in chambers untouched by time, ancient guardians waited. They had sensed the awakening of an Oathkeeper, and soon, the true challenges of the shards would begin.