Chapter 18: The Trial of Shinya
The gates of the palace closed behind Moro and Kaya with a resounding clang, leaving them under the watchful gaze of the city. The streets seemed different now—charged, almost sentient. Every cobblestone under their feet hummed with anticipation, every shadow flickered as if alive.
"The King said this is a trial," Moro murmured, his eyes scanning the alleys ahead. "But what kind of trial?"
Kaya's expression was unreadable, her hands lightly brushing the hilts of her twin daggers. "Whatever it is, it won't be simple. Shinya doesn't let outsiders wander freely."
The first test revealed itself almost immediately. From the corner of an alley, a group of men and women—ordinary citizens by appearance—emerged, their eyes glowing faintly with a strange energy. They were not armed, yet Moro could sense the tension in their stance. Their aura whispered of discipline, training, and subtle manipulation.
One stepped forward. A woman, tall and regal, her eyes sharp as daggers. "You are the boy the palace summoned," she said. "The one glowing like the sky. You have entered Shinya uninvited, yet the King allowed you passage. That means the trial begins. Survive, and you may learn the city's secrets. Fail… and you will never leave its walls."
Before Moro or Kaya could respond, the group spread out, surrounding them from all sides. Their movements were precise, almost mechanical, as if choreographed. A flicker of blue from Moro's matrix illuminated his silhouette. "I didn't come here to fight," he said evenly, though the muscles in his arms tensed.
The woman's lips curved in a faint, knowing smile. "You will, whether you want to or not. This is Shinya's way."
With that, the crowd lunged. Not with brute force, but with a subtle manipulation of the environment. Street lamps toppled, shutters slammed, market stalls shifted, and Moro found himself dodging not just attacks but entire sections of the street moving against him. The city itself had become a weapon.
Kaya's daggers gleamed as she deflected a falling beam, spinning midair to strike an assailant. Moro's matrix flared, glowing brighter, sensing the invisible threads controlling the movement. He leapt, twisting in midair to avoid a collapsing wall, and used the energy of the matrix to push off the ground, launching himself at the nearest attacker.
Their first real confrontation came with a silent assassin who moved like liquid shadow, striking from above. Moro barely raised his forearm in time, the matrix igniting around it in a brilliant blue shield. The impact sent shockwaves through the alley, cracking the cobblestones.
Kaya, meanwhile, faced her own battle. Several attackers coordinated their strikes, forcing her to move with a fluidity that matched her water-based elemental control. Every motion was precise, every block and slash perfectly timed. Yet even her skills weren't enough to hold them all at once. Moro moved to assist, combining their powers in a brief, dazzling display that scattered the attackers into retreat.
Breathing heavily, Moro turned to Kaya. "The city isn't just alive. It's aware of us. And it's testing us."
Kaya's eyes narrowed. "Then we fight back smart. Use what we know, anticipate what we don't."
The next stage of the trial revealed itself as they reached the central square. A massive fountain dominated the area, water flowing upward as if defying gravity. Figures cloaked in robes stood around it, chanting in a language older than any living memory. Their chants resonated with the city, causing vibrations that lifted Moro slightly off the ground. His matrix pulsed in response, sensing the manipulation.
"They're controlling the environment through ancient energy," Moro said under his breath. "The city itself is a conduit."
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet split, creating jagged gaps that threatened to swallow them. Kaya leapt with precision, using the walls to propel herself across. Moro followed, matrix energy guiding his every step. They landed on the fountain's edge, facing the robed figures.
"Show us your resolve," one of them intoned, raising a hand. A sphere of energy, dark and heavy, formed above the fountain. It pulsed, as if alive, seeking a weakness in Moro and Kaya.
Moro narrowed his eyes. The matrix responded instinctively, glowing brighter, extending tendrils of energy around him. He touched the sphere with a flick of his hand. It shuddered, resisting, then exploded into fragments of light. The robed figures gasped, retreating as the sphere shattered.
"Impressive," the tallest among them said. "But this is only the beginning. Shinya tests not just strength but perception, courage, and will."
As they spoke, the square changed. The cobblestones shifted into a labyrinth, walls rising impossibly high, paths twisting in impossible angles. Shinya was reshaping itself around them, a living maze designed to confuse, to test their minds as well as their bodies.
Kaya gritted her teeth. "We have to keep moving. Every moment here, the city learns more about us."
Moro nodded. "Then we use the maze to our advantage. It's alive, yes—but I can feel its rhythm." He extended his hands, feeling the pulse of the matrix. Threads of blue energy wove around them, marking the safest paths, highlighting dangers.
As they navigated the maze, whispers filled the air. Hushed voices speaking in unison, carrying rumors and half-truths. They spoke of hidden rebellions, secret alliances, and the unseen eyes of the Celtic High Council watching every move. The city itself seemed to speak to them, offering glimpses of knowledge if only they listened carefully.
Hours passed. Moro and Kaya fought off both illusions and real threats, relying on instinct, skill, and the subtle guidance of the matrix. Exhaustion gnawed at their bodies, but neither wavered.
Finally, they reached a hidden chamber beneath the central square. The chamber was circular, lined with crystals that refracted light into patterns across the walls. In the center stood a pedestal, upon which rested a small crystal orb.
Moro approached cautiously. The matrix pulsed in recognition. "This… is the heart of the trial," he murmured. "Everything here revolves around it."
Kaya studied the orb. "And the city will test anyone who tries to touch it."
Moro reached out, and as his fingers brushed the orb, the room trembled. The walls shifted, the floor heaved, and from the shadows, figures emerged—humanoid shapes composed entirely of energy, flickering between light and darkness.
Moro braced himself. The matrix glowed with a fierce intensity, tendrils of energy dancing around him. Kaya summoned a wave of water energy, forming a protective barrier. The chamber erupted into chaos.
The battle was relentless. Energy beings struck with speed and precision, adapting to every move Moro and Kaya made. But the duo pressed forward, their coordination flawless. Every attack was countered, every maneuver anticipated.
Finally, with a synchronized strike, they shattered the final wave of energy constructs. The orb pulsed brightly, acknowledging their victory. A voice echoed through the chamber—calm, resonant, and almost fatherly.
"You have endured the trial of Shinya. Not through mere strength, but through courage, will, and unity. The city recognizes your resolve."
Moro and Kaya exchanged a glance, relief and determination reflected in their eyes. But the voice continued, carrying a note of warning.
"Yet this is only the beginning. The city has many secrets, and darker truths lie ahead. Those who seek the heart of Shinya must tread carefully, for the forces you have awakened will not forgive the unprepared."
Moro's matrix dimmed slightly, returning to a steady blue glow. Kaya's daggers were at the ready, though the immediate danger had passed. Together, they stepped out of the chamber and into the main square once more.
Above them, unseen by ordinary eyes, King Hanks watched through his crystal window, his expression thoughtful. The trial had been a success, but the deeper challenges were yet to come.
And in the shadows, Hawks and the agents of the Celtic High Council observed as well, noting every move, every reaction. Shinya had revealed a glimpse of its secrets, but it was far from fully understood. The stage was set for the battles to come, for the hidden truths to be unveiled, and for Moro and Kaya to confront not just the city, but the forces that shaped the world itself.
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