The Road of Ash and Iron twisted upward, spiraling into cliffs that seemed to scrape the sky. Kael's palms were raw from holding the dagger, but its pulse was steady now, like the heartbeat of a living companion. Rilith walked beside him, silent but alert, while Seryth brought up the rear, staff tapping in quiet rhythm.
"This next trial," Seryth said, her voice low and solemn, "will test your judgment, not your reflexes. The Forge seeks not only action but intent. One wrong choice can burn a path you cannot retrace."
Kael swallowed. He had faced constructs, molten rivers, and shifting bridges. Yet her words carried a weight heavier than any weapon.
Ahead, the path split into three tunnels, each carved from black stone veined with blue light. Whispers filled the air, louder than ever, each one urging him toward a different path.
—Take the left. Safety lies there.—
—The center holds power beyond imagining.—
—The right will reveal the truth, but at a cost.—
Kael hesitated. His instincts screamed to take the left — safety, survival. But the Forge's pulse in his palm thrummed differently, urging him to consider more than fear.
"Which way?" Rilith asked, her eyes scanning the tunnels.
"I… I don't know," Kael admitted. The whispers pressed in, twisting and overlapping. —Forge your choice. Accept the consequence.—
Seryth stepped forward. "Kael, the Forge tests character. Do not choose what is easy. Choose what is necessary."
He closed his eyes and focused on the hum of the dagger, on the rhythm of the Forge within him. Slowly, he extended his hand toward the right tunnel. The whispers fell silent for a heartbeat, then surged into a chorus of anticipation and warning.
As they stepped inside, the temperature dropped, and shadows clung to the walls like living fingers. A voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the tunnel:
—Every choice shapes the world. Every strike leaves a mark. Are you ready to bear the weight?—
Kael nodded, though his throat was dry. The path narrowed, forcing them to walk in single file. Suddenly, the ground trembled, and glowing cracks opened beneath them. Two illusions appeared: one of his village, safe and untouched, and another of the Forge, burning, collapsing, screaming for help.
Kael's heart ached. The first illusion whispered: "Return. Live. Safety." The second: "Step forward. Sacrifice. Save the world."
He looked at Rilith. Her face was calm, but her eyes mirrored the tension in his soul. The dagger pulsed violently. He understood now — this was not a test of strength, nor skill. This was a test of conviction.
Kael stepped forward toward the second illusion, toward the Forge in peril. The shadows recoiled, murmuring. The first illusion shattered, leaving only the path ahead illuminated by a soft, blue glow.
Seryth's voice broke the silence. "You have chosen correctly, Kael. The Forge does not reward safety. It rewards courage aligned with purpose. Remember this feeling. The path will only grow harder."
As they moved deeper into the tunnel, Kael felt a new clarity. The dagger's pulse was steady, guiding him. He realized that the Forge had not only tested his strength and coordination but had begun shaping his moral compass. Every strike, every step from here on would matter not just for survival, but for creation itself.
The whispers faded to a steady hum:
—Forge with purpose. Step with conviction. Your destiny is your own to strike.—
Kael tightened his grip on the dagger, feeling more than power — he felt responsibility. And the Road of Ash and Iron stretched endlessly before him, daring him to continue.