Eldoria never slept — but tonight, the planet held its breath.
The Heart Citadel lay beneath the earth's mantle, protected by a labyrinth of enchanted tunnels and ancient guardians. Even the bravest earth-warriors rarely dared to enter.
Yet Samuel walked toward it with Tristan in his arms.
The others followed in tense silence and growling anticipation — their footsteps echoing through hollow stone.
Daniel kept glancing at Samuel — nervous but steadfast.
Ignara's flames burned low — not for lack of fire, but from dread.
Zephira's eyes scanned every shadow — storm energy prickling along her fingers.
Nysara whispered protective enchantments under her breath.
Velyd quietly formed illusions to distort their presence — her face unusually serious.
And Kaelen led — though Samuel could feel the distrust rolling off him like smoke.
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Pressure Builds
As they descended deeper — the tunnel walls pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.
Thum… thum… thum…
Tristan stirred — voice strained but urgent:
"He's beneath us… wrapping the Heart with his corruption."
Samuel tightened his hold.
"We're close then."
"Too close," Kaelen muttered.
He halted at a looming sealed door — runes glowing bright gold. He placed his palm on the surface — the ground trembled as it slowly opened.
A rush of power hit them — ancient magic roaring like a released storm.
Samuel's eyes widened.
"This entire world… is alive."
Kaelen nodded gravely.
"And it knows you're here."
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The Custodian
They entered a grand chamber — pillars carved from crystalline stone, rivers of molten light flowing through the floor.
A towering figure emerged — skin forged of compressed rock, eyes glowing amber.
The Custodian of Eldoria.
Guardian. Judge. Executioner.
He raised a hand — the ground beneath Samuel and Tristan trembled violently.
"HALT, VOID KING."
Samuel rolled his eyes at this exaggerated tone of the voice and muttered under his breath "urghh, there we go again "
His voice cracked boulders.
"You shall not defile the Heart with your destruction."
Samuel stepped forward — clutch tightening around Tristan.
"I'm not here to destroy anything. I'm here to save him."
The Custodian's head tilted.
"You are decay incarnate. Where you walk — realms fall."
Kaelen attempted diplomacy:
"Custodian — Samuel Herindor fights to protect—"
"Silence, Kaelen," the Custodian boomed.
"You do not command me."
Samuel's patience snapped.
"Move.
I'm not asking."
Darkness leaked from him — the chamber shaking under its weight.
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Test of Worth
The Custodian slammed his fist into the earth — the ground split open.
A vortex of raw earth magic surrounded Samuel — ripping Tristan from his arms.
Tristan was flung back — Nysara and Zephira catching him with water and wind barriers.
Samuel stepped into the circle — void simmering beneath his skin.
Custodian voice thundered:
"If you seek the Heart —
Prove you are not its doom."
The trial began.
Massive golems rose from the stone — each step a quake.
Ignara tried to intervene — Kaelen held her back.
"We interfere — he fails."
Samuel summoned the void — shadows swirling around him like a living cloak.
The golems charged.
He closed his eyes.
Let go… or hold back?
Tristan's weak voice pierced the chaos:
"Sam… don't lose yourself."
That was enough.
Samuel fought — fast, controlled strikes — teleportation bursts, gravitational rifts, void spears. He dismantled the golems without consuming them entirely.
Every hit calculated.
Every surge restrained.
The Custodian watched — and learned.
Samuel ended the final golem with a concentrated implosion — a clean, merciful finish.
He fell to one knee — breath sharp — but still Samuel, not a monster.
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Judgment
Silence.
The Custodian lowered his massive head.
"You love.
You choose restraint.
You bear the void — but it does not bear you."
The earth around Samuel glowed — acknowledging him.
"You may pass."
Daniel exhaled in relief.
Ignara smirked proudly.
Zephira actually smiled.
Kaelen looked… conflicted.
Samuel didn't care — he rushed to Tristan and lifted him again, kissing his forehead with trembling urgency.
"We're almost there."
Tristan smiled weakly.
"I never doubted you."
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The Heart Revealed
The chamber opened into a cavern glowing with emerald brilliance — the Heart of Eldoria suspended in the center, pulsing like a giant crystal heart made of pure earth magic.
Beautiful.
Sacred.
Alive.
A shadow clinging to its core.
Corruption— spreading fast.
Nysara gasped.
"He's already infected it."
Samuel growled:
"And we're going to rip him out."
But from the darkness came a laugh — smooth. Confident. Chilling.
"My dear Samuel…
you are right on time."
The shadows thickened — forming a tall svelte silhouette of a familiar figure
Femi.
Smiling and grinning like a god who had already won.
✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
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