The interior of the High Sanctum was unlike anything Aeloria had ever seen. Endless corridors of polished obsidian stretched before them, walls etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in response to her presence. The air was thick with magic, heavy and almost sentient, whispering in languages older than the mountains themselves.
Aeloria followed closely, the vampire walking ahead, the dragon to her left, and the Beastborn behind. Every step echoed softly in the empty halls, yet the sound seemed magnified—like the Sanctum was listening, judging, measuring her heartbeats.
"This place…" she whispered. "It feels alive."
"It is," the vampire said without turning. His crimson eyes glimmered with intensity. "Every stone, every rune, every shadow responds to the Bond. It will test you before it teaches you. You must prove your worth."
The dragon exhaled, a faint glow rising from his tattoos. "Do not expect mercy. The Sanctum is neutral, impartial, and unforgiving. Your powers… your choices… will determine what it reveals and what it hides."
The Beastborn's amber gaze swept the corridor. "And you are under constant observation. Every thought, every hesitation, every pulse of the Mark—it is all noticed."
Aeloria swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the warnings pressing down on her. She clenched her hands, the sigils glowing softly beneath her fingertips. She had never been tested like this, not even in the chaos of the valley.
The vampire paused before a massive doorway etched with intertwined symbols of dragon fire, vampire blood, and beast claws. "This is the first trial," he said. "The Trial of the Veiled Shadows. Here, you will face not enemies of flesh, but enemies of fear. Shadows drawn from your own doubts, your own weaknesses, your deepest insecurities. The Mark will guide you—if you let it."
Aeloria's pulse quickened. "Shadows… from me?"
"Yes," the dragon said, wings tensing slightly. "Every step in this Sanctum is a mirror. You will see yourself… and what you fear you truly are. Only by confronting it can you gain control."
The Beastborn growled low. "Do not underestimate it. Even the strongest have faltered here. And it tests more than power—it tests heart, mind, and spirit."
Aeloria took a deep breath, gripping the cloak tighter. "I… I'll try."
The vampire's crimson eyes softened for the briefest moment. "Try is not enough. You will do this. And you will survive."
The dragon's golden gaze lingered on her. "Or you will fail, and the consequences… will not be kind."
The Beastborn stepped forward, letting the doorway rise for her with a gesture of his clawed hand. "Step through. The trial begins the moment you cross the threshold."
Aeloria's stomach twisted, but she squared her shoulders. The echoes of her past, her fears, and the chaos of the valley weighed on her—but so did a spark deep inside. A spark of courage, of power, of defiance.
She stepped forward.
The obsidian floor vanished beneath her feet as the doorway sealed shut behind her, plunging her into darkness. The walls around her shimmered and pulsed with faint, spectral light. Shadows stretched unnaturally, moving and twisting as though alive.
Then she heard it—a whisper, soft and melodic, yet tinged with menace.
"You are not enough. You are weak. You cannot control the power you claim. You will fail."
Aeloria's chest tightened. She recognized the voice—it was hers. Her own doubts, fears, and insecurities had been given shape. A dark figure emerged from the shadows, mirroring her every feature, every hesitation, every trembling heartbeat.
The sigils on her wrist flared, responding to the threat. Light spilled from her fingertips as the shadows recoiled slightly, hissing and writhing.
"You will not control me," she whispered, voice shaking but firm. "I am the Celestial Bond. I am… more than my fears."
The shadow smiled, a cruel and twisted version of her own face. "We shall see, little star. We shall see."
The vampire's voice echoed in her mind, a calm anchor. Focus, Aeloria. Control it. Do not let the shadows decide.
The dragon's presence pressed in, a warm, radiant strength. You have fire, little star. Let it guide you.
The Beastborn's growl vibrated through her chest. You are not alone. Survive, and you will rise.
Aeloria inhaled sharply, feeling the Mark pulse violently. She raised her hands, letting the light from her sigils flare brighter. Shadows screamed and writhed as her energy collided with theirs.
The trial had begun.
And the Celestial Bond was about to prove she was stronger than even the High Sanctum anticipated.