Aria led Eric back to Zephyr's chamber, where the old man was waiting for him with a warm smile.
"Well done, Eric Lee, on passing the first trial. The next trial will test your knowledge of magical theory. Are you ready to begin?"
Eric nodded, still feeling confident from his previous success.
Zephyr handed him a small, leather-bound book. "Solve the riddle inside the book. If you succeed, you'll find the next trial waiting for you. But be warned, Eric, this trial will be much more difficult than the first one."
Eric took the book, feeling a surge of excitement and nervousness. He opened the book, and a piece of parchment slipped out, carrying a cryptic message:
"Where shadows dance, light reveals
The path to wisdom, through trials and zeal
Seek the keystone, hidden from sight
And claim your reward, in the morning light
Eric read the message several times, trying to decipher its meaning. He thought about the words, looking for any hidden clues or patterns.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He remembered a conversation he had with Lila about the ancient art of shadow magic.
Shadow magic was a powerful and complex form of magic that involved manipulating shadows to achieve a specific goal.
Eric's eyes widened as he realized that the message was referring to shadow magic. He looked around the room, trying to find any shadows that might be relevant.
That was when he saw it – a small, almost imperceptible shadow on the wall. It was shaped like a keystone, and it seemed to be pulsing with a faint, magical energy.
Eric approached the shadow, feeling a surge of excitement. He reached out a hand, and as he touched the shadow, the room was filled
... with a blinding light. When the light faded, Eric found himself in a completely different room. The room was small and dimly lit, with stone walls and a low ceiling.
A figure stood in the corner of the room, cloaked in shadows. As Eric approached, the figure stepped forward, revealing a woman with long, flowing hair and piercing green eyes.
"Welcome, Eric Lee, to the second trial," she said, her voice low and mysterious. "I am the guardian of this trial. To pass, you must answer my riddle. If you answer correctly, you will be one step closer to finding the Philosopher's Stone. But if you fail, you will never leave this room alive."
Eric swallowed hard, feeling a surge of fear. But he steeled himself and nodded, ready to face whatever challenge lay ahead.
"What is the riddle?" he asked, his voice firm.
The woman smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Here is the riddle: What can be broken, but never held? What can be given, but never sold?"
Eric thought for a moment, his mind racing. And then, suddenly, the answer came to him.
"The answer is a promise," he said confidently.
The woman's smile widened, and she nodded her head in approval. "
... Very good, Eric Lee. You are indeed clever. A promise is indeed something that can be broken, but never held. And it is something that can be given, but never sold. Well done!"
The woman snapped her fingers, and the room began to shake. The walls started to glow with a soft, blue light, and Eric felt himself being lifted off the ground.
When the light faded, Eric found himself back in Zephyr's chamber. The old man was smiling at him, a look of approval on his face.
"Well done, Eric Lee. You have passed the second trial. You are one step closer to finding the Philosopher's Stone. But the next trial will be the most difficult of all. Are you prepared to face it?"
Eric nodded, feeling a sense of determination. He was ready for whatever lay ahead.
Zephyr nodded, a small smile on his face. "Very well. The final trial is... the Trial of Courage. Are you prepared to face your greatest fear?"
Eric hesitated, feeling a surge of fear. What was his greatest fear? And how would he overcome it?
Eric swallowed hard, steeling himself for what was to come. "I'm ready," he said, trying to sound braver than he felt.
Zephyr nodded. "Then let us begin. Follow me."
He led Eric to a large, ominous-looking door. The door was made of black stone, and it seemed to absorb the light around it.
"This is the entrance to the Trial of Courage," Zephyr said, his voice low and serious.
"Once you enter, there is no turning back. You must face your greatest fear head-on."
Eric took a deep breath, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. He pushed open the door, and a dark corridor stretched out before him.
As he stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind him, plunging him into darkness.