The cave was dark. Only a single shaft of moonlight pierced the ceiling, spotlighting the dust in the air.
Rhenvar stood with Viir kicking the dirt.
"Coooool. Don't tell me what we're doing," Rhenvar muttered, dropping down and sitting. "Viir."
"Yeees?" Viir zipped down and landed on his head like some smug bird.
"What the fuck are we doing again?"
"I dunno. Scary shadow lady said something about a trial. I wasn't paying attention."
"Of course you weren't."
As expected. Thanks Viir.
He looked around the cave.
"Alright. Guess we're sitting here until something tries to kill us."
"Sounds good to me~" Viir nestled herself deeper in his hair.
From the shadows, a voice slithered out.
"I can finally feed."
Rhenvar stood, cracking his knuckles.
"Who's there?"
A massive silhouette unfurled in the moonlight. Scales shined like fresh gold. Eyes like stars.
"I am Urithax, King of the Spirits. And your executioner." The gold dragon stepped into the moonlight. Its massive wings spread.
"Holy shit," Rhenvar whispered. "Viir, it's a fucking dragon."
"OH. MAN! Willow would be so jealous," Viir whispered, clutching his hair with both hands. "Can I keep it?"
"Uh maybe. So, this is the trial, huh? Sweet."
"Trial?" Urithax laughed, a sound like a mountain cracking in half. "No, eater of souls. This is not a trial. This is a sentence."
Rhenvar blinked and then shrugged. He lifted his left hand summoning Souleater.
The cave trembled. An unfamiliar magic filled the air.
"You are unworthy. I have deemed your sins unforgivable."
The sword hit the ground with an unfamiliar, heavy thunk. "Huh? It's heavier than usual."
Weird.
"Cool story," he said, lifting the sword. "But let's be real-"
He called on his shadows.
Nothing happened.
"…Uh." His hand twitched. "Viir?"
"Nope." She tried to cast a spell. She looked ridiculous, waving her hands. "Oopsie~"
Urithax grinned.
"Did you think your executioner would allow you to fight back?" The dragon prowled. "Now… scream for me, eater of souls."
The golden dragon lunged.
Rhenvar barely had time to dodge as massive jaws snapped down where he stood. The stone cracked beneath the impact, dust and rock spraying into the air. He rolled, Souleater in hand, and slashed up on instinct.
The dragon's head snapped forward like a serpent.
Rhenvar ducked and threw his full weight behind Souleater. The blade carved across the dragon's cheek; a thin red line appeared.
It bled but-
"What the fuck?" Rhenvar stared at the blade. "I cut the damn lizard, but- "
Viir gasped. "They sealed its magic too?"
The dragon whipped its tail. Rhenvar shielded himself, sliding back against the stone floor.
He staggered.
"Yeah," Rhenvar muttered, bones already aching from the hit. "Souleater still cuts… but it won't eat your soul." He frowned. "Guess I'm in a bit of trouble, damn dragon."
Urithax roared, the sound splitting the cave like a war horn. The shockwave flung Rhenvar across the cavern. He slammed into the wall, ribs cracking. Souleater clattered nearby.
"Rhen!!" Viir screamed, darting toward him, only for a swipe of the dragon's claw to strike her midair.
She tumbled through the air like a comet, her glow flickering.
"Viir!" Rhenvar coughed up blood, dragging himself upright. "You alright?!"
"I- I'm fine!" She called back, her wings trembling.
Viir flew by his side. "We don't have magic, Rhen!"
The dragon reared back, a rumble built deep in the dragon's chest. A fire glowing in its throat.
"I know- SHIT!" Rhenvar reached for Souleater dragging it back his to side.
He ran toward the dragon.
The fires came. Pure white.
He dove away from the flames; his armor was no help. The heat blistered his skin. But he moved with every muscle screaming. Souleater rose again.
He slashed the sword upward, cutting into the dragon's leg.
The beast roared, stumbling, but struck back with the same leg he hit.
"Just me, Viir and Souleater- Oh, fuck- "
One moment Rhenvar was grounded, the next he and Viir were sent skidding across the stone like rag dolls. Blood painted the floor. He groaned and coughed. His vision blurred.
Viir crawled to him, lips trembling. "Rhen- you can't win like this-"
"No shit, Viir," he spat, forcing himself up. "Poke him in the eye or something."
He rose to one knee, dragging Souleater with him like it was part of his body.
Urithax loomed above. "Still, you rise, cursed one. Even stripped of power, you defy the Gods?"
"I didn't ask for this," Rhenvar smiled with bloodied teeth. "But my mind is finally quiet. And, holy shit do I feel alive."
"Hell yeah!" Rhenvar roared as he charged, sprinting straight at the dragon's chest.
Urithax reared back to crush him.
Rhenvar leapt.
With perfect timing, he landed on the beast's forearm, and plunged Souleater into the dragon's arm.
The blade sank.
The dragon screamed.
The cave trembled.
Viir shouted over the noise: "RHEN!"
Rhenvar gritted his teeth as the painful vibration surged through Souleater's hilt.
Urithax's voice shook. "You are a weapon, forged from an insane Goddess… nothing more"
And then.
The dragon flung him away like a fly. He hit the wall coughing.
"So, you won't give up. Won't give in. Admirable." The dragon said, looming over him.
"Why couldn't it be-," he coughed. "a trial."