The shadow warriors surrounded them in seconds.
Their armor was darker than the night sky, and their glowing silver eyes never left Kael.
One warrior stepped forward.
His spear pointed directly at Kael's chest.
"You will come with us," he repeated.
Kael looked at Nyra.
"Are they serious?"
Nyra sighed quietly.
"The Shadow Council doesn't make jokes."
The warrior signaled his soldiers.
Two of them moved forward and motioned for Kael to walk.
Kael raised his hands slightly.
"Alright… I'm coming."
The group began moving toward the massive gates of the city.
As they walked through the entrance, Kael stared at everything around him.
The city was enormous.
Dark stone towers rose high into the twilight sky.
Strange glowing crystals lit the streets instead of lamps.
Creatures Kael had never seen before walked through the city.
Some looked human.
Others clearly were not.
"This place is insane," Kael whispered.
Nyra gave him a small smile.
"You'll get used to it."
Soon they reached a massive building at the center of the city.
It looked like a palace carved entirely from black crystal.
The doors slowly opened.
Inside, a circular chamber waited.
Seven tall thrones stood around the room.
Figures cloaked in shadow sat upon them.
Nyra bowed slightly.
"The Shadow Council."
One of the figures leaned forward.
Their glowing eyes studied Kael carefully.
"So," the voice echoed through the chamber,
"The new Realmwalker has finally arrived."
r
The chamber fell silent.
Seven members of the Shadow Council watched Kael from their towering thrones.
Their glowing eyes studied him carefully.
Kael shifted uncomfortably.
"Uh… is everyone going to keep staring at me like that?"
Nyra stood quietly beside him.
"Show respect," she whispered.
One of the council members leaned forward.
His cloak moved like living shadows around him.
"For centuries the gates between realms remained closed," he said.
"And yet you opened one."
Kael raised his glowing hand slightly.
"I didn't mean to."
Another council member spoke.
"That symbol on your hand is the Mark of the Realmwalker."
Her voice was calm but powerful.
"The only being capable of controlling the gates between worlds."
Kael looked down at the mark again.
"So you're saying I'm… some kind of portal key?"
The council did not laugh.
The first council member raised his hand.
"If you truly are the Realmwalker…"
He pointed toward the center of the chamber.
"Then prove it."
The floor beneath Kael suddenly moved.
A large circular platform rose from the ground.
Dark energy gathered around it.
Kael frowned.
"Prove it how?"
Nyra's expression turned serious.
"The Shadow Trial."
Before Kael could react, the chamber lights dimmed.
A massive creature formed from living shadows stepped onto the platform.
Its glowing eyes locked onto Kael.
The council member's voice echoed across the hall.
"Defeat the Shadow Guardian."
"Or the Realmwalker dies here."