The Godsworn is a high-fantasy adventure series where ancient mythology meets epic battles. Five chosen heroes, each gifted with the powers of the Olympian gods, protect their realm from dark forces led by Hades. The story follows their journey of m...
The tension that lingered from Aeris' trial still weighed heavy in the air as the Godsworn gathered once more near the portal. Darian stood at the edge of the clearing, his usual carefree smile nowhere in sight. His eyes, normally sparkling with mischief, were now serious, locked onto the shimmering portal ahead.
Thalor, ever steady, placed a reassuring hand on Darian's shoulder. "It's your turn, Darian."
Darian nodded, the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him. He had always been the one to make light of tense situations, to crack jokes and keep spirits high, but this was different. This trial wasn't something he could laugh his way through.
The midday sun bore down on them, its heat intense and unrelenting. Normally, Darian found comfort in the sun's warmth, drawing strength from the light of his patron god, Apollo. But now, that same sun felt like a test, its rays glaring down at him as if demanding he prove his worth.
"I know," he finally said, his voice steady but edged with uncertainty. "But how do you prepare for a trial when you don't know what you're going to face?"
"You'll do great," Aeris encouraged, her smile gentle. "You've got Apollo's light with you."
Darian smiled faintly, appreciating her words, but inside, something gnawed at him. This trial wasn't just about mastering his powers—it was about confronting the darkness that had always lurked behind his carefree facade.
"Time to see what I'm really made of," he muttered, adjusting the quiver of arrows slung across his back. With a deep breath, he turned and stepped toward the portal, feeling a familiar warmth as Lumina fluttered beside him.
"The path before you is not easy," Lumina whispered, her voice soft but firm. "Remember, the brightest light casts the darkest shadows."
Darian nodded, acknowledging her words. "I'll keep that in mind."
As he crossed the threshold, the world around him shifted. The verdant forest melted away, replaced by a vast, sun-scorched desert. The sky above was a blinding, endless blue, and the ground beneath his feet shimmered with heat. The air was thick, oppressive, as if the sun itself sought to challenge him with every step.
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Ahead, in the distance, a figure stood, waiting. Darian squinted, the sunlight glaring off the figure's armor. As he approached, his heart tightened in his chest. The figure was a mirror image of himself—his dark side, the embodiment of every fear and doubt he'd ever had.
"So this is it," Darian whispered to himself. "I face... me."
The shadow version of Darian smirked, raising a bow identical to his own. "Think you can outshine me, golden boy?" the shadow taunted, nocking an arrow. "You've spent your whole life pretending to be the light. But I know the truth. You're afraid of the dark."
