CHAPTER 9: Trial by Darkness
596 Words
The air in the Veiled Realm was heavy, thick with an energy that made May’s skin tingle. Every instinct in her body screamed that danger was near. The weakening seal pulsed faintly, a distant heartbeat she could feel in her chest.
Zayn had stood back on the training grounds, lingering shadows coiling protectively around him, watching, waiting. He hadn’t followed her into this isolated stretch — she had insisted. “I can handle this,” she had told him, and for once, he had let her.
Alone, May felt both fear and freedom. This was her test. Her trial.
The first movement came from the shadows — a tendril of dark energy, coalescing into the hulking form of a B-rank monster. Its claws scraped against the rocky ground, sparks of energy flying from each strike.
May’s heart raced, but she dropped into a fighting stance. Momentum… perception… control. She had practiced these hundreds of times, but now it wasn’t a drill.
The monster lunged, jaws snapping. May rolled, twisting her body in a way that bent momentum, sending it crashing into a wall of jagged rock. She struck back, energy coiling around her fists, every strike precise, deliberate.
Zayn’s shadows stretched toward her, sensing the danger, but he didn’t move. He knew she needed to face this herself. His jaw tightened, tension radiating off him like heat. Just survive… don’t push too far.
The monster recovered, more aggressive than before. It struck from multiple angles at once, claws scraping the glowing stone beneath them. May dodged, countered, and finally landed a blow to its core. The creature let out a scream that shook the air, dissolving into shadows, leaving only the echo of its power behind.
Breathing hard, bruised and battered, May stood tall. She had survived. She had fought alone — and she had won.
When she returned to the training grounds, Zayn was waiting, shadows coiling protectively around him as usual. His gaze was sharp, tense, a mixture of relief and lingering frustration.
“You were reckless,” he said, voice low but dangerous. “You could’ve been killed.”
May met his eyes, chest heaving, energy still flowing through her arms. “But I’m not,” she said firmly. “I survived. I handled it.”
He exhaled slowly, the shadows flickering. “You don’t understand… the monsters aren’t just testing you. They’re feeling the seal, May. They know you’re tied to it. One mistake — one misstep — and it won’t just be a fight. It will be death.”
She stepped closer, determination burning in her eyes. “Then I’ll make sure I’m ready. I won’t let anyone die because of me. I’ll fight my battles — my way.”
For a long moment, Zayn just watched her, conflicted. He wanted to scold her, to protect her, but he also had to acknowledge the truth: she was growing stronger. Stronger than even he had expected.
Xander smirked from a distance. “Well… looks like someone’s finally learning to stand on her own.”
K gave a subtle nod. “Control. Independence. Today, she proved she can do both.”
Ze’s eyes were calm, but sharp. The darkness will continue to test her.
And the seal will continue to weaken. The real trials are only beginning.
May’s gaze shifted toward the distant horizon, the shadows at the edges of the Realm flickering like they were alive. She clenched her fists, energy humming along her body. She was ready. She had to be.
Because the monsters were coming. And the darkness wouldn’t wait.
- Writer
