Egg Of Life

The First Test

The First Test

The shadows moved like a living tide.

They crawled out from the broken gate—twisting, stretching, whispering in voices that sounded almost human. The air grew thick and suffocating, as if fear itself had taken form.

Kelechi stepped back quickly. “Ah! This one doesn't pass play!”

Amara’s heart pounded wildly, but the glowing mark on her arm flared again—brighter than before. This time, it didn’t burn. It guided me.

“Don’t run,” the Guardian’s voice echoed. “Face them.”

“Face them ke?” Kelechi snapped. “Na how many we go face?”

The shadows rushed forward.

One lunged toward Kelechi—but before it could touch him, a flash of golden light burst from Amara’s arm, pushing it back with a sharp hiss.

They froze.

The shadows circled them now, slower, watching.

Amara took a shaky step forward.

“They’re not just attacking…” she whispered. “They’re waiting.”

Suddenly, one shadow rose higher than the rest.

Its shape changed.

And Amara gasped.

It looked like her.

Same face.

Same eyes.

But darker… empty.

“No…” she whispered, stepping back.

The shadow-Amara smiled faintly.

“You cannot run from yourself,” it said in her own voice.

Kelechi looked confused. “Wetin be this one again?!”

More shadows shifted—

Kelechi saw something too.

A figure from his past… someone he clearly feared.

His confidence cracked. “No… not you…”

The Guardian spoke again:

“The first test is truth.”

Amara’s breathing grew uneven. “Truth?”

“You must face what lies within you,” the Guardian said. “Fear. Doubt. Darkness. If you deny it… you will be consumed by it.”

The shadow-Amara stepped closer.

“You are not strong enough,” it whispered. “You will break the Egg.”

Amara’s eyes filled with tears. “That’s not true…”

“Then prove it,” the shadow challenged.

The darkness surged again.

This time, it didn’t attack—

It waited for her to decide.

Kelechi struggled beside her, frozen in his own fear.

“Amara…” he said weakly. “I'm not fit to do this alone…”

Amara looked at him.

Then in the shadows.

Then at her glowing arm.

Slowly… she wiped her tears

And to took a step forward."“I am afraid,” she said, her voice shaking—but firm. “But I will not run.”

The light on her arm exploded outward—

And the shadows screamed.