Page 196 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

Tharan swallowed his embarrassment.

“Well, I can’t be this devilishly handsome and erudite. It just wouldn’t be fair to the world.”

Aelia squeezed his hand, and they filed through to the next chamber.

49CAIDEN

They entered a darkened chamber where,yet another pedestal stood bathed in light while darkness flooded the rest of the room. Fog billowed around their feet. Engraved on the wall overhead was a depiction of Illya slitting her wrists to give the sylph the gift of the blood.

Caiden took a deep breath. This would be his challenge. Tension pulled taut in the air as he stepped forward while the others stayed behind.

Pricking his finger, he laid a drop of blood on the golden page.

Hello, Lord of Lightning.

His stomach hardened. What did the Trinity have in store for him? Sylph were warriors. He’d definitely have to fight something or someone. But who would the Trinity keep trapped down here for an eternity?

“Uh, hello,” Caiden whispered.

Are you ready for your trial?

No, but he didn’t really have a choice. An electricity ran through his body, making the hairs on the back of his arms stand on end.

“Yes.”

Very well. The sylph were created to protect the land from those who seek to destroy it. No other creature is more fierce or brutal. Therefore, only those who can defeat themselves may pass into the Divine Well.

“What?” Caiden said. A chill ran down his spine.

Good luck.The words disappeared in an instant.

The world around him went silent. He could feel a presence next to him and when he looked up, a copy of him stared back at him. Only this Caiden was more of a shadow than a full flesh and blood man.

Caiden cocked his head, and Shadow Caiden did the same.

Fear coiled in his gut. He would have to fight himself.

He looked to where his friends were but only darkness met his gaze. Could they see him? Did they know what was happening?

Shadow Caiden lashed out with his fist sending him flying across the room.

Shaking the stars from his vision he called his lightning to his hand, but so did his shadow. He gritted his jaw and struck out with a bolt, only for it to be met with a shadow bolt. Electricity crackled in the air. Whatever force Caiden put behind his lightning, Shadow Caiden met it with an equal force of his own.

He cut his lightning and got to his feet. Both he and the shadow stared at each other. Equally matched in every way. Caiden’s chest heaved with ragged breaths. He would have to do this without magic. Gripping his sword, he pulled the weapon from its sheath. He’d forgotten how he’d missed the feeling of the steel in his hand and the Court of Honey had given him a fine light blade, perfect for quick moves.

The shadow pulled a sword of his own. Long and lean, just like the one Caiden held.

They danced around one another, taking cautious steps. Their boots clacked against the stone floor.

Caiden would have to plan his move perfectly. The shadow would copy him, and he needed to make sure he could land the blow swiftly.

He ducked right. The shadow did the same. Then left, then right again. The shadow followed his movements. They came within an inch of each other and Caiden’s blade sliced into the shadow figure’s side, but as his sword found a home, so too, did the shadow’s. A searing pain ripped across his abdomen, and he stumbled.

The shadow caught him where his armor was weak, just as he had caught the shadow. Was this how it would have to be? A cut for a cut until one of them died.

He let out a sigh of relief as Illya’s healing magic sealed up the cut. Would it do the same for the shadow?

He tried to see if the shadow was healed, but darkness clouded his vision.

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