The trials Begins

With the sun rising over the smoldering remnants of Aetherium, casting a muted light on the devastation. The air still carried the acrid scent of smoke, a reminder of the battle that had left Raiden's village in ruins. Yet, despite the destruction, Raiden stood tall, his heart pounding with a mixture of confusion, fear, and something else—a spark of purpose.

His mind raced as he walked through the shattered village. Kira and the other survivors were already beginning to rebuild what they could, but Raiden felt out of place among them. They spoke in hushed voices, still too frightened to fully process the events that had unfolded.

Raiden's gaze turned to the distant mountains, the horizon where the storm had still not fully dissipated. It was there that the voice had spoken to him, where the pulse of power had surged through him like a bolt of lightning.

"Raiden Kurogane. The first Soul Crystal lies within the Shadeward Realm. It is your next trial. Go, and claim it."

He still didn't fully understand what was happening. One moment, he was lying lifeless on the battlefield, and the next, he was alive again, his body infused with a power he couldn't control. The strange voice that called itself the Nexus told him he was destined for something much greater, something he was too young and inexperienced to comprehend.

But Raiden knew one thing—he could no longer live in the shadow of his old life. He wasn't the simple boy who dreamed of becoming a warrior. Now, he was something else entirely. He was the heir to the Guardians of the Nexus. The weight of his parents' legacy now rested on his shoulders.

And he had no choice but to move forward.

Raiden stood at the edge of the village, looking toward the dense forest that separated Aetherium from the unknown. The path to the Shadeward Realm was treacherous, a realm shrouded in darkness and mystery, rumored to be filled with dangerous creatures and traps. Legends spoke of it as a place where the shadows themselves came to life.

But the voice had given him no choice. The Nexus had called him to begin his trials, and the Shadeward Realm was the first destination. It was time for Raiden to test the powers he barely understood.

As he stood there, still considering his next move, Kira approached him. Her face was drawn with exhaustion, but her concern for him was clear.

"Raiden, are you sure about this?" she asked softly, her hand resting on his shoulder. "You've just come back… I'm not sure I can let you go again."

Raiden met her eyes, torn between his desire to protect her and his responsibility to something greater. His new life seemed so foreign, so overwhelming. But he couldn't ignore the pull of destiny.

"I have to go, Kira," Raiden said, his voice firm yet gentle. "I'm not the same as I was before. Something… something has changed inside me. I need to find the Soul Crystals. It's the only way I can protect everyone. It's the only way I can stop this from happening again."

Kira's face softened, but her eyes remained full of concern. "I understand. Just promise me one thing."

Raiden nodded, bracing himself for her request.

"Promise me you'll come back," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Raiden hesitated, his heart aching. He didn't know what the trials would entail or how long it would take. But he could sense that there was no turning back now.

"I promise," he said, though part of him wasn't sure if he could keep that promise. Still, he had to try. For everyone.

With a final look at the village he had once called home, Raiden turned and made his way toward the forest. The trees loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, and the path was barely visible in the growing dusk.

Raiden pushed through the dense undergrowth, his senses alert as he moved deeper into the wilderness. The storm from the previous night had passed, but a strange, oppressive energy hung in the air. It was as though the very land was watching him, waiting for him to make a wrong move.

The forest grew darker with each step, the canopy above thickening to block out the remaining light. Raiden's pulse quickened, and he could feel the familiar surge of power within him. The lightning that had once been uncontrollable now pulsed with a quiet hum beneath his skin. It was as if the storm itself was alive inside him, responding to his every thought and motion.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance, barely visible through the shadows. Raiden's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, but before he could react, the figure stepped into the clearing.

The figure was a woman, clad in dark robes that seemed to shimmer like the night sky. Her hair was long and silver, falling around her face like a cascade of moonlight. Her eyes, a deep shade of violet, locked onto Raiden with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.

"You are Raiden Kurogane, the heir to the Nexus," the woman said, her voice like the whisper of the wind. "I have been waiting for you."

Raiden stood frozen, unsure of whether to trust her. "Who are you?"

"I am Lysandra, the keeper of the Shadeward Realm," she said. "I have been tasked with guiding you through the trials. But know this—your path will not be easy. The Soul Crystal you seek is guarded by powers far greater than you can imagine. To succeed, you must learn to control the power within you, for if you fail, the realm itself will consume you."

Raiden swallowed hard. He had expected danger, but this was more than he had prepared for. "I'm ready," he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty churning in his gut. "I have no choice."

Lysandra nodded, her expression unreadable. "Very well. But remember, Raiden, you are not only fighting for yourself. The fate of the realms lies in your hands. The Soul Crystals are not just keys to your strength—they are the keys to the balance of all worlds."

With a flick of her wrist, the shadows around them shifted, and the air seemed to thicken with an ancient, powerful energy. The trial had begun.