As Kael trained with Hye-ri, he noticed subtle changes in her behavior. At times, she seemed distant and guarded, as if she were hiding something.
He tried to ignore his instincts, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
One day, while meditating, Kael suddenly had a vision. In the vision, he saw Hye-ri in a different form, with dark wings and a menacing aura.
He was shocked and confused by what he saw, and he couldn't shake the image from his mind.
As Kael delved deeper into his training with Hye-ri, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about her.
Her teachings were often tinged with darkness that made him uneasy. He couldn't help but feel like she was holding back some important information from him.
One day, while exploring the hidden chambers of the temple, Kael stumbled upon a forbidden room that Hye-ri had always warned him to stay away from.
Curiosity got the better of him. He snuck inside and was shocked to discover ancient tomes and relics that spoke of fallen entities. As a result, these entities were banished from the divine realm for committing a serious sin.
As he walked, he came across a large, leather-bound book that seemed to radiate an otherworldly aura. As he opened it, he realized that it contained the secrets of fallen entities.
The book was filled with ancient writings, each page inscribed with strange symbols that Kael couldn't decipher.
He soon realized that these fallen entities were not given names, as they had forsaken their true identities when they fell from the divine realm.
Instead, they were identified by their attributes - such as the entity of fire, the entity of water, the entity of darkness, and so on.
The book contained detailed accounts of each entity's fall from grace, the sins that led to their banishment, and the powers they had once possessed.
Kael read about how these entities had once been revered and worshipped by mortals, but became twisted and corrupted after their fall.
Kael also discovered that the book contained knowledge of powerful spells and incantations that could summon and control these entities.
He realized that his mentor, Hye-ri, must have been using this knowledge to control him and lead him down a path towards her own ends.
As Kael continued to read, he began to feel a growing sense of unease. He couldn't help but wonder if his own actions had been manipulated by these fallen entities.
He also wondered whether he too would become corrupted by their power. Kael's heart sank knowing the truth; Hye-ri was that fallen entity.
She had been manipulating him all along, using him as a pawn in her own selfish game to gain access to the divine realm again.
The weight of betrayal hit Kael like a ton of bricks. He felt as though his entire world had been turned upside down.
How could he trust anyone or anything ever again?
He struggled to come to terms with the fact that he had been deceived.
The one person he thought he could rely on had been using him for her own gain.
Kael knew he had to confront Hye-ri about her true identity, but he also knew that he was not yet strong enough to face her in battle.
He would have to bide his time, continue to train and grow stronger, and only then would he be able to face his former mentor and the great evil that she represented.
As Kael absorbed the information in the book of fallen entities, he realized that his mentor was not the only one who had been manipulating him.
He had been tricked by multiple entities, each with its own agenda. He knew he couldn't trust anyone but himself.
The mentor had promised to help him harness his divine powers, but Kael now knew her intentions were far from pure.
He had to get out of the temple and leave this treacherous mentor behind. But before he could do that, he had to face his first trial.
The first trial tested his combat abilities. Kael was taken to an arena where he would face off against powerful entities.
As Kael stepped into the arena, he was taken aback by its sheer size. The walls towered above him, and he could feel the energy in the air crackling with anticipation.
He looked around and saw that there were hundreds of people gathered to watch the trial, their eyes fixed on him.
The arena itself was a circular pit, with a sandy floor and high walls that sloped upwards towards the sky. Kael noticed that there were four gates, one on each side of the arena.
He saw four figures standing at each gate, each dressed in different attire.
The figure at the gate directly in front of him wore a dark cloak, and his face was hidden in the shadows. To Kael's left was a woman with long, flowing hair and a golden circle on her head.
To his right was a man dressed in armor, holding a shield and sword. And behind him, at the gate opposite the one he had entered, was a figure in a white robe, holding a staff.
Kael was unsure of what to do next, but he knew that he had to be ready for anything. Suddenly, a loud voice boomed across the arena, and Kael realized that it was the voice of the mentor.
"Welcome, Kael, to your first trial!" she said. "In this trial, you must face four opponents, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. You must use all of your skills and powers to defeat them and emerge victorious."
The figure at the gate in front of Kael stepped forward, and Kael could now see that it was a man with piercing blue eyes.
He drew a sword from his cloak and charged at Kael, his blade glinting in the sunlight. Kael quickly drew his own sword and parried the man's attack, feeling the weight of the weapon in his hand.
The fight was intense, with both Kael and his opponent exchanging blows, neither gaining the upper hand. Kael was starting to tire, but he refused to give up.
Suddenly, he remembered the book of fallen entities that he had found, and he realized that he could use the knowledge contained within it to his advantage.
With renewed energy, Kael ducked under his opponent's blade and plunged his sword into the man's chest. As the man fell to the ground, Kael could feel the power of the book coursing through his veins.
The next opponent was the woman with the golden circle, and Kael could see that she was a skilled fighter. She was fast and agile, and Kael had trouble keeping up with her. But he remembered the knowledge from the book, and he used his powers to create an illusion that distracted her long enough for him to strike.
The third opponent was a man in armor, and he was formidable. Kael could see that he was heavily armored, and his sword was almost as big as Kael himself. But Kael knew that he could not let fear consume him, and he used his powers to weaken the man's armor, allowing him to strike at a vulnerable point.
The final opponent was the figure in the white robe, and Kael could sense that this was the most powerful of them all.
He knew he would need all of his skills and powers to defeat this opponent. As they clashed, Kael could feel the energy building up inside him, and he knew that he had to unleash it.
With a powerful burst of energy, Kael unleashed a blast of fire at his opponent, sending the figure flying across the arena.
As the figure lay there, defeated, Kael felt a sense of triumph, but also unease, but saw nothing. Suddenly, a figure appeared on the opposite side of the arena.