As the guardian's sword struck the ground, the stone platforms trembled, and the symbols on them glowed even brighter. Meric, Lina, and Marlon felt the vibrations beneath their feet. The three doors still stood before them: one surrounded by flames with the emblem of a warrior, another bathed in blue light with the symbol of an open spellbook, and the last one, flickering with an ominous energy, marked by two crossed keys.
The guardian's voice echoed through the chamber.
Guardian: "Make your choice. Time is running out."
Meric furrowed his brows. A strange feeling told him that this was more than just a simple test. The guardian wasn't merely a gatekeeper; he was a part of something far greater.
Meric: (thoughtful) "This isn't just about choosing a door. It's about who we are."
Lina, recalling the guardian's words, studied the symbols carefully.
Lina: "Three paths, three destinies… I think each of us has to choose our own way."
Marlon groaned, crossing his arms.
Marlon: (nervous) "Yeah, sure. Let's split up in a place full of ancient traps. Great idea."
Meric: (glancing at Lina) "But maybe that's the whole point. We have to pick what resonates with us."
A moment of silence passed between them. Then, Lina took a deep breath and made her decision.
Lina: "I choose the path of knowledge. Power lies in understanding, and we're here to learn."
Meric: (grinning) "Then I'll take the warrior's path. A leader must face challenges head-on."
Marlon sighed, glancing between the remaining doors before lowering his head in resignation.
Marlon: "Fine, fine… I'll take the one with the crossed keys. But if this is a trap, I called it first."
The guardian's eyes glowed faintly as he acknowledged their choices.
Guardian: "Your fates are set. Let the trials begin."
With a final strike of his sword against the ground, all three doors creaked open simultaneously.
Meric's Trial: The Path of the Warrior
Beyond the door, a dimly lit arena stretched out before him. In the center of the sandy floor stood an old sword embedded in the ground. The walls were lined with shields, armor, and ancient weapons. As soon as Meric stepped inside, the ground quivered, and the sand began to swirl.
A massive stone warrior emerged, its body carved with ancient runes. In its colossal hands, it wielded a greatsword, its edges glowing with a faint golden hue.
Stone Warrior: "Prove your strength, or fall."
Meric clenched his fists. For a brief moment, doubt flickered in his mind, but he quickly steeled himself. He grabbed the sword from the sand and took his stance. The stone warrior lunged forward, swinging its blade in a powerful arc. Meric rolled aside, barely avoiding the blow. He countered with a strike of his own—only for his sword to bounce harmlessly off the warrior's stone body.
Meric: (gritting his teeth) "Of course, it won't be that easy…"
The warrior struck again, but this time, Meric watched carefully. Its movements followed a pattern. A predictable rhythm.
Waiting for the right moment, he dodged a downward strike and swung at the creature's joint. A sharp crack echoed through the chamber.
Meric: (smirking) "No one is invincible."
Blow by blow, he exploited the weak points until the stone warrior finally collapsed into rubble. The arena walls rumbled as the trial came to an end. Meric let out a deep breath. He had passed.
Lina's Trial: The Path of Wisdom
Stepping through the doorway, Lina found herself in a vast library. But this was no ordinary archive—books floated in midair, their pages turning by themselves. At the center stood an ancient table, and upon it lay an open tome glowing with an eerie blue light.
A riddle was inscribed on its pages:
"The more you share me, the less you have. What am I?"
Lina narrowed her eyes. Simple, but likely a trick. She thought through the possibilities.
Lina: "A secret."
The book shimmered, and its pages flipped rapidly to the next riddle:
"I exist at night but vanish by day. What am I?"
Lina smiled.
Lina: "Stars."
The tome glowed once more, flipping to the final riddle.
"The more you cut me, the bigger I grow. What am I?"
This one was trickier. Lina hesitated for a moment, considering the wording. Then, realization struck.
Lina: "A hole."
A brilliant light engulfed the tome as it lifted into the air. When the glow faded, an ancient scroll lay before her, inscribed with Merlin's sigil.
Lina: (whispering) "This… must hold a powerful secret."
She had succeeded.
Marlon's Trial: The Path of the Unknown
Marlon stepped into complete darkness. The moment he entered, soft golden light flickered to life, illuminating a chamber filled with intricate locks and mechanisms.
Marlon: (groaning) "Of course… puzzles…"
At the center stood three locked chests, each marked with a different symbol: a key, an eye, and a clock. The walls were adorned with cryptic messages—clues scattered like pieces of a puzzle.
Marlon studied the inscriptions, carefully piecing the hints together. With a deep breath, he unlocked the first chest. Inside, he found an old pocket watch.
The second chest held a carved eye symbol.
Finally, he reached the third chest. This was the most crucial—if he failed, he could reset the entire puzzle.
Marlon: (muttering) "No pressure, right?"
After double-checking the clues, he made his move. The last lock clicked open. As the final chest creaked open, the entire mechanism in the room shifted, revealing an ancient map.
Marlon: (grinning) "Got it! And this map… it leads somewhere."
He had passed.
Reunion and Revelation
As they each emerged from their respective trials, the three doors reopened, and they found themselves standing together once more. The guardian observed them with an unreadable expression.
Guardian: "You have proven yourselves. Now, you must face the truth of your destiny."
With those words, another passageway opened at the far end of the chamber. And beyond it, a secret long forgotten awaited them.