Then, a voice.
Not the one he had heard before.
This one was different, layered, almost as if multiple voices spoke at once.
"You have come far."
Jude didn't flinch. "I don't know what this place is," he said, "but I know I'm supposed to be here."
The light pulsed, as if acknowledging his words.
"You seek understanding."
Jude nodded. "And I'm tired of being tested. If you have answers, I want them."
The hum grew deeper. The space shifted again, not physically, but in a way that made Jude feel as if reality itself was bending around him.
"The answers you seek cannot be given," the voice said. "They must be realized."
Jude exhaled sharply. "Of course. Another riddle."
The light dimmed slightly, then flared once more. "You stand at the edge of knowledge. You must decide, will you step forward, or will you turn back?"
Jude didn't hesitate. "I'm stepping forward."
The chamber pulsed. The air grew heavy.
"Then prove it."
