"Then prove you are worthy of the Rift's final truth."
The earth split.
The stars above darkened.
The ground around them rippled like disturbed water. Spires of ancient crystal rose from the obsidian floor, enclosing the three within a shifting arena. Light itself seemed to bend unnaturally inside, casting long, impossible shadows.
The Warden took its stance, both hands on the radiant staff. With each breath, it drew upon the Rift's deepest laws—fate, memory, and soul.
"Your power brought you here," the Warden said, its voice no longer echoing, but resonating inside their minds. "But power alone does not make you worthy."
A sudden pulse.
The space warped.
Asher and Valeris were split—thrust into two separate mirrored zones.
****
Asher blinked—and the world shifted.
He stood in a realm that wasn't real… yet felt more true than anything he had ever seen.
