Jay's head spun, and his breathing was shallow. The battle had drained him, and the magic that had surged through him left him feeling more tired than he'd ever been before. He shakily stood up, looking at the destruction around him. The statue was gone, reduced to rubble.
"W-What just happened?" he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse. That power—he didn't know what it was, but it had saved him. He touched his chest, where the warmth of the energy still lingered, and tried to focus. Was it some kind of magic? But he had no training in magic. He hadn't even known magic existed until today.
A soft, echoing voice interrupted his thoughts.
"You have awakened…"
Jay spun around, eyes wide. But there was no one there. The voice seemed to come from the very walls themselves.
"You are the chosen one, summoned to this world to restore balance," the voice continued. "This world is on the brink of destruction, and only those who can unlock their potential will survive. You have the power to change everything, Jay."
"Chosen?" Jay breathed. "What do you mean, 'chosen'? I don't even know how to fight—"
"You will learn," the voice interrupted gently. "You have only begun to understand the magic within you. But there is more—much more. Seek the Trial of the Ancients. There, you will learn the truth about your purpose."
A cold chill ran down Jay's spine. The Trial of the Ancients? What kind of trial was that? Was this some kind of test? And what about the monsters? There was no way he could survive in this world without knowing more about what he had unlocked.
"Trial of the Ancients," Jay muttered. "I'll… I'll find it."