The morning air was crisp, sharp with the taste of electricity. Ivan walked through the valley, his body still humming with the Seal's energy, each step echoing the lessons of the last trial. The wind whispered around him, carrying faint sparks of light that seemed to respond to his presence.
"You feel it, don't you?" the silver-eyed stranger asked, her eyes scanning the horizon. "The air here is alive… but not in the way you've felt before. There's something else, something powerful."
Ivan frowned, unease prickling at the edges of his consciousness. "Something else? What… what is it?"
"Patience," she said. "You will understand soon enough. The Beacons are not merely objects; they are anchors, threads connecting Naaris to the divine. And they have recognized you, just as the Seal did."
As they crested a ridge, Ivan's eyes fell upon a distant tower of light. It was unlike anything he had seen before: a crystalline spire rising from the forest floor, radiating pulses of gold and silver that danced across the treetops.
"There," the stranger said, pointing. "The first Beacon. The Ether Beacon. Its energy is raw, ancient, and… sentient."
Ivan's chest tightened. He could feel the hum of its power even from here, a vibration that resonated with the Seal inside him. His heart raced. "It's… alive?"
"In a sense," she replied. "It will test you. The Seal is linked to the Beacons. To claim their power, you must survive their judgment."
Ivan took a deep breath, extending his hands toward the tower. The runes flared, golden light dancing along his arms. The ground beneath him quivered, as though the valley itself was acknowledging his intent.
A sudden gust of wind whipped through the trees, carrying voices in a language he did not know — whispers and echoes that tugged at the edges of his mind. He staggered slightly, clutching his head.
"Control it!" the stranger shouted. "The Beacon will probe your soul. Fear will weaken you, doubt will shatter you."
Ivan forced his breathing steady. The whispers grew louder, pressing against his thoughts. Images flashed in his mind: a world of floating continents, rivers of molten light, armies of beings wielding unimaginable power. A chill ran down his spine.
He clenched his fists. "I… I will not falter. I am the heir… I will master this power!"
A blinding beam of light shot from the Beacon, striking the valley floor. Rocks and trees exploded in a shower of sparks, yet the Seal's energy formed a protective cocoon around him. The air shimmered, waves of force rippling outward. Ivan felt the Beacon probing his very being, sifting through his fears, his doubts, his memories.
Images of Earth flashed before him: the shop, the customers, the robbery, the blood. He felt the loss, the helplessness, the tragedy. The Beacon pressed further, testing whether he was worthy of its energy.
Ivan gritted his teeth. "I'm not that man anymore. I… am Ivan, heir of Silence!"
The runes blazed, their light intensifying as a surge of energy shot outward, colliding with the Beacon's pulse. A resonance echoed through the valley, a song of power that made the ground tremble. Trees bent, birds scattered, and the stranger shielded her eyes from the brilliance.
For a moment, everything froze. Then, slowly, the light of the Beacon dimmed, focusing on him. A voice, older than time, whispered directly in his mind:
"You have acknowledged the trial, Ivan. But mastery requires sacrifice. The path ahead is fraught with danger."
Ivan staggered, his knees hitting the ground. Sweat poured down his face, and the runes burned like molten fire. "I… I understand… I'll do whatever it takes."
The stranger nodded. "Good. That is all the Beacon requires for now. But know this — other Beacons are scattered across Naaris. Each one is more perilous than the last. And some… some will not yield willingly."
A sudden movement in the treeline caught Ivan's eye. Crimson eyes glinted from the shadows. He froze, heart hammering. The shadow was silent, observing, patient. A sense of dread coiled in his stomach.
"The watcher," the stranger murmured. "It follows all who bear the Seal. Its patience is endless, its judgment inevitable."
Ivan's hands glowed, the Seal pulsing in response. "I… I will be ready. I won't let anything stop me."
The Beacon pulsed one final time, a heartbeat of golden energy that resonated with his own. The valley fell silent again, but the sense of immense power lingered, pressing against his mind and soul.
And from the distant ridge, the shadow moved slightly, almost imperceptibly, crimson eyes never leaving him.
The trials of the Beacons had begun.