The heavy doors opened slowly, creaking loudly as Venshiro and the others stepped through. A cold mist filled the air, coming from the room beyond. It felt wet and heavy on their skin, like walking into a cloud.
In front of them stretched a huge underground lake. A single narrow stone bridge crossed over it, leading to a faraway door on the other side. The water was dark, almost black, and completely still.
"This has to be the Third Trial," Rin said, her voice low. She pointed to some glowing letters carved into the stone rail of the bridge. "It's Duskwater's trial."
Hana pulled Surado closer to her. "I don't like this place," she said. "It's too quiet."
"I can't see the bottom," Surado whispered, holding onto Hana's sleeve tightly.
Venshiro stepped carefully onto the bridge. Every step made the stone groan under his feet. He stayed alert, Black Vein ready at his side. He didn't trust anything here.
Halfway across the bridge, a shape appeared ahead of them. A figure, made of water and mist, rose from the air. It had a tall, shifting body and held a long, silver spear that looked like it was made from liquid.
The runes on the bridge glowed brighter.
Rin read them out loud:
"Third Trial: Trust the wave, or be
swallowed."
Venshiro narrowed his eyes. "Another
shadow."
But this one was different. He could feel it. It wasn't just going to fight — it was part of the lake itself.
Without warning, the figure attacked. It moved fast, sliding over the bridge like flowing water. Venshiro raised his sword to block, but just as he braced himself, the bridge under him cracked.
There was no time to react.
The stone broke apart under his feet, and he fell into the freezing water.
"Venshiro!" Hana yelled from the bridge.
He sank fast. The cold water shocked his body, stealing his breath. He kicked hard, trying to swim up, but something grabbed him. Invisible waves pulled at him from all sides, dragging him deeper.
Above him, the watery figure swam, waiting like a hunter.
Venshiro panicked for a moment. Every instinct told him to fight, to claw his way to the surface.
But he remembered the words carved on the bridge:
"Trust the wave, or be swallowed."
Gritting his teeth, he stopped fighting.
He let his body go free and stopped struggling against the pull. As soon as he did, the wave changed. It wrapped around him, almost gently, and carried him downward, then sideways through a hidden tunnel beneath the lake.
He closed his eyes and let it happen.
Back on the bridge, Rin grabbed Hana's shoulder. "Wait. Trust him," she said. "This is part of the trial."
Hana stared at the water, worried, but nodded. "Okay."
Surado stood between them, fidgeting nervously. "He'll be okay, right?"
"He will," Rin said, though she wasn't completely sure.
Under the lake, Venshiro's body floated through the hidden path. Slowly, light appeared ahead — a soft blue glow. The waved pushed him gently toward the surface. He broke through the water with a groan, finding himself near the far side of the lake.
Dripping and cold, he pulled himself up onto a platform of smooth stone. His eyes widened. The watery shadow was there, standing in front of him, spear ready.
This time, Venshiro understood.
It wasn't about overpowering the shadow.
It was about moving like the water.
Flowing, not fighting.
He stood up, Black Vein loose in his hand. The shadow lunged at him, stabbing with the spear.
Venshiro didn't block. He sidestepped, smooth and fast. The spear passed harmlessly beside him. The shadow attacked again, and again Venshiro moved around it, barely touching him.
He became like a current — slipping, bending, turning.
When he saw an opening, he struck. One quick slash. His blade passed through the shadow's body. It didn't feel solid.
The shadow let out a sound like rushing water and broke apart into mist.
The glowing runes appeared once more on the stone:
"Third Trial Passed. The bearer flows forward."
The broken bridge behind Venshiro slowly repaired itself, the stones sliding back into place with grinding noises. Rin, Hana, and Surado ran across to him.
"You did it!" Hana said, helping him to his feet.
"You're soaked," Surado said, laughing.
"Venshiro coughed and shook water from his hair. "Yeah… but I passed."
"You moved like the water," Rin said, impressed. "You didn't fight it."
Venshiro nodded. "I trusted the wave."
For a moment, they all just stood there, catching their breath. The trial had tested more than strength — it had tested faith. Faith in something you couldn't control.
After a few minutes, they turned toward the next path. A wide staircase led up from the far end of the lake. Above the stairs, carved deep into the stone, was the symbol of a cloud — and runes glowing.
Rin read them:
"Fourth Trial: Face the storm you carry within."
Venshiro stared at the words. His hand tightened around Black Vein. He knew exactly what this meant.
This next trial wouldn't be about the water, or the stone, or even the sword.
It would be about himself.
He looked back once at the lake — still and black — then started up the stairs.
Surado jogged beside him. "Hey, do you think the next one will be easier?"
Venshiro smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "No. I think it's about to get a lot harder."
They climbed. The air grew warmer the higher they went, and a low chatter filled the walls. It sounded like distant thunder. Sparks crackled in the air around them.
"This feels bad," Hana muttered.
When they reached the top of the stairs, they found themselves standing in front of a massive stone door. It was covered in carvings of clouds, lightning, and wind.
A deep voice echoed — not from a person, but from the stones themselves:
"The storm within breaks or shapes the bearer. Step forward and be judged."
Venshiro swallowed hard. His heart was beating too fast.
Rin put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone," she said.
He shook his head. "This is my trial."
Without looking back, he pushed the door open.
Inside, the chamber was filled with swirling winds. Lightning arced between floating stones. The floor was cracked and broken.
At the center floated another shadow — but this one looked exactly like Venshiro.
Same white hair, same red eyes.
But it smiled in a way that made his blood run cold.
"What…the fuck is this…?"
"YOU'RE ME!"
Venshiro said with frightened eyes.
The shadow laughed — a sound like a storm tearing trees apart.
"Come then," it said, voice full of thunder. "Face the storm inside you."
And Venshiro stepped forward, sword raised, ready to fight not an enemy —
—but himself.