The path beyond the second trial descended deeper into the ruins.
The air felt different now.
Heavier.
Older.
Nobody spoke much.
The visions from the Trial of Courage still lingered.
Arthur walked in front.
Rowan carried an uneasy expression.
Lyra remained unusually quiet.
Nira seemed lost in thought.
Each of them still processing what they had seen.
The corridor eventually opened into the largest chamber yet.
All four stopped.
The room was enormous.
A vast circular cavern stretching beyond the reach of their torchlight.
At its center stood a stone bridge.
And beyond the bridge— a solitary pedestal.
Upon it rested a sword.
Golden.
Beautiful.
Ancient.
The moment Arthur saw it, something stirred deep within him.
Not recognition.
Not familiarity.
A pull.
As though the sword had been waiting.
Rowan immediately frowned.
“I don’t like this.” “No kidding.” Lyra agreed.
Nira looked toward the bridge.
“It seems too easy.” Arthur nodded.
For once.
He agreed.
The dungeon had tested them twice already.
There was no way the final trial would simply hand over its treasure.
As though answering that thought— the chamber trembled.
Ancient runes ignited across the floor.
The same voice echoed once more.
“The final trial begins.” The bridge suddenly cracked.
Stone shattered.
The center collapsed into darkness.
The path vanished.
Leaving only scattered fragments suspended above an endless abyss.
The four friends stepped back.
The voice continued.
“One path remains.” “One may proceed.” “Choose.” Silence followed.
Arthur stared.
Rowan stared.
Lyra stared.
Nira stared.
Only one?
That made no sense.
They had reached this point together.
Why separate them now?
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
Something felt wrong.
Then the chamber shifted again.
The floor beneath Rowan cracked.
Nira stumbled.
Lyra grabbed her arm.
The entire chamber began collapsing.
Stone rained from above.
The voice returned.
“Time is limited.” A massive section of ceiling crashed down.
The remaining safe ground shrank.
The pedestal with the sword remained untouched.
The message became clear.
Someone had to stay behind.
Someone had to hold the collapsing chamber long enough for another to reach the sword.
Rowan immediately stepped forward.
“I’ll do it.” “No.” Arthur answered instantly.
Lyra moved next.
“I can buy time.” “No.” Nira opened her mouth.
Arthur cut her off before she could speak.
“No.” All three turned toward him.
Arthur smiled.
The same stupid smile they all knew.
The one that always appeared before he did something reckless.
“I’m staying.” Rowan’s eyes widened.
“Arthur—” “No.” Arthur shook his head.
“You three leave.” “That’s ridiculous.” Lyra snapped.
“Probably.” Arthur admitted.
Another section of the chamber collapsed.
The abyss grew larger.
Arthur’s voice remained calm.
“But if somebody has to stay…” His gaze moved across his friends.
Rowan.
Lyra.
Nira.
The people who believed in his impossible dream.
The people who never laughed.
The people who stood beside him when nobody else would.
The answer felt obvious.
“You matter more.” Silence.
The words hit harder than any of them expected.
Arthur laughed awkwardly.
“I mean—” “You all have things you need to do.” “You’ll help people.” His eyes moved to Nira.
“You’ll save lives.” Then Rowan.
“You’ll change the future.” Then Lyra.
“You’ll protect people.” Arthur shrugged.
“So if somebody stays behind…” The chamber trembled violently.
Arthur took a step forward.
“It should be me.” The world froze.
Completely.
The collapsing stone stopped.
The dust hung motionless.
Time itself seemed to pause.
The ancient voice spoke one final time.
For the first time— it sounded satisfied.
“Correct.” The chamber vanished.
The collapsing bridge vanished.
The abyss vanished.
Everything vanished.
The illusion shattered.
Arthur blinked.
The four friends stood safely upon solid ground.
Nothing had ever been collapsing.
Nothing had ever been broken.
It had all been a test.
The final trial.
Sacrifice.
Not the willingness to die.
The willingness to give up something precious for others.
The sword began to glow.
Golden light filled the chamber.
The pedestal slowly descended.
Inviting Arthur forward.
Meanwhile— far beyond time— Leona stood.
For the first time in centuries.
Speechless.
“…No.” The connection became crystal clear.
She could see him now.
The boy.
The idiot.
The stubborn idiot.
Arthur Pendragon.
She watched him approach the sword.
And immediately understood something terrifying.
He had passed.
All three trials.
The sword had chosen him.
Leona buried her face in her hands.
“Oh this is bad.” Very bad.
Because if Aethelion had chosen him— Then history had just changed.
Arthur slowly approached the pedestal.
The sword waited.
Golden light danced along its blade.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Lonely.
Arthur reached forward.
His fingers wrapped around the hilt.
The moment he touched it— the world exploded into light.
And for the first time— Arthur heard a girl’s voice clearly.
Very clearly.
“Oh no.” Arthur blinked.
“…What?” The voice groaned.
“Oh no no no no.” Arthur looked around.
“Who’s there?” Silence.
Then: “…Unfortunately.” A pause.
“My name is Leona.” Another pause.
“And your life is about to become significantly more complicated.” End of Chapter 5