Eternal Oaths: Book One

Chapter XVII

The world twisted into fragments of glass and shadow as Solene staggered through the thick mist, her heart pounding.

One moment, she had stood before Aethereon's gates alongside Talia, Nyx, and the others. The next, the gate itself exhaled, wrapping them in fog that curled like serpents around their ankles, pulling them away from reality. Now, she stood alone in a space where time bled into itself—a dreamscape built from jagged memories, each more painful than the last.

She knew what this was.

A test. 

The trial.

The air shimmered, and with a whisper, the mist cleared, revealing a familiar scene that froze her heart.

She was back in the dim stone chamber from years ago. It was as cold as she remembered, the walls weeping with moisture. And there—sitting in the corner, his knees pulled to his chest, arms wrapped tightly around his body—was Eryx.

Solene's breath hitched.

Eryx's wide, terrified eyes snapped to hers, filled with betrayal and confusion. His lips trembled, trying to form words he could no longer understand. The air smelled of damp stone and fear—his fear.

It had been such a simple thing at the time. He'd been acting erratically, consumed by dark thoughts, and she had only meant to help him—to fix him.

"Just a little glimpse," she'd whispered. "I'll take away the worst of it. You won't have to suffer anymore."

She hadn't realized until it was too late. The moment she entered his mind, the floodgates opened, and she lost control. His memories had come rushing at her like a storm—grief, shame, and guilt so intense that she'd been overwhelmed. Instead of gently guiding him through the nightmare, she panicked, drowning in his emotions.

She had lashed out. Pushed too hard.

And when she finally let go, Eryx was broken.

The scene twisted painfully as Eryx curled tighter into himself, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. His mind was still here, trapped within this moment—trapped within the mess she had made.

"Eryx..." Solene whispered, her voice cracking. But he didn't respond. He just stared, his eyes vacant, his mind fractured beyond repair.

She took a step forward, her heart in her throat. "I—I can fix this." Her voice was barely audible, a plea more to herself than to him. There had to be a way to fix it this time. She could do things differently, couldn't she?

Then the labyrinth whispered, its voice curling around her like smoke:
You can erase this. It never has to exist.

The thought pressed into her mind, unbidden and seductive. She could take this memory away—not just from herself but from him too. It would be like none of it ever happened. Eryx wouldn't have to live with the aftermath of her mistakes, and she could walk through the gates of Aethereon without this weight clinging to her soul.

It would be so easy.

Solene knelt before him, her trembling hands hovering just above his temple. Her magic stirred within her, familiar and dangerous, ready to erase everything—this moment, the pain, even his memory of her. 

She could leave him whole again. 

She could undo her worst mistake.

She was better now, she had years of training...

"Just one thought," she murmured, her magic buzzing against her fingertips. "And this nightmare will be gone forever."

Eryx's eyes flickered, the barest hint of recognition cutting through the fog of his broken mind.

"No." The word escaped him as a whisper, hoarse and raw. His hands fumbled toward her, weak but insistent. "Please... don't."

The request struck her harder than any physical blow.

Solene froze, her magic dimming. She saw the truth then, laid bare before her.

Erasing this moment would not heal him. It would only erase his chance to ever heal himself.

She could feel the labyrinth watching, waiting. If she chose to erase the memory, the trial would end—but it would be a false victory. And somewhere deep inside, Solene knew that. She would be trapped here forever, even if she walked through the gates.

Her hands dropped to her sides, trembling. She swallowed hard, tasting the bitterness of regret. "I'm sorry, Eryx," she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm sorry for what I did to you. And I... I can't take this from you."

She reached out, not with magic, but with a simple gesture—a hand on his shoulder, warm and steady. "I see you," she said softly. "I see all of you. And I'm not running away."

The moment hung between them, fragile and aching. 

Then, for the first time in years, Eryx smiled.

It was small, barely a flicker of light in the darkness, but it was real. The nightmare around them began to dissolve, the stone walls crumbling into dust, the cold air giving way to warmth.

Solene felt something shift within her—a weight lifting, a piece of herself finally mending. She had made peace with the past, not by erasing it, but by owning it.

As the last fragments of the illusion faded, Solene found herself standing once more before the gates of Aethereon. The mist that had pulled her into the labyrinth now swirled gently at her feet, lighter than before.

She exhaled, shaky but whole. 

She had done it.

The gates groaned, their ancient hinges shifting with a sound like a long-held breath being released. A sliver of golden light appeared between them, widening slowly.

Talia and Nyx stood nearby, their eyes haunted but bright—they had passed their trials too. 

For a moment, the three of them simply looked at one another, the weight of their shared triumph settling between them like a silent promise. They had each faced their darkest moments and come through the other side—not unscarred, but stronger.

"Ready?" Nyx asked quietly, his hand brushing the edge of the gate.

Talia gave a sharp nod, her usual grin creeping back onto her face despite the lingering shadows in her eyes. "Let's see if Aethereon lives up to its fairytale."

Solene smiled, a soft, genuine thing. For the first time in a long time, she felt free. "Let's go."

Together, they stepped through the gates.