Darkness.
That was the first thing Leonhardt noticed.
The moment the ancient door closed behind them, all light disappeared.
Not even the faint glow of Fate's Edge remained.
Leonhardt couldn't see his companions.
He couldn't hear them.
He couldn't even feel the ground beneath his feet.
—Saya?
Nothing.
—Evelyn?
Silence.
—Victoria?
No response.
Leonhardt tightened his grip around his sword.
—Everyone?
Still nothing.
Then…
A voice whispered through the darkness.
"You have entered the place where destiny was first observed."
Leonhardt froze.
His Eye of Destiny suddenly activated.
Golden light filled the darkness.
The world returned.
But something was wrong.
He wasn't inside a temple anymore.
He was standing in a massive hall.
Ancient pillars surrounded him.
Strange symbols covered the walls.
And in the distance…
A gigantic staircase descended into darkness.
Leonhardt looked around.
—Where are the others?
The voice answered.
"They are where they need to be."
Leonhardt raised his sword.
—Show yourself.
Silence.
Then…
Footsteps.
Someone was walking down the stairs.
Leonhardt immediately prepared himself.
A figure appeared.
A young woman.
She looked around Leonhardt's age.
Long silver hair fell over her shoulders.
She wore a dark blue cloak decorated with golden symbols.
In one hand, she carried a strange staff.
But what caught Leonhardt's attention were her eyes.
They were golden.
Just like his.
Leonhardt immediately activated his Eye of Destiny.
Nothing happened.
He couldn't see her future.
He couldn't see her weak points.
He couldn't even read her energy.
The woman stopped.
—Interesting.
Leonhardt raised his sword.
—Who are you?
The woman looked at him.
—That's my question.
She slowly walked closer.
—Who are you?
Leonhardt frowned.
—You already know.
The woman smiled.
—No.
She looked directly into his eyes.
—The temple knows who you are.
She pointed toward his eye.
—But I don't.
Leonhardt lowered his sword slightly.
—Then tell me who you are first.
The woman smiled.
—Fair enough.
She placed one hand against her chest.
—I am Lyra.
Leonhardt waited.
—Lyra what?
—Just Lyra.
Leonhardt frowned.
—That's not very informative.
Lyra laughed.
—You ask too many questions.
—And you give too few answers.
For a moment, they stared at each other.
Then Leonhardt noticed something.
The temple symbols around Lyra were glowing.
The same symbol appeared on her staff.
The Eye.
—You're connected to this place.
Lyra's smile disappeared.
—Yes.
Leonhardt immediately raised his sword again.
—Are you an enemy?
Lyra looked surprised.
Then she laughed.
—You really are Aurelian's descendant.
Leonhardt froze.
The atmosphere changed.
—What did you say?
Lyra's expression became serious.
—Nothing.
Leonhardt stepped forward.
—No.
His Eye of Destiny activated.
—You know something.
Lyra's golden eyes narrowed.
—You shouldn't have awakened yet.
Leonhardt's heart skipped a beat.
—What does that mean?
Lyra suddenly raised her staff.
A wave of energy exploded.
Leonhardt blocked with Fate's Edge.
BOOM!
He was pushed backward.
—Wait!
Lyra attacked again.
Leonhardt dodged.
Her staff struck the ground.
The entire temple shook.
Leonhardt activated his Eye.
He tried to predict her next movement.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
It was like fighting a blank space.
Leonhardt jumped backward.
—Why can't I see you?
Lyra smiled.
—Because your Eye doesn't understand me.
Leonhardt charged.
Their weapons collided.
CLANG!
Lyra's staff blocked his sword.
She moved with incredible speed.
Leonhardt barely avoided her next strike.
Then another.
And another.
His Eye of Destiny began to burn.
He could see her movements.
Not her future.
But her intent.
Leonhardt suddenly understood.
She wasn't trying to kill him.
She was testing him.
Leonhardt changed his stance.
He stopped attacking.
Lyra stopped as well.
—Why did you stop?
—You're testing me.
Lyra smiled.
—Finally.
Leonhardt lowered his sword.
—Then stop wasting my time.
Lyra laughed.
—You really are him.
Leonhardt froze again.
—Who?
Lyra walked past him.
—Follow me.
Leonhardt didn't move.
—I'm not following someone who just attacked me.
Lyra glanced over her shoulder.
—Then stay here.
She continued walking.
Leonhardt sighed.
—I hate people like you.
—You'll get used to it.
Leonhardt followed.
They descended the staircase.
The deeper they went, the older the temple became.
The walls changed.
The symbols became more complex.
Leonhardt's Eye of Destiny reacted several times.
But he couldn't understand what he was seeing.
Finally, they reached a massive chamber.
At its center stood a circular platform.
Four enormous statues surrounded it.
Each statue represented a different figure.
A warrior.
A mage.
An archer.
And an assassin.
Leonhardt stared at them.
—What is this?
Lyra walked toward the platform.
—The Four Paths.
Leonhardt looked at her.
—Paths?
—The ancient civilization believed that destiny was divided into four fundamental paths.
She pointed toward the warrior.
—Strength.
The mage.
—Knowledge.
The archer.
—Precision.
And finally…
The assassin.
—Instinct.
Leonhardt looked at the four statues.
—And what does that have to do with me?
Lyra looked directly at his Eye.
—Your Eye can see all four.
Leonhardt froze.
—That's impossible.
—Is it?
Lyra stepped closer.
—Your ability to see weak points represents Precision.
She pointed toward his eyes.
—Your ability to predict movements represents Instinct.
Then she pointed toward his sword.
—Your ability to understand the flow of energy represents Knowledge.
Finally, she looked at Leonhardt.
—And your ability to overcome impossible opponents represents Strength.
Leonhardt remained silent.
—You're saying my Eye gives me all four paths?
—No.
Lyra shook her head.
—I'm saying you have the potential to.
Leonhardt's expression changed.
—Potential?
—Your Eye is still incomplete.
Leonhardt's eyes widened.
—Incomplete?
Lyra nodded.
—What you have awakened is only the first stage.
Leonhardt looked at his hand.
—Then what happens when it's complete?
Lyra didn't answer.
Instead, the temple shook.
BOOM!
Leonhardt immediately drew his sword.
Lyra looked toward the entrance.
—They're here.
—Who?
The answer came from the darkness.
A roar.
Then another.
Leonhardt activated his Eye.
Several energy signatures appeared.
Dozens.
No.
Hundreds.
Leonhardt's expression changed.
—That's a lot of enemies.
Lyra smiled.
—Good.
Leonhardt looked at her.
—Good?
She raised her staff.
—I've been waiting for this.
The doors exploded.
A massive army of creatures entered the chamber.
They looked like the guardians from the ruins.
But stronger.
Much stronger.
Leonhardt tightened his grip.
—How many?
Lyra smiled.
—Enough.
The creatures charged.
Leonhardt moved.
Fate's Edge flashed.
The first guardian fell.
Then another.
And another.
Leonhardt's Eye activated.
Weak points appeared.
He attacked.
Precision.
One strike.
One enemy.
Saya suddenly appeared beside him.
—You started without us?
Leonhardt turned.
—Saya!
Evelyn appeared behind her.
—We were separated.
Victoria landed beside them.
—It seems the temple decided to test us individually.
Leonhardt smiled.
—Glad you're all okay.
Saya drew her daggers.
—Who's the girl?
Lyra looked at her.
—Who are you?
Saya pointed at herself.
—Me?
—Yes.
—I'm Saya.
Lyra nodded.
—Assassin.
Saya blinked.
—How did you know?
Lyra pointed toward her daggers.
—Instinct.
Saya smiled.
—I like her.
Evelyn raised her bow.
—Who is she?
Leonhardt answered.
—Her name is Lyra.
Victoria looked at Lyra.
—And she's connected to the temple.
Lyra nodded.
—Correct.
Victoria's expression became suspicious.
—Can we trust you?
Lyra smiled.
—No.
Everyone froze.
Saya blinked.
—At least she's honest.
The creatures attacked.
The conversation ended.
The battle began.
Evelyn fired enchanted arrows.
Saya disappeared into the shadows.
Victoria moved with perfect swordsmanship.
Leonhardt fought at the center.
Lyra stood behind them.
Her staff glowed.
Then…
A massive wave of magic exploded.
The entire battlefield froze.
The creatures stopped moving.
Leonhardt stared.
Lyra lowered her staff.
—Now.
Leonhardt understood.
He charged.
His sword moved.
One.
Two.
Three.
Ten.
Twenty.
The creatures fell.
The remaining guardians tried to retreat.
Lyra raised her staff again.
—Don't let them escape.
The temple's walls glowed.
Chains of golden energy emerged.
The creatures were captured.
Leonhardt stared at Lyra.
—What kind of magic was that?
Lyra smiled.
—The kind you can't see.
Leonhardt activated his Eye.
This time…
He saw it.
The energy.
It wasn't magic.
It was destiny itself.
Leonhardt's eyes widened.
—You manipulate fate.
Lyra's smile disappeared.
—No.
She looked at him.
—The temple does.
Silence.
Then…
The four statues began to glow.
The entire chamber trembled.
A voice echoed throughout the temple.
"The paths have gathered."
Leonhardt looked around.
"The Eye has found its bearer."
Lyra stepped backward.
Her expression changed.
For the first time…
She looked afraid.
"The Trial of Destiny shall begin."
The four statues opened their eyes.
The chamber transformed.
Four enormous doors appeared.
One for each path.
Strength.
Knowledge.
Precision.
Instinct.
Leonhardt stared at them.
—What is this?
Lyra whispered.
—The first trial.
Leonhardt looked at his companions.
—Then we do it together.
The temple responded.
"Incorrect."
Leonhardt froze.
The four doors opened.
"Each path must be walked alone."
Saya's expression changed.
—You're kidding.
The floor beneath them began to glow.
Leonhardt looked at his companions.
—Everyone…
The temple separated them.
Saya disappeared.
Evelyn disappeared.
Victoria disappeared.
Lyra disappeared.
Leonhardt remained alone.
Four doors stood before him.
The Eye of Destiny burned.
Then the voice spoke.
"Choose."
Leonhardt looked at the four paths.
Strength.
Knowledge.
Precision.
Instinct.
He smiled.
—You really think I'm going to choose one?
The Eye of Destiny activated.
Leonhardt stepped forward.
—I'll take all four.
The temple went silent.
Then…
The four doors disappeared.
The entire chamber turned black.
A fifth door appeared.
One that had never existed before.
Lyra's voice echoed from somewhere far away.
—Leonhardt…
He looked at the door.
The Eye of Destiny burned brighter than ever.
—What?
Lyra's voice trembled.
—That's not a path.
Leonhardt approached.
—Then what is it?
Silence.
Then Lyra answered.
—That's the path that was erased.
Leonhardt placed his hand on the door.
The entire temple shook.
The symbol of the Eye appeared.
And for the first time…
Leonhardt saw something that even his Eye of Destiny couldn't predict.
A future where he stood alone.
His companions were gone.
The kingdom was burning.
Kael stood before him.
And behind Kael…
A figure with golden eyes.
Leonhardt pulled his hand away.
—What was that?
The door opened.
A voice whispered.
"The path of the Forgotten."
Leonhardt stared into the darkness.
Then he stepped inside.
Behind him, the door closed.
And the First Temple began its first true trial.
Status Board — Leonhardt
Name: Leonhardt
Race: Human
Level: 28
Class: Swordsman
Title: Bearer of the Eye of Destiny
Weapon: Fate's Edge
STR: 72
AGI: 81
VIT: 68
INT: 64
DEX: 79
WIS: 55
HP: 1,420 / 1,420
MP: 620 / 620
Stamina: 890 / 890
Skills
Eye of Destiny — Stage 1
Weak Point DetectionMovement PredictionEnergy Flow PerceptionFuture Possibility SightDestiny Resonance
Fate's Edge
Enhanced Cutting PowerEnergy ConductionDestiny Resonance
Swordsman Skills
Basic SwordsmanshipAdvanced SwordsmanshipPrecision SlashCounterattackPassive Abilities
Adaptive Combat
Leonhardt becomes more efficient against enemies the longer he fights them.
Destiny's Instinct
Allows Leonhardt to instinctively react to dangerous situations.
Unawakened Potential
A hidden power remains sealed within the Eye of Destiny.
Current Objective
Complete the First Temple Trial.
Unknown
The Fifth Path — The Path of the Forgotten.
Status Board — Lyra
Name: Lyra
Race: Unknown
Level: ???
Class: Fate Weaver
Title: Guardian of the First Temple
Weapon: Astral Staff
STR: 41
AGI: 76
VIT: 53
INT: 98
DEX: 82
WIS: 100
HP: ???
MP: ???
Stamina: ???
Skills
Fate Manipulation
Allows Lyra to influence the flow of energy within the First Temple.
Destiny Sight
Allows Lyra to perceive certain possibilities that exist beyond normal perception.
Temple Authority
Grants Lyra control over certain mechanisms and defensive systems within the First Temple.
Astral Binding
Creates chains of energy capable of restraining powerful enemies.
Four Paths
Lyra possesses knowledge of the four ancient paths: Strength, Knowledge, Precision, and Instinct.
Passive Abilities
Temple Guardian
Lyra's abilities increase dramatically while inside the First Temple.
Unknown Origin
Lyra's true race and origins remain unknown.
Golden Eyes
Lyra possesses eyes similar to Leonhardt's Eye of Destiny.
???
A hidden ability that Lyra refuses to reveal.
Current Objective
Protect the First Temple.
Unknown
Lyra's connection to Leonhardt and the true origin of her Golden Eyes.