The glow ahead solidified into the looming gates of the High Sanctum. Massive stone arches, carved with intricate runes older than any living memory, towered above them. Mist swirled around the base, thick as a living entity, whispering unintelligible words that made Aeloria's skin prickle.
The vampire approached first, hand on the gate's runes. He muttered something in an ancient tongue, and the stones responded—glowing faintly before sliding apart, revealing a path of polished obsidian that stretched into the mist.
Aeloria's breath caught. "It… it's alive."
The dragon chuckled softly. "Not alive. Ancient. Older than even the oldest dragon in Zephyrion. And just as unforgiving."
The Beastborn growled low, muscles tensing. "Don't let its silence fool you. Every shadow, every corridor, every stone here watches. Tests, traps… this place doesn't forgive weakness."
Aeloria swallowed. "Tests?"
The vampire's crimson eyes fixed on hers. "Yes. The High Sanctum does not simply protect. It evaluates, instructs, and demands allegiance. It will teach you control, but first… it will ask you to prove yourself."
The dragon stepped beside her, heat radiating in waves, golden tattoos glowing brighter with every pulse of her heartbeat. "And you will learn quickly that control is survival. One misstep, one misfire of your magic… and it could cost you everything."
Aeloria's chest tightened, the weight of the prophecy, the Mark, and the coming trials pressing down on her. "I… I don't even know where to start."
"Start with your senses," the Beastborn said, voice like gravel. He crouched slightly, sniffing the obsidian path as though reading its secrets. "The Sanctum responds to perception. Every heartbeat, every thought, every breath—read it, and it may respond favorably. Ignore it, and it may… punish."
Aeloria took a trembling step forward. Her eyes darted across the shimmering path, the runes glowing faintly beneath her feet. With each step, she felt a pulse—warm, heavy, alive. The sigils on her wrist burned faintly, as though sensing the Sanctum's energy and resonating in acknowledgment.
The vampire's hand brushed her shoulder—a grounding touch. "Remember, little star. You are stronger than you know. But you will need guidance. Trust us. Trust yourself."
The dragon leaned closer, his golden gaze piercing. "And never forget—the power within you is not a toy. It is a weapon. A gift. A responsibility."
Aeloria's stomach fluttered at his words, not from fear, but from the magnetic pull she felt toward him, toward the other two, and toward the destiny the Sanctum promised.
The Beastborn rose, looming behind her. "We move now. Keep close. And be ready."
As they stepped onto the obsidian path, the gates sealed behind them with a thunderous clang. The mist thickened, forming shapes that twisted like living shadows. Whispers, soft but insistent, echoed in her mind. Prove yourself. Control your power. Survive.
Aeloria swallowed hard, gripping the cloak tighter around her. The pulse of the Mark quickened, resonating with the Sanctum, her three guardians, and the weight of destiny pressing down on her.
Ahead, a door of solid crystal appeared, etched with the intertwined symbols of vampire, dragon, and beast. The light from the sigils on her wrist flared, and the door responded—slowly opening with a hiss that echoed through the corridors beyond.
Aeloria's pulse raced. "I… I guess this is it," she whispered.
The vampire's crimson gaze softened as he looked at her. "Yes. This is where the real journey begins."
The dragon's wings shifted, casting golden light across her path. "And it will not be easy, little star. Every lesson, every challenge… will demand more than you think you can give."
The Beastborn's amber eyes met hers. "But you are not alone. Not now. Not ever."
Aeloria inhaled, heart pounding, and stepped forward into the High Sanctum.
The obsidian path swallowed them, shadows and whispers swirling around her. The air thrummed with ancient magic, testing her resolve, her senses, and her courage.
And in the deepest part of her chest, the Mark pulsed faster, as if anticipating the trials ahead.
This was only the beginning.The path to power, control, and destiny stretched before her like a living thing—wild, dangerous, and impossible to turn away from.
Aeloria Nightthorn, the Celestial Bond, had entered the Sanctum.And Veloria would never be the same.