His sledge hammer dropped to the ground as Kar held up his hands. Lore yelled and moved to rush past him, but slowed when Kar shouted at her, “Wait!”

  To them, he said, “I don’t want to fight you.”

  The Cryst-knights readied their weapons but halted and Lore settled to a stop beside Kar, breathing shakily.

  These Cryst-creatures or whatever they were, had not been the ones to attack first, Kar realized. It had been Kiya. What was really going on here? These Knights were nothing like the cryst-soldiers from the previous chamber. Their bodies seemed to be made of a similar crystal, but they bore actual armor and weapons made of that strange metal. Whereas the other cryst had been entirely crystal.

  Kar had the nagging suspicion that he was missing something-and after seeing them in action he knew he had no chance of besting them in battle. He needed to try a different approach.

  The Lancer lowered its weapon and stood straighter, “We do not wish to fight you either. But we are prepared to defend ourselves, if necessary.”

  Kar nodded slowly, his suspicions partly confirmed. He believed these Trials were intended to be a proving, or training ground; in a twisted way. The huge jump in strength from the cryst-soldiers in the first chamber to these Knights seemed completely at odds with that purpose.

  “We would like to go on to the third trial.” Kar told them, “What do we need to do, to be allowed to?”

  “You simply have to ask.” The shield-bearer grumbled.

  “What?” Lore said beside Kar.

  Kar swallowed, “May we please pass on then?”

  The two Cryst looked to one another, then turned back to Kar, “You may pass.” The Lancer answered.

  That was it? Kar looked around at his fallen comrades. Derek rose groggily to his feet, looking disoriented. Kar stepped over to him—eyeing the knights as he did—and guided Derek towards the middle of the hall, “Just take it easy, ok? Leave the Cryst-knights alone.” He tried to heal his friend, but without the rings it was ineffective.

  Kar turned back to look at Morrow and Kiya. The spear had been pulled free from the woman, and Morrow looked as if he had stabilized her. She eyed the Cryst-knights warily but stayed down on the ground. Even she didn’t want any more of that smoke.

  Aldwin had staggered to his feet, broken arm held loosely to his chest. Kiya’s men were stirring as well, groaning in pain where they lay scattered about the hall.

  “So do I- just walk down there or what?” Kar asked the Lancer, gesturing toward the end of the hall.

  “If you have been Marked by the Source, you may open any doors you wish.”

  Marked by the Source?

  Kar headed towards the exit door, then paused and turned back to the two Cryst Knights, “Do you have names?” He asked.

  The Lancer hesitated. It was strange talking to them. With no facial expressions Kar was left to guess what they felt or thought, if they even did feel anything. What were they exactly?

  “I was a man with a name, long ago,” the slender one said distantly, “I was Erio. This,” it—or he—said while gesturing towards its stouter companion, “was Tharn.”

  “Erio. And Tharn.” Kar said, committing their names to memory, “I’m sorry we attacked you.”

  Erio bowed his head ever so slightly, “Our presence was meant to test you. To see what assumptions you would make. It seems a simple lesson, yet it is one of utmost importance.”

  Kar bowed awkwardly back toward the Cryst-knight. “Well, thanks, for the lesson. And for not killing us.”

  It chilled Kar to acknowledge that if they had wished to, these Cryst would have easily.

  The Knights stepped aside then, while Morrow and Kar tended to the injured and helped them move towards the exit. Kar activated the door there, and it rolled aside to reveal another basin like had been in the first Trial chamber. This one however did not stand empty; it was full of glowing, swirling, Energia.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Kar waved Morrow over, “Try using this to heal everyone; it's really potent.” Morrow shuffled over, fascinated despite his obviously frayed nerves. Kar grabbed Aldwin and walked him over to Morrow. The injured man kept glancing over his shoulder toward the Cryst-knights, his shoulders taut.

  “Hold still a moment,” Morrow mumbled, placing a hand on Aldwin and lowering his other into the basin’s contents. Kar waited in anticipation, but nothing happened.

  “I cannot draw on it.” Morrow said finally, “I can see it with my eyes, but I can’t sense or feel it.”

  Kar met the bespectacled man’s stare uneasily, then stepped up himself and took hold of Aldwin. He placed a hand into the swirling pool.

  He was transported, his physical sight fading away, replaced by a vision of… somewhere else. A void with no walls or ceiling, the floor beneath his figurative feet an ocean of gently, swirling, lights.

  THIS GIFT IS MEANT FOR YOU KAR, SO THAT YOU MAY GROW STRONGER. DO YOU INTEND TO KEEP SHARING IT WITH OTHERS SO FREELY?

  Kar struggled against the disorientation he felt, to grasp what the voice was telling him, “I want to heal my friends, if I am able.”

  THAT IS NOBLE. BUT NOT WISE.

  Kar felt a flash of indignation. Was it really suggesting he just leave them to suffer? Like Hells he would.

  “Is it my power to use or not?”

  The voice was silent for a moment,

  YOU MAY USE IT AS YOU DEEM FIT

  “Then I will use it on my friends. However much it takes.”

  AS YOU WISH. BUT HEED THIS WARNING. ALL THE ESSENCE I CAN GIVE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT IS TO COME. TO USE IT ON OTHERS IS TO DEPRIVE YOURSELF. AND IF YOU FAIL, THIS WILL BE THE END. I HAVE MARKED NO ONE ELSE.

  Kar angrily pushed away at the presence that filled his mind and it departed. His sight returned, and he felt his feet on solid ground once more. He breathed in and out and tasted the stale air of this ancient hall.

  Kar Focused, and pulled resolutely on the ethereal essence within the basin. He was getting tired of voices in his head. Cryptic messages he didn’t understand. Forces and beings beyond his control. But there was one thing right now that was in his control. And that was the power in this basin. And he would use it to help his friends.

  Aldwin gasped and shone brightly. The scrapes and cuts on his forehead sealed shut, and his shattered arm crackled and creaked as it straightened of its own accord and became firm. Aldwin flexed his fist and rotated his arm in wonder, “It feels fine.” He said softly.

  Kar was somewhat surprised that it had worked at all. Whatever this essence was, he was not restrained when using it like when he tried to Focus with regular Energia from a Shard. That was bewildering.

  Morrow looked on, wide-eyed, “His skin. Where it's been healed. It’s crystallized.” he whispered.

  “It’s better is what it is.” Aldwin said, clapping Kar on the back, “Thank you.”

  Kar nodded wearily, then looked for who needed to be healed next. Lore brought Kiya forward, and Kar had to resist the urge to shove her away. Kiya stared defiantly at him in spite of everything. Insufferable woman. Lore’s eyes pleaded silently with him, however.

  Kar healed Kiya begrudgingly. She shuddered, then quivered as the light faded from her body, “Here,” she said gruffly, reaching into a shirt pocket and grabbing something, “take this back.” She pulled one of Kar’s rings out and handed it to him. Kar’s hand trembled as he took it, then slid it onto his middle right finger. He furrowed his eyebrows at her in confusion.

  “I don’t know what’s going on here,” she grumbled, “but we need you at full strength if we’re going to get out.”

  Kar found himself relieved, but troubled. This is a crutch, he realized, looking down at the ring. One he needed. For now.

  He finished healing the others one after the other. By the time he was done they all had at least some area of skin that glinted like crystal in the light. That was somewhat concerning, but no one addressed it so Kar left it alone for now. The basin’s contents were nearly gone he realized. Kar concentrated, then absorbed what was left into himself. He didn’t blackout this time, but did shudder as it surged through and suffused him. It was invigorating. He immediately felt stronger, more solid. What was it doing to him?

  They retrieved their packs and other items and prepared to press on to the next chamber. Standing there—hand raised to activate the exit door—Kar felt a nagging urge to look back at the two Knights. They stood at attention in the middle of the hall between two pillars. Observing the party as they prepared to leave. Something about them continued to bug Kar, “Just, wait here a moment.” He told the others, then walked back towards Erio and Tharn, his feet clicking on the stone tiles.

  “Is there a way to lower that ramp we came in on so we can leave?”

  “There is not. You are committed now, and must see the Trials of this Vault to their end.”

  Kar nodded, he had suspected as much. “You said you used to have names. That you were-men?”

  Erio leaned onto its lance casually, “Yes, we were once like you and your companions. Human.”

  Kar blinked rapidly.

  “We could not clear the Trials,” Erio continued, “but the Source thought us worthy of remembrance. So we have served as its Watchers ever since, in these, new forms.”

  “How long…” Kar started to say.

  Tharn made a strange, chuckling sound, “We are permitted to rest, when the Vault is sealed. But only the Source could tell you how long that’s been.”

  Kar nodded. He had more questions now than before he’d walked over here, “So do you two have to stay in this chamber or what?”

  The two knights glanced towards one another, then Erio spoke, “We are permitted to guide and advise those who think to ask.”

  Kar felt a surge of excitement, then asked, “Will you help us, then?”