Adrian's hands still trembled slightly from the corrupted shard trial. The memory of its violent pulses—the way it almost seemed to probe his fear—lingered in his mind. But the Heart's steady hum reassured him, reminding him of what he had learned: force would only destroy, understanding would guide.
The chamber before him was vast. Hundreds of shards formed a lattice that stretched like a spiderweb across the floor and walls, each one pulsing in its own rhythm. Sparks of energy leapt between them, and shadows danced across the walls. The corrupted shard from yesterday flickered faintly among them—a silent reminder of what could go wrong.
Kael's voice echoed softly from behind him. "Remember, Adrian. One shard you tamed alone. Now, all of them are linked. The challenge isn't speed. It's harmony. Let the Heart guide your movements."
The Plume hovered above, wings stretched wide, eyes glowing gold. It didn't shriek or attack—just observed, a silent guardian, almost expecting him to fail. Adrian drew a deep breath, recalling the trembling tendrils of the corrupted shard. Steady… anticipate, don't react… harmonize.
He stepped forward, letting the Heart pulse in rhythm with his own heartbeat. Light flared as his presence synchronized with the nearest shard. Energy surged, then settled, and Adrian felt a connection forming, a delicate network of trust rather than domination.
As he moved from shard to shard, flashes of the corrupted shard's behavior surfaced in his mind. He adjusted, recalling how he had let calm guide him yesterday. Sparks that could have ripped through him now swirled harmlessly around his hands, bending to his will without harm.
Minutes stretched like hours. The lattice pulsed faster, testing him with sudden surges and shifts. One shard flared aggressively, a stark black vein running through it—Adrian froze for a heartbeat, then smiled faintly. I know you now. He mirrored its rhythm with the Heart, and it fell into sync.
The Plume tilted its head, letting out a soft, almost approving whistle. Adrian's steps became surer, each movement deliberate, flowing with the lattice rather than against it. He felt the energy of all the shards merging through him, and the Heart's glow intensified, blinding in its brilliance for a brief moment.
Finally, he reached the central shard, a massive crystalline structure at the core of the network. Placing the Heart against it, he felt the surge of all shards flowing into one harmonious pulse. The chamber trembled, light cascading over every surface in waves. The corrupted shard from yesterday shimmered peacefully among the others, its darkness neutralized, integrated into the web.
Kael stepped forward, his expression a mix of awe and pride. "You've done it, Adrian. Not through strength… but understanding. The web responds to you now."
Adrian exhaled, his body trembling from exertion, a mixture of relief and exhilaration washing over him. The Plume hovered silently, eyes locked on him, wings slowly folding in what felt like acknowledgment, even respect.
For the first time, Adrian realized the true lesson of the shard web: mastery wasn't domination; it was harmony, patience, and trust. And now, with the Heart in hand and the lattice aligned, he was ready to leave the tunnels—and to step into the wider world, carrying the knowledge and materials that would shape his future.