The morning air at the base of the Shattered Peaks was crisp and thin, carrying the faint scent of frost and magic. The jagged cliffs loomed above the group, streaked with veins of glowing crystal that pulsed faintly in rhythm with Eiji's medallion.
Eiji adjusted his pack, staring up at the peaks. "You know, I've seen mountains in my old world. They didn't hum like they wanted to kill me."
Lyra laughed quietly. "Maybe they were just less dramatic."
Kael tightened his cloak. "Focus. The climb begins now. The paths will test both body and spirit."
Selene nodded. "The legends say the peaks were formed when the second moon shattered. The residual magic still lingers. It may distort perception and twist reality."
Eiji blinked. "Twist reality? That's… not encouraging."
Pyra hovered above, flickering impatiently. "Move. The longer you talk, the stronger the winds get."
They began their ascent along a narrow trail carved into the mountain's face. The wind howled, carrying whispers that made the rocks seem alive. The medallion at Eiji's chest glowed softly, guiding them around unstable sections of the path.
Hours passed. The air thinned, the temperature dropped, and every step grew heavier. Eiji's muscles ached, but the steady pulse of the medallion kept him going.
Halfway up, the terrain shifted. The cliffs widened into a plateau scattered with ancient stone carvings—runes of the old world, their meanings lost to time.
Selene examined one. "These were made by the first Oracles. They marked the trials of ascension—tests of endurance, clarity, and will."
Eiji sighed. "So basically: climb until your legs fall off, solve impossible riddles, and don't die. Great."
Lyra knelt beside a rune, tracing the symbols. "This one's glowing faintly. Maybe it's reacting to your medallion?"
As if on cue, the medallion pulsed, and the runes flared with light. A deep rumble echoed through the plateau.
Kael drew his sword. "Get ready. It's activating something."
The ground trembled, and pillars of light burst from the stone circle around them. The light twisted and solidified into translucent figures—guardians of the peaks, ancient protectors forged from magic itself.
Eiji stepped back. "You've got to be kidding me. The mountain comes with its own security system?"
The first guardian raised a glowing spear. "Only the worthy may ascend. Prove your will, Oracle."
Eiji glanced at Kael. "I really wish that was a rhetorical challenge."
Kael smirked. "It never is."
The guardians charged. Kael met them head-on, his blade clashing against the energy constructs. Sparks and light filled the air. Lyra hurled potions that exploded into bursts of fire and frost, slowing the advancing figures.
Eiji felt the medallion's pulse quicken, and the memories of his past life surfaced once more. He saw flashes of another climb—another Oracle standing here, facing the same guardians and failing the same trial.
He gritted his teeth. "Not this time."
He focused the energy of the medallion, channeling it through his hands. Light spiraled outward, forming sigils in the air that connected with the ancient runes around them.
The guardians paused, their movements slowing.
Selene shouted over the roar of the wind. "He's resonating with the mountain! Keep going!"
Eiji pushed harder, every nerve in his body burning from the surge of magic. The sigils glowed brighter, syncing with the medallion's pulse. The light spread through the plateau until the entire area shimmered.
One by one, the guardians bowed their heads and dissolved into light, returning to the runes from which they came.
The plateau grew still. The medallion's glow dimmed, leaving only the soft hum of wind.
Lyra collapsed onto a rock. "You know, I thought climbing was the hard part. Turns out glowing ghosts are worse."
Eiji wiped sweat from his forehead. "That was exhausting. But… kind of incredible."
Selene smiled. "You've passed the first trial of the Peaks. The path to the seal is now open."
Kael sheathed his sword. "Then we move quickly. The Guild will sense the energy surge."
Eiji looked up at the remaining climb—towering cliffs and stormy skies ahead. "You mean after we rest, right?"
Pyra hovered beside him. "Rest if you want. I'll just float here and judge you."
Eiji sighed. "Figures. Even the fire spirit's a critic."
As they camped on the plateau that night, the medallion continued to hum softly. In the distance, lightning flashed above the mountain's peak—an omen of the trials to come.