Kelvin and the group stepped cautiously into the cave, the oppressive barrier now gone. The air was damp and cold, carrying a faint metallic tang that clung to their senses. Shadows danced across the jagged walls, their torchlight flickering in a way that made the cave seem alive, breathing with unseen menace.

Kelvin slowed as his eyes caught a faint shimmer along the cave’s edge—a mirror. Its frame was crude, forged from twisted black iron, and its surface gleamed unnaturally, reflecting their torchlight like rippling liquid silver.

“What is it?” Mica asked, halting just behind him.

“It’s just a mirror,” Kelvin replied, his voice low. Yet, as he gazed into its surface, something made him pause. His reflection showed an arrow embedded in his side, the wound vivid and dripping with blood. His hand moved instinctively to the spot, but his tunic was dry, unbroken.

“Mica,” Kelvin called, his voice tight with unease. “Do you see anything?” He gestured toward the mirror.

Mica frowned, glancing at the glass and back at Kelvin. “No. Everything seems fine. Are you okay?”

Kelvin rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the strange sensation. “Yeah… must be seeing things.” He turned away from the mirror, but the unease lingered, clawing at the back of his mind like a warning he couldn’t shake.

The next step came with a loud click.

Kelvin barely had time to react before an arrow shot out from the shadows, striking him in the side—the exact spot shown in the mirror. A searing pain tore through his body, and he stumbled backward, clutching at the wound. His breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps as blood began to seep through his fingers, staining his tunic dark red.

“Kelvin!” Mica shouted, rushing to his side. His hands moved quickly, steady despite the panic in his eyes, gripping the arrow’s shaft. “This is going to hurt,” he warned before breaking it at it’s tip.

Kelvin let out a sharp cry, his body jerking. Mica tore a strip of cloth from his sleeve to bind it, his movements urgent but careful.

Wallace glanced around, his wand at the ready. “Should we go back to Edwin? He’d know what to do.”

Kelvin shook his head, his face pale but his voice resolute. “We can’t go back now,” he gasped through the pain. “We need to push forward.”

Wallace frowned, his ears twitching with doubt. “I can teleport us out of here, Kelvin. You don’t have to do this.”

Mica glanced up from his makeshift tourniquet, his expression firm. “Not yet. We can’t give up now.” His hands tightened the cloth around Kelvin’s wound, his determination matching Kelvin’s. “You’ve come too far to stop here.”

Wallace hesitated, his eyes flicking between the bloodstained cloth and Mica’s determined face. “This is your future husband we’re talking about,” he muttered, his tone tinged with both concern and frustration.

Kelvin grunted, his jaw clenched as he fought through the pain. “I know,” he said softly, his voice barely audible but steady. He met Mica’s gaze, and in that shared moment, a silent understanding passed between them. Fear wouldn’t dictate their fate—not today.

Wallace sighed, finally nodding. “Alright, we keep going,” he said, though his uncertainty was plain. He raised his wand, scanning the dim corridor ahead for further threats. “But if you so much as stumble, I’m teleporting us out. No arguments.”

As they pressed deeper into the cave, the air grew heavier, the shadows darker. The floor became treacherous, lined with concealed traps and hidden pitfalls. Every step required vigilance, every decision weighed carefully. Yet, despite the mounting dangers, the group remained focused, their resolve unshaken as they moved toward their unknown destination.

The group trudged forward, their movements slow and deliberate. The cave's walls seemed to close in the deeper they ventured, the air growing colder with each step. The faint echoes of dripping water only heightened the eerie silence.

Kelvin grimaced, the pain in his side sharp with every breath. Mica stayed close, his eyes darting nervously to Kelvin’s wound. Wallace lingered a few paces behind, his wand glowing faintly in his hand, ready to cast at a moment’s notice.

“Keep an eye on the ground,” Kai said, his tone low and commanding. He pointed to a barely visible pressure plate embedded in the rocky floor. “If that trap was any indication, this place is littered with them.”

“Great,” Wallace muttered. “As if this place didn’t already feel like a death trap.”

“Quiet,” Mica hissed, his ears twitching as he scanned their surroundings. “We need to listen for any movement. There might be more than just traps in here.”

Kelvin pushed through the pain, his voice strained but steady. “The mirror showed me the arrow. It wasn’t just a reflection—it was a warning.”

Mica frowned. “Do you think it’s trying to help us? Or is it part of the traps?”

Kelvin shook his head. “I don’t know. But whatever it is, we can’t ignore it. If we see anything else like that, we pay attention.”

The tunnel ahead widened into a cavernous chamber, the space lit by faintly glowing crystals embedded in the walls. The light cast long shadows, and the air seemed to hum with an unearthly energy.

At the center of the chamber stood a massive stone pedestal. Atop it was a statue of a Thornclad warrior, their hands gripping a long spear that pointed toward the entrance. The statue’s eyes, carved from the same crystals, seemed to glint with malice as the group approached.

“What is this?” Wallace asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kelvin stepped closer, studying the pedestal. “It looks like some kind of altar.”

Mica’s eyes narrowed. “And probably another trap.”

As if to confirm his words, a low rumble echoed through the chamber. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the statue’s eyes began to glow brighter. The spear it held shifted, moving slowly but deliberately as it aimed directly at Kelvin.

“Move!” Kai shouted, shoving Kelvin aside just as the spear fired a bolt of energy. It struck the ground where Kelvin had stood, leaving a scorched crater in the stone.

The group scattered, taking cover behind the jagged rocks that lined the chamber. The statue rotated, its spear charging for another attack.

“Wallace, can you stop it?” Mica shouted, his voice strained.

Wallace peeked out from behind his cover, his wand glowing brightly as he muttered an incantation. A barrier of shimmering light formed in front of the group just as the spear fired again, the energy bolt shattering harmlessly against the shield.

“I can’t hold this forever!” Wallace yelled, his voice tight with concentration. “We need to disable it!”

Kelvin pushed himself to his feet, gritting his teeth against the pain. His gaze locked onto the pedestal, noticing faint carvings etched into its surface. “There’s something on the base! It might be the mechanism controlling it!”

“I’ll cover you!” Kai growled, his claws flexing as he darted out of cover, drawing the statue’s attention. The spear shifted toward him, and he weaved between the blasts, his movements a blur of speed and precision.

Kelvin nodded, ignoring the burning pain in his side as he rushed toward the pedestal. Mica followed close behind, his hands ready to pull Kelvin back if another trap was triggered.

As they reached the base, Kelvin’s eyes scanned the carvings. Strange symbols spiraled across the stone, glowing faintly with the same energy as the crystals. His hand hovered over them, hesitating.

“What if it’s another trap?” Mica asked, his voice trembling.

Kelvin met his gaze, determination burning in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. We have to try.”

Before Mica could respond, Kelvin pressed his hand against the symbols. The glow intensified, and the ground shook violently. The statue froze mid-motion, its glowing eyes dimming as the energy drained from the spear.

For a moment, silence filled the chamber. The group stood still, holding their breath as the tremors subsided. Then, with a loud crack, the pedestal split in two, and the statue crumbled into rubble.

Kelvin collapsed to his knees, clutching his wounded side. Mica was at his side in an instant, supporting him as he struggled to stay upright.

“You did it,” Mica said softly, relief washing over his features.

Kelvin managed a faint smile, his breathing labored. “One step closer,” he murmured.

Wallace and Kai approached, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern. Wallace glanced at the broken pedestal, shaking his head. “Let’s hope that’s the last of the traps. I don’t think we can take another surprise.”

Kai snorted. “Don’t count on it. We’ve barely scratched the surface of this place.”

As the group regrouped, the eerie glow of the crystals dimmed, leaving them in near darkness. The path ahead stretched deeper into the cave, its secrets still shrouded in shadow. But despite the dangers they faced, their resolve remained unshaken.

Kelvin pushed himself to his feet, leaning heavily on Mica. “Let’s keep moving,” he said, his voice steady despite the pain. “We’re not turning back now.”

Kelvin turned to Wallace, his face pale and etched with pain, but his voice steady. “You know the Thornclads more than we do. What’s the meaning of this?” He gestured toward the shattered pedestal and the lingering glow of the crystals embedded in the cave walls.

Wallace stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the remains of the statue and the intricate carvings on the pedestal. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, his tone somber. “The Thornclads… they’re not like us. They’re beings of magic, forged from energy as much as flesh and blood. You can’t hurt or damage them in the ways you’d expect.”

Mica frowned, his ears twitching uneasily. “So, what? Are you saying they’re invincible?”

Wallace shook his head. “Not invincible, but they don’t die easily. Their magic sustains them, makes them resilient to almost anything physical. If this statue was tied to their magic, it wasn’t just a trap—it was a test.”

“A test?” Kai’s voice was sharp, his claws still flexed, ready for a fight. “What kind of test involves shooting arrows and blasting people with magic?”

Wallace’s expression darkened. “A test of strength. Of will. Thornclads respect power above all else. They’re not just warriors; they’re survivors. Everything they do is designed to weed out the weak.”

Kelvin glanced at the rubble, then at the faint carvings still glowing on the broken pedestal. “So, what does that mean for us? Are we being judged?”

Wallace nodded gravely. “Most likely. The traps, the mirror, even the arrow—it’s all part of their way of determining if we’re worthy of… whatever lies deeper in this cave.”

Mica crossed his arms, his gaze flicking between Kelvin and Wallace. “And if we fail?”

Wallace’s ears flattened slightly, and he looked away. “Then we die. Or worse.”

Silence fell over the group as the weight of Wallace’s words sank in. The oppressive air of the cave seemed to grow heavier, the faint glow of the crystals casting long, ominous shadows on the walls.

Kai broke the silence, his voice low but firm. “If this is their idea of a test, then we’ll beat it. Together.”

Kelvin straightened, wincing as the movement pulled at his wound. “Wallace, if they’re testing us, there has to be a way to pass. You’ve studied their magic—what do we need to do?”

Wallace hesitated, his eyes scanning the cavern as he pieced together the puzzle. “Thornclads value not just strength, but adaptability and resilience. They respect those who can think on their feet, who can face impossible odds and still find a way forward. If we’re going to survive this, we have to be smart, not just strong.”

Kelvin nodded, his gaze steady despite the pain etched on his face. “Then let’s move. If this is a test, we’re not failing.”

The group exchanged determined glances before pressing forward, the darkness of the cave swallowing them as they ventured deeper into its treacherous depths. The air grew colder, the silence more oppressive, as the shadows seemed to close in around them.

As the group steeled themselves to continue, a sudden hum filled the air, a ripple of energy crackling through the cavern. A glowing portal, shimmering with hues of blue and silver, materialized before them. Startled, the group instinctively reached for their weapons.

From the portal stepped a familiar figure. Iris, her presence radiant and serene, stood before them. Her expression was calm but determined, and she carried herself with an unshakable confidence.

“Iris?” Kelvin asked, his voice laced with both relief and confusion. “What are you doing here?”

Iris took a step forward, her gaze sweeping over the group before settling on Kelvin. “I know you helped my husband, William, when no one else would,” she said, her voice steady but warm. “You gave him the strength to face Draco and stand up for the truth. I can never repay you for that, but I can help you now.”

Wallace’s ears twitched, his brow furrowing. “Help us? How?”

Iris smiled faintly, raising a hand. A soft, golden light shimmered around her, illuminating the dim cavern. “I won’t be harmed by arrows or magic. Whatever traps this cave holds, they can’t touch me. It’s the least I can do after what you’ve done for William.”
