The Otherworld's eternal twilight cast a silvery glow over Ériu's palace, bathing the spiraling staircases and crystal halls in a light that felt both timeless and fleeting. Kael followed Ériu through a winding corridor, the Gáe Bolg slung across his back, its runes pulsing softly in rhythm with the Otherworld's heartbeat. The walls here were woven from living ivy, their leaves shimmering with dew that sparkled like tiny stars, and the air carried a faint hum, as if the palace itself were singing a lullaby to the Sidhe who dwelled within. Every step revealed new wonders—alcoves filled with glowing orbs that whispered ancient poetry, tapestries that shifted to depict battles and feasts, and small, luminescent fish swimming through streams of liquid light that flowed along the floor. The beauty was mesmerizing, but Kael couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, as if the Otherworld itself were testing his every move.
Ériu led the group to a grand atrium, its domed ceiling a mosaic of stained glass depicting the Tuatha Dé Danann's arrival in Ériu—fiery ships descending from the heavens, their light scattering Fomorian shadows. The floor was a polished slab of obsidian, reflecting the mosaic like a mirror, and at the center stood a circular table of white wood, its surface carved with intricate knots that glowed faintly. Around the table sat Sidhe nobles, their elegant forms draped in shimmering silks, their eyes glowing like gemstones—emerald, sapphire, amber—each gaze sharp with curiosity and judgment.
"Welcome to the Court of the Veil," Ériu said, her voice a gentle melody that filled the atrium. Her golden hair caught the light, her violet eyes warm but regal as she gestured for Kael and his harem to sit. "Here, we discuss matters of Ériu's fate—and your role in it, spear-bearer."
Kael took a seat, the white wood cool beneath him, and glanced at his companions. Morrígan sat to his right, her cloak swirling with crow imagery, her crimson eyes scanning the nobles with a predator's caution. Aífe, to his left, gripped her spear under the table, her blue eyes narrowed as she sized up the Sidhe, her warrior instincts on edge. Brigid, beside Aífe, seemed more at ease, her fiery red hair glowing softly in the atrium's light, her green eyes filled with quiet wonder as she traced the table's carvings with a gentle finger.
"This place is… a lot," Kael said, his voice low as he leaned toward Morrígan. "I feel like I'm in a fantasy courtroom, waiting for someone to yell 'objection!'"
Morrígan's lips twitched, a rare hint of amusement in her crimson eyes. "The Sidhe do love their theatrics," she whispered back. "But their words are as sharp as their blades. Be wary, spear-bearer."
A Sidhe noble with amber eyes spoke, his voice smooth as silk but edged with disdain. "So, this is the mortal who bears Lugh's power," he said, his gaze raking over Kael. "A boy in strange garments, playing at being a hero. Why should we trust Ériu's fate to him?"
Kael bristled, but Ériu's hand on his arm steadied him, her touch a spark of warmth that calmed his rising temper. "Lord Faelar," she said, her tone firm but diplomatic, "Kael Lughson has proven himself. He blinded Balor's eye, passed the Trial of Echoes, and seen through the Veil. He is the spear-bearer of prophecy."
Faelar's amber eyes narrowed, but he leaned back, silenced for now. Kael exhaled, grateful for Ériu's support, and felt a surge of determination. "I'm not here to play hero," he said, his voice steady as he met Faelar's gaze. "I'm here to fight for Ériu—because it's the right thing to do. If you've got a problem with that, take it up with my spear."
Aífe smirked, her blue eyes glinting with approval. "That's the spirit," she muttered, her hand brushing his under the table, a subtle gesture of support that sent a warmth through him.
Before the tension could escalate, Ériu rose, her gown rippling like a river. "Enough," she said, her voice commanding the room's attention. "The spear-bearer's worth is not for us to debate—it is for the Otherworld to judge. The next trial awaits: the Trial of the Hollow."
She waved a hand, and the atrium's floor shimmered, the obsidian parting like water to reveal a spiraling staircase descending into darkness. The air grew colder, a faint whisper echoing from below, and Kael felt the Gáe Bolg's runes flare as if sensing a threat. "The Hollow is a place of emptiness," Ériu said, her violet eyes grave. "It strips away all but your truest self, forcing you to face the void within. Lead your companions through it, Kael Lughson, and prove your leadership—and your heart."
Kael stood, his jaw set, and glanced at his harem. "You heard the lady," he said, trying to keep his tone light despite the unease creeping up his spine. "Another day, another creepy test. Let's go."
Morrígan's crows cawed softly, her expression unreadable but her crimson eyes steady. "The Hollow will test more than your strength," she said. "It will test your resolve. Do not falter, spear-bearer."
Aífe gripped her spear, her smirk fierce. "I've faced worse than a dark hole," she said. "Let's get this over with."
Brigid's hands glowed with healing light, her green eyes filled with quiet determination. "We'll face it together, Kael," she said, her voice a soothing anchor. "You're not alone."
They descended the staircase, the darkness swallowing the atrium's light, the air growing heavier with each step. The walls of the Hollow were smooth stone, etched with faint runes that glowed a sickly green, their light casting eerie shadows that seemed to move on their own. The whispers grew louder, a cacophony of voices that tugged at Kael's mind—doubts, fears, memories of his old life. You're not enough, they hissed. You'll lead them to ruin.
Kael's grip on the Gáe Bolg tightened, the spear's runes a steady blue against the green glow, and he forced the voices down, focusing on the path ahead. The staircase ended in a vast cavern, its ceiling lost in shadow, its floor a cracked expanse of stone that seemed to absorb light. At the center stood a pedestal, and on it rested a black orb, its surface swirling with inky darkness that seemed to pull at Kael's very soul.
"The Heart of the Hollow," Ériu said, her voice echoing through the cavern. She had followed them, her presence a faint light in the darkness, but her tone was grave. "Touch it, Kael, and face the void within yourself. Lead your companions through what you see—or be consumed by it."
Kael approached the pedestal, his heart pounding, and reached for the orb. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, the cavern vanished, replaced by a void of endless black. He floated, weightless, the Gáe Bolg still in his hand, but his harem was gone, their voices silenced. The whispers returned, louder now, and a figure emerged from the darkness—a mirror of Kael, but hollow, his green eyes empty, his body a shadow.
"You can't lead them," the shadow-Kael said, its voice a hollow echo. "You're a fraud, a boy pretending to be a hero. They'll die because of you."
Kael's chest tightened, the shadow's words striking at his deepest fears. He saw flashes of his harem—Morrígan's crows falling, Aífe's spear broken, Brigid's light extinguished, Ériu's landscapes burning. The void pressed in, threatening to swallow him, but he clenched his jaw, his grip on the Gáe Bolg steadying him. "I'm not perfect," he said, his voice trembling but firm. "But I'm here, and I'll fight for them. That's what makes me their leader—not some prophecy, not Lugh's power. Me."
The shadow-Kael lunged, its form shifting into a mass of writhing shadows, but Kael was ready. He thrust the Gáe Bolg, its curse erupting in thorny light that pierced the darkness, shattering the shadow into fragments. The void dissolved, and Kael found himself back in the cavern, his harem around him, their faces filled with concern.
"Kael!" Brigid rushed to him, her hands glowing as she checked him for wounds, her green eyes wide with worry. "Are you alright?"
Aífe's hand was on his shoulder, her blue eyes fierce but soft. "You looked like you were fighting a ghost," she said. "What did you see?"
Kael exhaled, his body trembling but his resolve stronger than ever. "Myself," he said, his voice steady now. "The worst version of myself. But I beat it—because of you guys."
Ériu's smile was radiant, her violet eyes filled with pride. "You have passed the Trial of the Hollow," she said. "You faced the void within and emerged whole. Your leadership is true, Kael Lughson."
The cavern shimmered, the darkness lifting, and Kael felt a new strength within him—a clarity of purpose, a deeper trust in his harem. But Ériu's next words sent a chill through him. "The Unnamed grows stronger," she said. "We must prepare for the next trial—one that will test your unity as a group."