Morannocky rolled over in his slumber and groaned, making sure his annoyance was known to whoever was shining the light upon his face so early in the morning. The light didn't cease. He turned over onto his stomach and rubbed his face against his arm, thinking it was his pillow. Unfortunately, he soon figured out that was not the case. Still, the light pressed into his eyes.

"Dad, it's Saturday…no school," Morannocky grumbled and hit his head against the cool floor. His hand fell against the marble on which he lay and groped about wearily as if searching for something. Slowly, he opened an eye when he realized he wasn't in his cozy bed. Groaning like he had arthritis, he rolled onto his back and put his hand against his forehead, gazing into the cool white light with one lazy eye. This must be another joke dad's trying to pull on me again, he thought. "Very funny dad! Haha! Now, could you please turn the light off?"

"Morannocky…" a deep, strange voice called through the light and surrounding oblivion but was not his father's voice or that of anyone he knew. Morannocky suddenly sat up, wide-eyed, and he gazed around as if in a haunted mansion. When the voice ceased to say anything else, he chuckled to himself and leaned back against his hands.

"Laugh out loud…alright dad, please stop with the joke," Morannocky snickered and slowly got to his feet. A metallic ringing suddenly reverberated through the air but was gone as soon as it had come. Its remnants echoed, causing Morannocky to gaze around with only his eyes. "Okay…this is weird…I've never been in this part of the castle before…"

He gazed around again and as he looked to the left, a gothic style door painted white and trimmed with silver and gold was inches from his face. Yelping in surprise, the thirteen-year-old jumped back from the beautiful door that had not been there moments earlier. "Come forth, Morannocky…" the strange voice called again.

Like before, the boy gazed around with simply his eyes and this time, an eyebrow rose. "Okay…good effects this time, dad…not bad," he muttered, trying to convince himself that this was only one of his father's jokes.

"Come forth," the voice repeated and with it came a slight push against Morannocky's back by an unseen force. With that, tiny beads of sweat broke out over his body and his heartbeat pulsed loudly in his ears. Maybe this wasn't a joke. Whatever it was that had just gently pushed him was not an illusion. Some strange feeling surged through his blood at the nudge. "Do not be alarmed…"

The boy walked forward slowly, his dark brown eyes glued to the strange door. He placed his hands on the handles and slowly pulled outward. Light was the first thing that embraced him and it was warm but cool in the same sense. He smiled at he stepped into it.

On the other side was only another platform of stain glass. He looked back briefly, but blinding light was the only thing that hit his eyes. Shrugging, he faced the front again. Three pedestals stood around the perfect circle of a platform, each bearing a weapon of shining metal and glittering jewel. The boy with the stature of a young stallion and appearance of a golden eagle, celadon and strong, stepped forward toward the pedestal to the right. In its marble surface was a beautiful, yet simple sword of steel, gold, and sapphires. He lifted it up in front of his face, blade closest to his nose, and then gazed up the weapon to its deadly tip. He swung it around deftly, as he had been trained to do by his father and took in the ecstasy of wielding such a beautifully melodious weapon. Every swing was filled with sweet music and a perfectly tuned ringing. Though Morannocky wished he could swing the incredible blade all day, he was too curious about the other weapons.

The second weapon, the one across from the door, was a shining shield, polished and unscathed by battle. Morannocky took it up and slid his arm through the blue dyed leather with velvet padding. The straps were embossed with swirls, dots, and jagged flames, creating a mysterious design that complemented the weapon well. The shield itself was of steel trimmed in gold and set with large sapphires in the shape of a simple circle with two smaller circle upon the top like large ears. It was beautiful, light and easy to bring up for defense. Still, he laid it down and approached the third and final weapon.

It was a staff meant obviously for the magic arts. The staff, thought short and thin, was crafted purely out of the bluest of diamond. Its head was of an orb of milky moonstone strangely coated in diamond. They boy gripped it in his hand and lifted it. A small gasp escaped his throat. The thing was practically weightless and was strangely warm. Morannocky swung it gently in short and choppy arcs. A sound like soft sleigh bells danced through the air in partner with the glittering tail of magic that trailed the moonstone orb.

"Morannocky…child of the Land of the Golden Beast…I have brought you here," that enigmatic voice came back. Morannocky set the weapon down gently and backed from its pedestal thinking that it had just spoken. "This is a test of heart, to see if you are the key…"

"The key to what?" Morannocky asked, still looking around, now hoping that the voice would materialize into something seen.

"The key to the Door to Light," the Voice answered gently. "Proceed to choose your tool to aid your journey, young one."

As if drawn like a magnet, Morannocky returned to the sword. "What is this best for?"

"A path towards victory and peace yet a path of darkness and blinding rage."

"And the other two?"

"A path of healing and protecting those whom you love but a path of sacrifice and sorrow. A path of great mystery where the hurts and harms of the darkness can be reversed but a path of darkness of insanity."

Morannocky scratched his head, ruffling his wooly black hair. The sword in his hand was sturdy and a path that he saw fit for him. Magic was definitely off the list for to indulge in its power would push him towards insanity. He held the sword up. "I choose this path…the path of the sword!"

Instantly, the sword vanished and warmth filled his chest. He smiled, deeply satisfied with his choice. "Proceed to sacrifice one path, young Warrior, for not every avenue of strength belongs to a hero."

Morannocky knew the answer immediately. He stepped over to the staff and picked it up, gazing over its creamy gem. "I sacrifice the path of magic." And so it was. The staff vanished. But, with it, the shield vanished.

"Now, Warrior, you must overcome a darkness that will soon threaten many worlds. You must now see what is to become of countless hearts."

At the Voice's words, three pitch-black creatures emerged from the shadows of the platform. Their circular eyes were glowing yellow and had no iris or pupil…just solid yellow. They're emotionless gaze made the Warrior shudder in his shoes.

"What are these?" Morannocky asked. "How do I get rid of them?"

As if on cue, the sword reappeared in his hands. A shadowy creature lunged forward in attempts to tackle him. He skillfully dodged it, raising his sword as he spun to the left. "What the heck are these things?"

"Your heart must defeat them. You chose the pathway of the Warrior and now your heart has been fused with the sword. Defeat these creatures without a heart, these shadows, as your first test."

"A little warning might have been nice!" Morannocky growled and ran towards a shadow with the sword raised high. He brought it crashing down on the shadow's head and like a candle, the creature melted away. A purplish heart suddenly floated upward and vanished. "One down…"

He launched himself at the other two and easily defeated them. His movements were fluid, but childish and retained a dance-like aura. When he was done, a small, ornate treasure chest appeared in the center of the platform. He strolled up to it and flicked the latch open with his thumb. Inside was a bottle filled with a glowing green liquid.

"That is a potion that will restore your energy should you become weary in battle," the voice explained. Morannocky grinned and tucked the potion in his pocket. When he looked up, there was a white staircase leading off into the oblivion. He stepped onto it and took each step slowly and carefully for on either side was only an abyss of black of which he did not want to fall into. The next platform bore a princess in a purple dress stain-glassed in the floor just like the other platforms. She was surrounded by beautiful roses and terrible thorns.

"Now comes your true test of heart," the voice said. "Light travels through space and time. When it shines on your face and warms your skin, it creates a cold shadow: a darkness upon the things behind you. That darkness can consume you easily."

As the voice was talking, a light emerged from the air above Morannocky's head. He smiled into it but quickly stopped when he heard a strange, washy noise behind him. He turned to find his shadow was blacker than the darkness around him. Not only that, but it was growing and was rising from the ground. "Oh my…"

The shadow continued to rise and deform until it no longer resembled the young Warrior but instead was a giant mass of twisted darkness. Just like the shadows he had faced earlier, its eyes were blank and glowing yellow. In the center of its chest, there was a giant hole in the shape of a heart.

"Defeat this darkness and proceed," the voice said. Morannocky cocked his head and bent low, the sword poised for attack or defense. The shadow kept growing until it towered fifty feet above the boy.

"What the heck?" Morannocky exclaimed as the shadow's hand came down to crash into the floor. A pool of darkness sprouted from where its hand rested. From the pool came small shadows. Morannocky decided to ignore them and he scrambled up the giant Shadow's arm. He easily balanced himself with his right foot on the creature's collar bone. He then performed a fierce flurry of blows to the monster's head, all of which were much faster than he thought he could do. The monster cried in rage and threw the boy from its shoulder, clawing at the wounds furiously to rid its pain. Morannocky managed to land basically on his feet. He stood up, taking in air lightly. The shadow staggered and clawed at the air as it fell toward the ground. Now defeated, it began melting into the platform. Its darkness spread like a flood.

Morannocky stepped back in attempt to escape it but there was no longer any white stairs as a scapegoat. He could only stand and wait for the darkness to reach his feet. When it did, the floor suddenly felt like he was standing on slurry and Morannocky began sinking. Naturally, he scrambled for the remnants of light above him, clawing in hopes to grab hold of something solid, but nothing would be there. Even more dreadful, the darkness began to grab at him like claws as if to devour him from the outside in. Zeyal screamed despite his longing not to. The darkness proved too great for his growing heart.

"Do not fear, all is well that ends well and you can overcome darkness," the voice began as Morannocky sunk lower and lower into the void. He stopped struggling for it was obviously that no help would come. When he was completely submerged, the Voice encouraged, "Go forth now and sacrifice yourself to fight for those you love, Warrior."