Darkness and evil approaches, Tremia is on the brink of being cloaked by a sinister darkness that carries horrible suffering and pain under its shadow of death. Yuzumi, the Dark Lady, Empress of the continent of Toyomi, is trying with all her might to avoid the fateful destiny that awaits her. She will kill the Marked and everyone that helps him, she will conquer the world, she will rule it all, nothing will stop her, her wishes will come true. To achieve it she will unleash abysmal pain and death until her desires are fulfilled.

The inconceivable has happened. War is upon Tremia. The three great kingdoms, the main military powers of the great continent, are at war. Destruction, bloodshed and horror of devastating proportions are underway, bringing death and suffering to thousands of innocents. Rogdon has been attacked without warning from two fronts simultaneously. The Norghanians have attacked the Fortress of the Half Moon on the Eastern frontier, and the Noceans are besieging the city of Silanda in the south of Rogdonian territory. The Rogdonians, the lords of the west, find themselves in a desperate situation, with two invading armies trying to invade their lands and take Rogdon by steel and arcane magic.

In Ocorum, Komir suffers an ambush he barely survives, thanks once again to his Gift and the power of the Medallion of Ether he found at the Temple of the Ilenian King. He finally recognizes he has been a fool not to acknowledge his Gift, that he is indeed different, that he is Marked. With this realization, which will change him forever, he tries to create magic with the help of the Medallion. And he succeeds. He shares it with Hartz, and discovers that his best friend is in love with Kayti, whom Komir does not trust. They go after Lotas, the man responsible for the ambushes, and once they capture him they find out who it is who has put a price on their heads: Guzmik. The group enters Guzmik’s palace and fight his guards, himself and his acolytes. Guzmik almost kills them all, but Hartz ends his life. Lindaro is badly wounded, and Komir discovers Kayti has been withholding information from them. An ugly confrontation with the redhead almost breaks the friendship between the two Norriel.

Later Amtoko warns Komir that the time has arrived, he has to follow his destiny. Komir’s doubts disappear when the Silver Witch assures him that if he does not follow his destiny thousands of people will die, that a red tide of blood will flood the whole continent of Tremia, and a devastating darkness will lie on the land for a hundred years. Pain and suffering, unparalleled death and destruction await if he refuses his call. The Norriel tribes will not survive. This is the terrible fate Komir must prevent, the fate against which he must fight relentlessly. Following Amtoko’s advice they travel south to meet his destiny. Komir, Hartz and Kayti arrive in Silanda as mercenaries. There they fight against the Nocean army that has besieged the city. Together with Mirkos the Erudite, the great Rogdonian Battle Mage, they confront the powerful and cunning Shamans of the Blood and Curse magic of the Noceans. When the first wall falls under the Nocean army and they are forced to retreat, they leave the city against the wishes of Mirkos, who wants the medallion of Ether and its power for himself.

On the Masig steppes, Iruki and Yakumo the Assassin hide in the Fountain of Life from Lasgol the Tracker and the Norghanian soldiers who are accompanying him. In order to escape they enter the Cave of No Return, a cursed place for the Masig people that turns out to be the Ilenian Temple of Water. There they have to survive deadly traps and their Norghanian pursuers. While doing so, the wild Masig and the repentant Assassin unexpectedly find love. After defeating traps, monsters and a Guardian Mage, Iruki finds the Medallion of Water and an enchanted short sword. But Lasgol captures her, together with Yakumo, who is badly injured. The Assassin surrenders to prevent Iruki from getting hurt. They depart with the promise that one day their hearts will find each other again.

Meanwhile Aliana is captured by the Usik after surviving the river in the unfathomable forests. The Healer is taken to the Usik’s village in the clouds where she meets Asti, a fragile and introverted Usik prisoner who speaks her language. Aliana makes a mistake and is sentenced to die by the Usik Shaman. When she is about to be ripped to pieces by a gigantic bird with killer instincts, the Medallion of Earth saves her. Before she receives her punishment, with the help of Asti she escapes. In the course of their pursuit by air and land they are finally captured, but Kendas, who has never given up looking for her, finds them. Aliana, Asti and Kendas flee the forest towards Silanda.

Not too far from the city, south of Rogdon, they run into a Troll. Kendas is badly hurt trying to kill the beast. Asti manages to climb a tree and escape danger, but Aliana falls from it and the beast prepares to finish her off. But Komir arrives, together with Hartz and Kayti, and kills the beast.

And at last, two of the medallion bearers find each other.

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BOOK: Trials

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