Fate could feel his negative emotions surfacing rapidly as if the Witch was already removing her spell. However, he somehow knew that this was a result of his own fears growing exponentially…

-She’s going to...bring back the fear...my fear! Sh*t! Test me, test me for wha…!

Suddenly, the Witch raised her staff and brought it down on Fate’s head, once more! This caused the magically plugged wellspring of fear within him to surge forth from within, allowing him to once again feel the crushing force she naturally exerted…

In but a moment, Fate was desperately attempting to cling onto something, anything within the empty void to still his shaking hands, but was denied by the vast darkness. He a massive chill run through his body, which slowly caused him to lose control of his trembling frame…

He stared helplessly as the Witch sat on her staff, floating in midair while coldly sneering at him. The Witch curtly cleared her throat and began to speak once again.

Witch of Fate: “How is it, are you able to feel your own fears crushing your mind, already?~ Regrettably, I can’t afford to spend my time playing with you, and as such, I’ll be waiting over there while I...attempt to confirm something…”

Before Fate could even attempt to argue back, he felt his fears suddenly slipping away, and though he himself didn’t realize it, his eyes regained their natural, icy-blue hue. He was, of course, confused by this, but was suddenly taken aback at the appearance of multiple islands, that appeared to be messily cobbled out of stone, that filled his vision.

These islands began to gradually float to different altitudes, forming a sort of staircase that resembled something out of a video game. This wasn’t all though, as the aura that had dyed his vision had appeared in the form of a dark-blue orb that floated behind his head…

Witch of Fate: “Now, as promised, assuming that your will can stand through this trial, I will be quite pleased to give you any answers that your adorable mortal mind could possess, isn’t that fantastic for you?~”

Fate felt a vein throb in his forehead, as he was now free to explore his anger with the crushing fear strangely removed…

Witch of Fate: “Oh, now don’t be like that.~ I’ve designed this trial specifically for you, don’t you feel grateful? However, don’t think that you have the luxury of standing idly to indulge in your foolish hatred…”

Her tone suddenly turned cold, followed by Fate hearing a cracking noise directly behind him. It sounded similar to glass slowly being crushed, but there should have been nothing within this void that would resemble it.

He felt an urge to turn around to sate his curiosity, but was forcefully compelled to keep his gaze locked on the Witch, who had now begun to slowly drift upwards, towards the topmost stone island, as the cracking grew more intense…

-...She’s leaving?!

Witch of Fate: “Now, since simply asking the questions and waiting for the realization to wash over you, I’ll be using a far more interesting method to test you with.~ Firstly, above your head, you should be able to see a mana orb.”

Fate felt the force that bound his gaze to her ease up a bit, and craned his neck upwards, eager to avert his eyes from the arrogant being who taunted him. Indeed, he discovered a small sphere that was almost completely white, save for a darkened mist, which seemed to flow from it. He began to feel his formerly vanished fears return to him, and the orb seemed to grow slightly larger and darker in response…

Witch of Fate: “Secondly, you will have to scale this course, while keeping yourself from succumbing to the orb’s effects…”

Confused, he lowered his gaze to observe the Witch, sure that she was the cause for this phenomena, but found that she had already moved quite far away, and had almost reached the topmost stone. The cracking behind him grew even more intense, but he couldn’t bring himself to look at it. 

He instead, kept his eyes locked on the Witch’s figure, watching closely as she landed at her destination. Fate wasn’t able to clearly see her face from this distance, but her voice was perfectly clear to him…

Witch of Fate: “Finally, the orb is not the only obstacle in your pursuit of me. This is to be a test of the enemy within…”

A vicious growl sounded from behind Fate, an icy and ghastly breath pouring over him in its wake. Fate felt his spine chill, while the orb grew larger and dimmer. This chill permeated throughout his body and his mind quaked, as he was finally able to see what was behind him…

A massive roar erupted, flooding his soul with such dread that the pressure he had faced moments prior seemed like a drop of water before a great sea! Before him, was a gargantuan beast that could only be described as a monster carved out of obsidian stone with two midnight-blue gems for eyes, restrained behind a rapidly shattering glass-like barrier!!!

Fate heard a playful yet frightening tone penetrate his mind…

Witch of Fate: “...and without...so try not to die and waste my valuable time, alright?~”

Thus began Fate’s first trial…

...