Our little group headed up the stairs to the next floor and trial. Again, the ritual tried to wash away everyone's recent memories and lay the stage for the next trial, yet the clergymen's robes protected them from the effects. Only Rae found herself drawn into the illusionary world, and this one was all about Greed.
She walked into a cathedral of opulence, a shrine to avarice itself. Columns carved from raw gold held up a ceiling encrusted with sapphires the size of fists, shimmering like a frozen sky. The floor was a polished mirror of black onyx, strewn with trails of rubies and diamonds as if someone had spilled the shattered stars of a dying cosmos.
Mountains of gold coins rose like dunes across the room, spilling over with antique crowns, scepters, and chalices inlaid with gems. Chests overflowed with velvet-lined collections of rare jewels: uncut emeralds glowing like forest fire, pink diamonds the size of eggs, strands of pearls that shimmered with unnatural luster. Like artifacts of fallen empires, there were jeweled daggers, mosaic-encrusted shields, thrones once kissed by the blood of monarchs that were heaped carelessly, as if history itself had been hoarded away.
Designer silks and leathers, untouched by time, were draped over mannequins and scattered like forgotten wrapping paper. Every brand, every limited-edition piece, every handcrafted item from specialty shops were arranged in perfect condition, on mannequins or folded beside pyramids of luxury watches, crocodile-skin handbags, and diamond-studded stilettos. Perfume bottles carved from crystal gave off hypnotic scents that whispered of indulgence were out on display.
And through it all, soft lights gleamed like hungry eyes from high chandeliers forged from molten platinum. The vault felt alive, throbbing with a promise: This can be yours. It spoke not in words, but in longing. In the ache of fingers twitching toward trinkets too perfect to leave behind. In the rapid heartbeat of a soul remembering desire. It was not a place of safety... it was a siren's den, where greed took root like a parasite, and no one ever left with only what they came for.
"Looks like your student has lost herself to the illusion," Golden Sun remarked as Rae began to wander through the 'aisles' of the wonderland before her eyes.
"Perhaps, but it will only take hold once she takes an 'item'. The 'sting' will be a reminder for the rest of this journey, and afterwards, I'll restore the damage then help her clear her Karma with the proper respect," I replied with a casual smile.
"Cruel," one of the white-robed man muttered under his breath.
"Cruel? Perhaps, but if she were to fall to this level of temptation, then she is not worthy of teaching anymore. That is my last gift and form of severance. I know her heart, and this is not a shadow in it," I retorted confidently, finally landing on the ground. I followed behind Rae and said, "You mighty priests go on ahead and stop this evil ritual! I'm just here to make sure that Mesmer stays mostly safe... nothing life-threatening anyways."
"Bishop... must we keep working with that... woman?" a voice muttered behind me, but I simply tuned them out as I walked.
Lost in the illusion, Rae wandered through the aisles of luxuries that were not stocked by hand, nor filled with mannequins. They were lined with the twisted remnants of those who had fallen for their greed. Once human, these wretched figures now stood fused to the treasures they tried to claim. Bones jutted through stretched, translucent skin, and flesh hung from their frames in rotting sheets, except where it had melded grotesquely with gold, silver, and gem. Fingers were frozen mid-reach, knotted into claws around diamond bracelets or crowns welded onto skulls.
Each husk was a monument to greed, silent, unmoving, yet forced to become undead husks, souls forever bound to the Dark Ritual in torment until they finally shattered. Their chests rose slowly as if they were still breathing, still wanting. Some wept without tears; others grinned with jewel-fused jaws, eternally pleased with what they had taken… and lost.
Within the illusion, Rae's fingers traced a set of shoes, a dress, a bracelet and a necklace, yet she never lingered. There was only mild curiosity and appreciation as she looked over the trinkets, but the silent whispers tempting her to take could not reach her as she had no Greed in her heart, no weakness for the ritual to claw at. She wove her way through those turning undead, along the outside edge of the floor, but slowly she moved closer to the stairs going up. If the ritual could not claim her by Greed then it would draw her into another temptation.
Golden Sun, and his group, had long given up on me and Mesmer and moved onto the next floor by the time she neared the stairs. Instead of letting her continue up, I dispelled the illusion and gave her a chance to take in everything around her. She did not speak and instead looked back at the victims with grim realization.
"Where is Golden Sun and the others?" Rae asked.
"I told them to go ahead; I wanted you to experience the trial," I replied with a light smile.
She nodded her head and gave another look around before she commented, "Greed, and the last floor was Gluttony, and the first, Sloth... This is based off the Seven Deadly Sins."
"Correct," I chuckled.
"A different form of energy... people drained of their life while some twisted into undead due to the darkness in their hearts... they are trying to increase the negative Karma of the victims..." she mused then looked back at me. "The power of the Soul? That's it, isn't it?"
"Good job. I knew you could figure it out," I replied.
"What is the 'Soul'?"
I whistled, "You just love asking philosophical questions, don't you? The true definition is up to interpretation, but as a form of energy, it can be used to give a spell its own Will, allowing it to act on its own like this ritual, or simply empower a spell, or even the body, far greater than what mana or chi alone can achieve. Unless you want to play with Dark Magic, it's above your current abilities for quite some time."
"Then you know Dark Magic?"
"I know many types of magic," I retorted with a smirk.
Rae rolled her eyes and asked, "Fine, I won't ask. Why did you let Golden Sun go ahead? You obviously could have freed me from the illusion whenever you wanted."
"Because I want you to face the trials. They can be a good way to temper your Will and let you face your inner demons. Something like this is exactly what you need to truly grow outside of that greenhouse you've been living in, and let you look inside yourself," I explained.
She sighed and nodded her head. "Alright, let's go."
I motioned towards the stairs with a smirk, so Rae just shook her head and headed up. Again, she was pulled into the illusion of the ritual as she climbed, and this one was centered around Pride. Lucky kid got another trial that would be easy for her since she was not a prideful person.
Within the dream, crowds of people flocked around Rae, offering their praise and admiration. They clung to her, they offered themselves to her, some even worshipped her... but that was the worst thing to do to someone as introverted as she was. Instead of inflating her ego, the illusion pushed her into a panic attack, so she used the refinement technique to calm down as it was a form of meditation, which broke the illusion's hold on her.
This floor was fairly empty compared to the others, especially the last, but there were a few scattered victims. Here, they were turned to stone and in poses of how they lost themselves to their Pride. One looked to be signing an autograph while another looked to be preaching to a congregation... monuments to their own delusions.
"Social awkwardness for the win," I teased.
"Ugh, you're annoying," she complained and stormed off towards the next set of stairs without another word.
I simply chuckled and followed behind. The others may have been easy for her to pass, but the last three floors would not be the same. There was Envy, Lust, and even Wrath in her heart which would give the ritual the chance it needed to really test her.
A/N: I would love any feedback from my readers, so please let me know how I'm doing so far!