Chapter 10: Trial of Lightning
The doors of the Storm Shrine slammed shut behind Preye with a thunderous echo that rolled through the temple like a drumbeat.
For a moment, the world outside vanished.
The howling wind, the rain, the voices of Kuro and Timi, all of it disappeared.
Silence filled the shrine.
But it wasn't an empty silence.
It was the kind of silence that watched.
Preye slowly turned around.
The shrine was far larger inside than it had appeared from the outside. Towering pillars rose toward a ceiling lost in shadows. Ancient carvings covered every surface—images of warriors wielding lightning, storms raging over rivers, and enormous serpent-like river gods twisting through thunderclouds.
Thin streams of water flowed along carved channels in the stone floor.
And inside those streams, electricity moved.
Actual lightning flickered through the water like living veins of power.
Preye exhaled slowly.
"Okay," she murmured, this place is officially the creepiest temple I've ever seen.
Her voice echoed back at her.
"…seen… seen… seen…"
She folded her arms and stepped forward.
Each footstep created tiny sparks along the ground, as if the shrine itself recognized her presence.
The deeper she walked, the stronger the electricity in the air became.
Her fingers began to glow faintly blue.
"Guess the shrine likes me," she muttered.
Suddenly
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
Ancient.
Powerful.
It sounded like thunder speaking through stone.
"Storm bearer…"
Preye froze.
Her eyes scanned the shadows.
"Alright," she said cautiously.
Whoever you are, you're doing a great job sounding mysterious.
The voice continued.
You seek the strength of the storm.
Preye shrugged.
More like I need it.
Images flashed through her mind.
The courtroom.
The betrayal.
The look on chief Pereowei's face when her life collapsed.
Then the hunters,
Barator, and the Order chasing her.
"Seems like the whole world suddenly wants me dead," she said.
"So yeah… power would help."
For a long moment, the shrine was quiet.
Then the voice spoke again.
Power without control destroys.
Lightning flashed across the ceiling.
Control without resolve fails.
The floor trembled beneath her feet.
Resolve without power changes nothing.
Three pillars of lightning crashed down before her.
The explosion forced Preye to jump back.
When the light faded…
Three figures stood there.
Each one looked exactly like her.
Same height.
Same face.
Same clothes.
Preye blinked.
"You've got to be kidding me."
The three copies stared at her silently.
But they weren't identical.
The first copy crackled with raw electricity, lightning crawled across her skin like restless snakes.
The second looked calm and composed. Her posture was steady, controlled.
The third version of Preye, smiled coldly.
Her eyes carried something darker.
Ruthless.
The ancient voice spoke again.
"Power."
The lightning version stepped forward.
Electricity exploded from her hand.
Preye barely rolled aside as the bolt struck the floor and shattered a chunk of stone.
"HEY!" she shouted.
That's cheating!
The calm version spoke.
"You rely too much on instinct."
Preye stared.
"You talk?"
The ruthless version laughed softly.
You hesitate too much.
Preye groaned.
Oh great.
Now my personality flaws are attacking me.
The lightning copy rushed forward again.
Faster this time.
Preye raised her hand.
Lightning burst from her palm.
CRACK!
The two bolts collided midair, filling the shrine with thunder.
The ruthless copy moved next.
Her movements were brutal and direct.
Every strike aimed to kill.
Preye blocked one attack and jumped backward.
Wow, she muttered.
"I didn't realize I was this violent."
The calm version finally stepped forward.
She moved slowly, carefully.
Watching every move Preye made.
"You fight like a storm without direction," the calm version said.
Preye wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Well excuse me for not having years of lightning practice!"
All three attacked at once.
Lightning filled the shrine.
Preye dodged one strike, blocked another, and countered with a kick that sent the ruthless copy sliding backward.
But the lightning version struck her shoulder with a burst of energy.
Pain exploded through her arm.
Preye stumbled.
Her Ori power flickered dangerously.
The ruthless copy laughed.
You see?
You're weak.
Anger flared inside Preye.
But something stopped her.
these were parts of her, then they weren't enemies; they are her test.
She straightened slowly.
Her breathing steadied.
"You're right," she said quietly.
The copies paused.
Preye looked at the lightning version.
I do rely on raw power.
She turned to the calm version.
I don't always think before acting.
Then she faced the ruthless one.
And yeah… I hesitate.
The ruthless version smirked.
So what?
Preye's lightning flared again.
But this time
It didn't explode wildly.
It flowed.
Controlled.
Balanced.
So I fix it.
She moved.
Faster than before.
She dodged the lightning copy's attack and redirected the energy into the ground.
She blocked the ruthless version's blade-like strike and used her momentum against her.
Then she struck the calm version directly with a controlled burst of electricity.
The three copies staggered.
Preye raised her glowing hand.
Lightning spiraled around her arm.
"Power," she said.
The lightning copy shattered into sparks.
"Control."
The calm version dissolved into light.
"Resolve."
The ruthless version vanished last.
The shrine trembled violently.
The storm outside roared louder than ever.
Energy surged into Preye's body like a river of lightning.
Her Ori power stabilized.
Stronger.
Sharper.
More obedient.
The ancient voice echoed again.
"You have faced yourself… and endured."
Lightning wrapped around her like a cloak.
The storm acknowledges you.
Preye inhaled sharply as power filled her veins.
She could feel the storm now.
Not just in the sky.
But inside her.
Alive.
Waiting.
She slowly opened her glowing eyes.
A small grin appeared on her face.
" Well, she said softly.
"That feels amazing."
The temple doors began to open.
The storm outside called to her.
And Preye walked toward it.
The Storm Channeler had awakened.