**Chapter 3: The Initiation**

As Riven's words hung in the air, the room seemed to shift and ripple, like the surface of a pond disturbed by a thrown stone. The shadows deepened, and the air grew thick with an otherworldly energy. I felt a shiver run down my spine as Riven stood up, his movements fluid and almost serpentine. "Follow me," he said, beckoning me to rise from my chair. I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest. Where were we going? What was happening? Riven led me out of the room, down a long, dark corridor that seemed to stretch on forever. The walls were lined with cobweb-covered portraits, their subjects' eyes seeming to follow me as I walked. We walked in silence, the only sound the soft creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath our feet. I stumbled once, my hand reaching out to steady myself against the wall, but Riven caught my elbow, his grip firm and guiding. As we walked, the air grew colder, and I could feel a strange, pulsating energy emanating from the walls. It was as if the very fabric of reality was shifting and rippling around us. Finally, we arrived at a large, ornate door. Riven pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit chamber filled with strange, arcane objects. There were candles burning on a long, wooden table, casting flickering shadows on the walls. In the center of the room, a large, stone pedestal stood, upon which rested a small, leather-bound book. Riven gestured for me to approach the pedestal. "This is the beginning," he said, his voice low and mysterious. "This book contains the secrets of your gift. Are you prepared to learn?" I hesitated, feeling a sense of trepidation. What was I getting myself into? But Riven's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, urging me forward. I took a deep breath, and reached out to touch the book. As my fingers made contact with the leather cover, a sudden surge of energy shot through me, and I felt myself being pulled into a world beyond my wildest imagination. The room around me began to blur and fade, and I felt myself being drawn into a vortex of swirling colors and lights. I stumbled, but Riven's grip on my elbow kept me upright. "Hold on to me," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "The journey is just beginning." As I looked up at him, I saw that his eyes had changed. They were no longer just piercing blue, but seemed to hold a deep, ancient wisdom. I felt a sense of trust wash over me, and I knew that I was in his hands. Together, we stepped into the vortex, and everything went white.