The mirrors
The chamber was eerily silent as the group stepped deeper into the room, the soft glow from the crystal casting long shadows on the mirrored walls. The mirrors continued to shimmer and shift, their surfaces alive with images—some familiar, others foreign. The entity's words echoed in their minds: "To understand the truth, you must first face yourselves."
They gathered around the crystal at the center of the chamber, their expressions tense. Each felt the weight of what was to come, a mix of fear and determination settling over them. The crystal's light pulsed rhythmically, almost as if it had a heartbeat, and the air seemed to thrum with energy.
Aven was the first to speak, his voice steady but low. "Whatever happens, we face it together," he said, looking around at his friends. "We've been through too much to let anything tear us apart now."
The others nodded, each taking a deep breath. Lule's hand brushed against Ryuji's for a moment, a brief touch that sent a small jolt through her. She glanced at him, seeing a flicker of something in his eyes—concern, maybe, or something deeper. She couldn't quite tell, but it was enough to steady her nerves.
The light from the crystal suddenly flared brighter, blinding them for a moment. They shielded their eyes, and when they lowered their hands, the room had changed. The mirrors no longer showed shifting images but instead displayed each of them, standing alone in different parts of the room.
"What's happening?" Alto asked, his voice tinged with confusion. He moved closer to one of the mirrors and saw himself standing on a rocky cliff, the wind whipping around him. He turned to Arol, only to find his brother staring at a different mirror, one showing him in a dense, dark forest.
"We're being separated," Juji said quietly, her reflection showing her standing in a vast, empty hall, her expression distant and haunted. "The trials... they're starting."
As if on cue, the floor beneath them began to shift and move. A low rumbling sound filled the chamber, and the ground started to split apart, forming cracks that quickly widened into chasms. The group instinctively moved closer to one another, but the ground continued to shift, the gaps between them growing wider.
"No!" Lule cried out, reaching for Ryuji's hand as the ground beneath her feet began to crumble. But before she could grasp him, a force seemed to pull her back, dragging her toward the mirror showing her standing in a beautiful meadow, surrounded by flowers in full bloom. She stumbled, her vision blurring as the meadow seemed to leap from the mirror and envelop her.
"Lule!" Ryuji shouted, reaching out for her, but it was too late. The chasm between them widened, and he was pulled toward his own mirror, the reflection showing him standing on a narrow path surrounded by towering trees, their branches reaching out like grasping hands.
One by one, the group members were pulled toward their own mirrors, each disappearing into their reflections. Aven tried to hold onto Alto's hand, but the force was too strong, and he was pulled into his own reflection—a mirror showing a fierce battlefield, his sword drawn and his face grim. Alto was yanked away, disappearing into a mirror that showed him standing before a raging sea, the waves crashing against the rocks below.
Tasi's reflection showed her standing on a frozen lake, the ice beneath her feet cracking ominously. She closed her eyes, whispering a silent prayer as she was pulled into her mirror. Alsu's mirror showed her in a darkened cave, her fiery hair the only light in the oppressive darkness. With a determined look, she allowed herself to be drawn in.
Koa's mirror reflected him standing in a bustling city, his expression guarded and wary. He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and stepped forward. Juji's reflection showed her standing on a bridge of light, her eyes wide with wonder. She glanced back at the others one last time, then stepped into her mirror.
The chamber was silent once more, the crystal's light dimming to a soft glow. The mirrors showed only darkness now, their surfaces opaque and unyielding.
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Short chapter I'll try updating everyday from now on.
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Eclipsed Echoes
General Fiction"Eclipse of Echoes" is the story of twelve heroes who join forces to stop a dark group from destroying their world. Along their journey, they build strong friendships, find love, and learn to trust each other. Together, they must uncover their true...
