As they continued through the woods, the air around them began to shift. The trees thinned, and the shadows seemed to pull back, revealing a clearing up ahead. At the centre of the clearing stood a massive mirror, its surface shimmering with faint silver light.
Faye hesitated as they approached, her stomach twisting with unease. The mirror was unsettling, its surface too smooth, too perfect. It reflected the forest around them, but something about the reflection was off. The trees in the mirror were darker, more twisted, and the moon hung lower in the sky.
"Snow White, eh?"
"This is the first trial," Kieran said, his voice low. "The Maze of Mirrors. It reflects your fears, your weaknesses. You'll have to face them if you want to move forward."
Faye swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. She could already feel the magic of the mirror pulling at her, drawing her in. She didn't want to go in there. She wasn't ready to face her fears, not now, not when she was already so lost.
But Kieran stepped forward without hesitation, his expression unreadable as he approached the mirror. He glanced back at her, his eyes glinting in the dim light.
"Don't get lost in the reflection," he warned. "It's easy to lose yourself in there."
And then, without another word, he stepped into the mirror, vanishing from sight.
Faye stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding. She could feel the magic of the mirror tugging at her, urging her to follow. But every instinct in her body screamed at her to stay away.
Still, she knew she couldn't hesitate. If she didn't go in, she would fail the trial. And if she failed, the Realms would consume her.
Taking a deep breath, Faye stepped forward, her fingers brushing the cold surface of the mirror.
The world around her shifted, and she was pulled inside.
YOU ARE READING
The Story
FantasyFaye is invited to the Heartseeker Academy, for supernaturals. While being scorned, Faye thought that she was only human... Or that's what she thought.
