Shadows of the Changeling

Chapter 13: The Blackened Mirror

The group pressed on, deeper into the Maze. The oppressive air seemed to close in tighter with every step, and the flickering lights overhead offered little relief from the creeping shadows. The walls grew slick with condensation, and the symbols etched into the metal glowed faintly, casting eerie reflections on the floor.

Elara stopped abruptly as a strange sensation rippled through her psychic senses. “Something’s different,” she said, her voice low and wary. “The air feels... wrong.”

Kel'Acthar sniffed the air, his nostrils flaring. “There’s a smell... like rust and something foul. Whatever’s ahead, it’s not going to be friendly.”

The gaunt man, now walking at the back of the group, glanced around nervously. “What could be worse than what we’ve already seen?”

No one answered. They all knew better than to tempt fate in a place like this.

As they rounded a corner, the corridor opened into a vast chamber unlike any they’d seen before. The walls were lined with mirrors, though these were not ordinary reflections. Each pane was cracked and warped, distorting the images they cast back. The reflections shifted unnaturally, twisting into grotesque versions of those who stood before them.

Kel'Acthar froze, his gaze locking on his own reflection. The creature staring back at him wasn’t him—it was something feral, monstrous. Its eyes glowed a deep red, its horns were jagged and wild, and its body was hunched and twisted, as though it had fully succumbed to its beastman nature.

Elara stepped beside him, her breath catching as she saw her own reflection. Her mirrored self stood taller, her face cold and unfeeling, her eyes glowing with an unsettling psychic energy. The reflected Elara was draped in ornate robes, her expression one of contempt and superiority—a warped caricature of the noble she had fought so hard not to become.

The younger man let out a choked gasp, stumbling back from his reflection. In the mirror, he was battered and broken, his face scarred, his eyes hollow and lifeless. He reached for the blade at his side, only to find his reflection doing the same, moving with an eerie synchronization.

The woman beside him snarled as her reflection sneered back, her mirrored self drenched in blood, holding the bodies of those she’d failed to protect. “This is... this is a lie,” she hissed through gritted teeth. “It’s just another trick.”

Kel'Acthar shook his head, his voice a low growl. “No. This is worse than a trick. It’s trying to get inside us.”

The group moved cautiously, but each step seemed to heighten the tension. The reflections grew more animated, more real, their distorted counterparts moving in ways that didn’t match their own movements. It was as if the reflections were alive, watching, waiting.

Elara extended her psychic senses, probing the room for any trace of the Warp. What she felt made her stomach churn—these mirrors weren’t just reflections. They were gateways, feeding off their fears and doubts, drawing energy from their very presence.

“We need to keep moving,” she said, her voice firm despite the growing unease. “Don’t let the reflections get to you. They’re just another part of the Maze.”

Kel'Acthar nodded, but his reflection’s sneer sent a chill down his spine. The monster in the mirror leaned closer, its voice a guttural growl that seemed to echo in his mind. “This is what you are, Kel'Acthar. No matter how hard you fight it, no matter how much you deny it, you will always be the beast.”

He clenched his fists, forcing himself to look away. “You’re wrong,” he muttered, more to himself than the reflection. “I’ve proven I’m more than that.”

Beside him, Elara was facing her own battle. Her reflection’s voice was cold, cutting through her thoughts like a blade. “You think you’re better than them? You think your power makes you special? You’re just as corrupt as the rest. It’s only a matter of time before you become me.”

Elara closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing, pushing back against the voice. “You’re not me,” she said quietly, her voice steady. “You’re just a shadow. And shadows can’t hurt me.”

The younger man wasn’t faring as well. He stood frozen, his hands trembling as his reflection spoke in a whisper that seemed to pierce his very soul. “You’re weak. You’ll never be strong enough to face him. You’ll fail, just like you’ve failed everyone else.”

The gaunt man and the woman tried to pull him away, but the young man shook his head, his eyes wide with terror. “No... no, it’s right. I’m not strong enough.”

Kel'Acthar moved to his side, gripping his shoulder firmly. “Listen to me. This is what the Changeling wants. He’s using these mirrors to mess with your head. But you’re stronger than that. You’ve made it this far.”

The young man looked up at Kel'Acthar, his fear beginning to fade as he nodded. “You’re right. I... I can do this.”

The group pressed on, their steps slower but more deliberate. The voices from the mirrors continued to taunt them, but they ignored the whispers, focusing on each other and the path ahead.

Finally, they reached the end of the chamber, where a large, cracked mirror loomed before them. Its surface shimmered like liquid, and the reflections within seemed to shift and twist, showing glimpses of things that weren’t there—places, people, and creatures that didn’t belong in the room.

Elara stepped forward cautiously, her psychic energy probing the mirror. “This is it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “This is the heart of this place.”

Kel'Acthar frowned, his instincts warning him of the danger. “Can we destroy it?”

Elara hesitated, her mind racing. “I don’t know. If we shatter it, it could release whatever is trapped inside. Or it could make things worse.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the decision hanging heavy in the air. Finally, Kel'Acthar stepped forward, his fists tightening. “If this thing is connected to the Changeling, then we can’t leave it here. We destroy it, and we deal with whatever happens.”

Elara nodded, stepping back as Kel'Acthar raised Truth and Cull. With a deep breath, he slammed his fists into the mirror’s surface, shattering it into a thousand pieces.

The room erupted into chaos. Shadows poured from the shards like liquid smoke, swirling around them in a whirlwind of malice and fury. The voices from the mirrors grew louder, screaming in rage and despair as the energy within the room surged.

Elara raised her hands, summoning a psychic barrier to protect the group as the shadows lashed out, their tendrils striking against her shield. Kel'Acthar stood beside her, his fists ready, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of an attack.

Finally, the shadows began to recede, their energy dissipating as the room fell silent once more. The group stood in the aftermath, their breaths heavy, their nerves frayed.

Kel'Acthar looked at Elara, his voice steady. “Did it work?”

She nodded slowly, though her expression remained cautious. “For now. But we need to keep moving. The Changeling won’t let us get away with this.”

With a final glance at the shattered mirror, the group pressed on, the path ahead darker than ever.