Ayna and Tarik stood before the wounded roots of the Tree of Eternity. The silence around them was heavy, as if the very space had held its breath. The shadows coiling around the roots began to shift, taking on more defined forms.
“This isn’t just damage,” Ayna said, her gaze fixed on the darkness. “It’s something alive.”
“And something dangerous,” Tarik added, drawing his sword.
Suddenly, the shadows parted, and several figures emerged from them. They resembled humans, but their outlines were fragmented, as if made of shattered glass. Their faces mirrored Ayna and Tarik’s own, yet their eyes were empty and dark.
“Is that… us?” Tarik asked, though his voice lacked certainty.
“They’re reflections of what we fear,” Ayna replied. “They show us our weaknesses, our doubts.”
One of the reflections stepped forward, its voice echoing as if from a deep cavern:
“Are you sure you’re worthy of this path, Tarik? Are your motives truly pure? Or is it just fear of being forgotten that drives you forward?”
Tarik gripped his sword tighter, but his hand trembled.
“Don’t listen to them,” Ayna said, though her own reflection was already approaching her.
“Ayna,” it whispered, “are you truly faithful to your convictions? Do you seek the truth, or are you merely running from the pain of your past?”
Ayna felt her chest tighten. The words of the reflection pierced deep into her soul.
“It’s a trap,” she said, trying to turn away. “They want us to doubt ourselves.”
“But is it not true?” the reflection asked, staring at her.
The space around them began to fracture. The shadows stretched and twisted into grotesque shapes, wrapping themselves around the Tree of Eternity.
“We have to stop this!” Tarik shouted, his voice resolute, though fear still lingered in his tone.
“First, we must accept it,” Ayna said softly, closing her eyes. “Accept ourselves.”
Tarik looked at her, hesitating, but then he did the same. The echoes of their reflections grew quieter. The light of the Tree began to flicker faintly, and in that moment, they realized their struggle wasn’t only against an external enemy but also against what lay within.
“We’re ready,” Ayna said, opening her eyes. Her gaze radiated light, a light that now emanated from within her heart.
The reflections dissolved, and the tree’s roots slowly began to heal. Yet ahead of them, a shadow loomed, waiting for them at the summit.