The massive gates of the fortress opened before them, as if the world itself bowed, allowing the heroes into its dark heart. With each step toward the center of this strange stronghold, they could feel their powers growing stronger, yet they were also changing. This place was not merely physical—it was part of something greater, something timeless, and at the same time, alive.
The dark walls of the castle seemed to reflect their thoughts, echoes of every moment they had experienced. Antem felt his mind flooding with memories that could not be escaped. He saw himself and Lumis in battles that had never taken place, and Ayna, who seemed to exist outside of time, like a part of this world. The fiery lines piercing the ground seemed to merge with his very breath, each inhale becoming a silent step through this endless space.
“What awaits us inside?” he thought as they reached the enormous central hall. It was so vast that it felt as though an entire army could fit within it. The ceilings were so high that it was hard to imagine their limits, and from every corner of the hall, beams of light spiraled in shimmering patterns, as though they were pathways to unknown starting points.
Lumis, seemingly lost in concentration, barely noticed the surroundings. His gaze was fixed on the dark rays of light that descended from the walls like mysterious rivers winding through the castle.
Ayna approached one of these light streams and gently touched it. A look of wonder appeared on her face, but there was also a sense of calm. She felt the light pulse beneath her fingers, filling her with silence while awakening an inexplicable energy within.
“This is not just magic, this is merging,” she said, her voice echoing in every corner of the hall. “This world is alive. It learns, watches, and waits for us.”
Eili stood apart, observing each of her companions’ movements. She could feel the place sinking into her soul, not just through magic, but with a mysterious force that was hard to describe in words. And while she often relied on her intuition, this time her sensations were different—everything was too heavy yet extraordinarily powerful.
“We must be cautious,” she whispered, stepping closer to Ayna. “This place will not give us answers without trials. It will make us face what we do not wish to see.”
Meanwhile, Tarik stood slightly apart, watching as each of the heroes gave themselves more and more to this strange place. He felt not just magic in the air but its deep pull, as if this world was perceiving them not merely as travelers but as part of its great design.
Suddenly, the darkness on the walls began to shift. From afar, a figure appeared, seemingly torn from the very depths of this world. It was tall, with black wings swirling around it like the breath of night itself. Its body was covered in symbols that glimmered and changed form, shining with light that could not be described in words. It moved closer, and its power was so palpable that even the air around them grew heavy.
“You have come to the heart of the world,” it hissed, its voice quiet but carrying through the hall, reaching each of them. “You have come to change this place. But before you can access what you seek, you must undergo one more trial. One that will reveal your true desires.”
With this last phrase, it extended its hand toward the central archway of the hall. The heroes felt a strange pull, as if everything around them compressed, and before their eyes, multiple versions of their journey appeared. What would they choose?
Antem, Lumis, Ayna, Tarik, and Eili began to perceive this world not just through their minds but through feelings that surpassed anything they had ever felt before. Each choice they made would reflect their inner yearnings, known and unknown, capable of changing both themselves and this world. They had to pass through this to access what awaited them. But now their path was not just a physical one—it was a spiritual choice.
“Are you ready?” the voice asked again, as they, somehow, were able to glimpse their future.
Now they had to decide: Could they change this place without losing themselves?