The silence in the hall was almost deafening. Each step the heroes took echoed with a chorus of whispers, as though the very space around them was watching, murmuring secrets to some unseen companion. The arches and columns shifted and twisted, seeming to adapt to their presence, testing them at every turn.
Melania paused before an inscription that appeared on a wall which hadn’t been there a moment ago. The letters glowed faintly, as though carved from pure strands of time. The words shifted, faded, and reformed, creating phrases she could only comprehend with her heart.
“Light becomes light only when darkness embraces it,” she read aloud, a chill running down her spine.
“What does it mean?” Endar asked, his gaze fixed on the fading text.
“Perhaps it’s a clue,” Melania replied, running her fingers along the wall. “Or a warning.”
They moved onward, but now each step seemed heavier. The very space seemed to resist them, forcing them to fight for every inch.
At last, they reached a wide, circular platform. Its surface was as smooth and reflective as a still lake, hiding depths beyond comprehension. At its center stood the Keeper of the Boundary, his figure a shadow emitting its own faint light.
“You have stepped onto the threshold where time and destiny intertwine,” he said, without turning to face them. “But your journey does not end here.”
“We’re ready,” Melania said firmly.
The Keeper turned his head toward them. His face was partially visible now, almost human, but his eyes burned with the cold, distant light of stars.
“You seek the truth of the new Eternity,” he said. “But do you understand what that truly means?”
“We know the past cannot be reclaimed,” Endar said. “We refuse to repeat the mistakes of the old Eternity.”
“Are you certain the new Eternity will not become worse than the old?” The Keeper’s voice was like a challenge, yet there was an undercurrent of something deeper—almost compassionate.
“No,” Melania replied, her voice unwavering. “But we are willing to take that responsibility.”
The Keeper nodded silently and extended his hand. His palm seemed empty, but a moment later, a strange symbol appeared, glowing faintly with golden light. It was a sign—indecipherable yet profoundly familiar.
“This is the key to the core of the new Eternity,” the Keeper explained. “It will open the door, but it will not shield you from the choices you must make.”
Melania stepped forward and touched the symbol. As her fingers brushed the glowing light, it erupted in a brilliant flash, engulfing them all. Her mind filled with visions—scenes of the old Eternity, its destruction, and the new world being born out of chaos.
“You will become those who teach Eternity to live,” the Keeper said. “But remember this: every choice you make will shape its nature. It is like a child, and your mistakes will become its essence.”
The light vanished, and they found themselves in silence once more. But now, the space had changed. The mirrored platform was now speckled with thousands of glittering lights resembling stars, and a strange whisper filled the air.
“Is this still Eternity?” Melania asked, gazing around.
“No,” Endar replied, his gaze sharp and focused. “This is something else.”
The stars began to move, forming what looked like a map. Lines of shimmering light stretched between them, and at the very center, a glowing nexus drew their attention.
“That’s the core,” Melania whispered.
“That is where your choice will be made,” the Keeper added. “But before you reach it, you will be tested. Only those who accept themselves can create something that endures.”
With those words, he disappeared, and the platform vanished with him. Now they stood on a narrow path stretching endlessly toward the glowing core in the distance.
“This is only the beginning,” Endar said, placing a hand on Melania’s shoulder.
“Then let’s move forward,” she replied, stepping resolutely into the unknown.