The air around the Eternity node was filled with an uneasy silence. The events that had just unfolded left a dull echo reverberating through the space, as if time itself had held its breath. The heroes stood on the edge of the energy storm that had only just been subdued. Each of them understood that the consequences of the Keeper of Balance’s intervention would soon reveal themselves, but what terrified them most was the unknown—what would come next.
Melania clenched her hand, feeling the faint remnants of her power flickering within. After everything that had happened, she felt empty. The node was saved, but at what cost? Her thoughts were interrupted by Endar’s voice:
“This place won’t stabilize on its own. We need to act while it still holds together.”
His words were stern, almost cold, but Melania could see the exhaustion he was hiding behind his resolve. His past, his mistakes—everything he had endured now stood before him in the form of this node. Their responsibility was shared, and there was no turning back.
“What do you propose we do?” she asked, gripping the amulet that had become a symbol of her own power and burden.
Endar turned to her, his gaze filled with seriousness.
“We need to find the core of this system. The point where everything begins and where everything could end. If the node is unstable, then something at its heart is… wrong.”
Kairen, who had remained silent until now, only nodded.
“That makes sense. But if the core is damaged, it’ll be protected. And not just by enemies. The node itself might turn against us.”
Linara, standing a little apart from the group, silently gazed into the distance. Her eyes, usually calm, now reflected the tension that everyone felt.
“We have no choice,” she finally said, her voice quiet but firm. “Eternity itself is a test. If we don’t face this challenge, it will decide our fate for us.”
Melania nodded. The inner voice that often questioned her every step was now silent. She knew they were on the right path, even if that path led to new chaos.
The journey to the core of the node felt like traveling through the very heart of Eternity. The space around them shifted, transforming with every step. The air shimmered with tension, and time seemed uneven—sometimes stretching, sometimes contracting—making them feel like parts of a vast mechanism revolving around them.
Along the way, they encountered fragments of the past—memories that seemed to belong to no one in particular. A child playing by a pond, a man bidding farewell to loved ones, a woman weeping by the ruins of a temple. These images flickered, disappeared, and reappeared, leaving behind a strange unease.
“What… is this?” Linara whispered, stopping before one such vision. Before her, a scene unfolded: a battle between two warriors, each a mirror of the other.
Endar did not answer immediately. His eyes lit up with understanding, though that understanding brought pain.
“These are Eternity’s memories,” he said. “It’s not just made of structures and energy. It absorbs time, events, moments that were once significant to those who lived within its bounds.”
Melania looked at him, her eyes reflecting the same pain.
“And what happens when we reach the core?” she asked.
Endar shook his head.
“There won’t just be a memory there. There will be a choice.”
When they finally reached the node’s core, the world around them changed completely. It was not a room, not a place. It was a space filled with mirrors. Each mirror reflected something different: the future, the past, possibilities. And each mirror reflected them.
“This is…” Kairen stepped forward, but Melania stopped him.
“Careful,” she said, her voice unusually confident, even to herself.
At the center of this space was a glowing node—a sphere pulsating with light and shadow. Threads of energy radiated from it, creating these mirrors.
“The node is waiting for a decision,” Endar said. His voice sounded almost detached. “But as always, there’s a price to pay.”
Melania stepped forward, her eyes meeting one of the mirrors. In it, she saw herself—older, calmer, but filled with sorrow. Her future? Or just a possibility?
“We came here to create a new balance,” she said, turning to the others. “But what are we willing to give up for it?”
Her words hung in the air, a question with no answer yet.