The road that Lumis and Eili traveled began to transform, becoming increasingly whimsical. Its surface shimmered like glass, reflecting their faces, though in a slightly distorted way. In their reflections, they appeared to know the answers to all questions, but this knowledge made them seem foreign.
— This place is trying to speak to us, — Eili said, touching the gleaming surface. Her fingers left a mark that resembled a spilled stroke of light.
— And what does it want to say? — Lumis asked, staring intently at the image.
Suddenly, a new symbol appeared beneath their feet—a bright circle that began to glow with red and yellow light. Warmth spread around them, and the space transformed. They now stood in a strange garden, filled with intricate webs of light.
— Look, — Eili whispered, pointing to the center of the garden.
In the middle stood a fountain, from which glowing threads flowed instead of water. Each thread shimmered with colors and appeared alive.
— This is… amazing, — Lumis said, unable to take his eyes off it.
— It’s not just a fountain, — Eili replied, her voice filled with a light tremor. — I feel that it responds to us.
She stepped forward and extended her hand, touching one of the threads. In that instant, her eyes widened, and she froze as if witnessing something she couldn’t explain.
— What do you see? — Lumis asked, moving closer.
— It’s… desire, — she whispered. — Our deepest desires.
Lumis touched the thread too, and a vision unfolded before his eyes. He saw himself and Eili, but in a completely different world. They stood together in an ordinary place, devoid of magic and danger. Their hands were intertwined, and their faces wore expressions of calm and happiness.
— Is this an illusion? — he asked, unable to look away.
— It’s what we long for, — Eili replied, releasing the thread. — But I’m not sure if it’s real.
Their vision was interrupted by a wave of warmth emanating from the fountain. The space around them began to change, and the garden morphed into an empty room. Its walls were covered in mirrors, each reflecting different versions of themselves.
— What is this place? — Lumis asked quietly.
— It’s a trap, — Eili said, leaning closer to one of the mirrors. — They want us to get lost in our desires.
One of their reflections in the mirror spoke.
— What do you truly want? — it asked, directing its gaze at Lumis.
He felt his heart race.
— To know the truth, — he replied, but even to himself, his voice didn’t sound as confident as he wished.
Eili looked at him, her eyes filled with concern.
— If you’re not sure of yourself, this place will exploit your doubts.
— I am sure, — he said, turning back to the mirrors. — And if they want to test us, we will face it together.
He reached out for Eili, and she took his hand, gripping it tightly. Their reflections began to dissolve, and the mirrors vanished, leaving only empty space.
— That was just a part of the game, — Eili remarked.
— But we won’t play by their rules, — Lumis replied.
They found themselves back in the original garden, but the atmosphere was different now, charged with a sense of determination. They had faced the echoes of their deepest desires and emerged stronger.
— What lies ahead? — Lumis asked, looking at Eili.
— I don’t know, — she admitted. — But whatever it is, we’ll discover it side by side.
Their hearts pulsed in unison as they took a step forward, ready to face whatever awaited them in this world filled with wonders and challenges.
Together, they would carve their own path, guided not by reflections of the past but by the strength of their bond and the clarity of their shared desires.