The light faded, and Melania found herself in a thick silence that seemed to absorb all sound. She stood in a vast hall, its walls adorned with shimmering runes. They pulsed faintly, as if reacting to her presence. The air was heavy yet clean, filled with the scent of ancient stone and something elusive, like the distant echo of voices.
Before her stretched a labyrinth. Its walls, tall and dark, shifted constantly, as if alive, closing paths and opening new ones in the blink of an eye. Melania felt unease creep into her heart. This place was alive, and it was testing her.
“This is the Labyrinth of Echoes,” the familiar voice spoke again, deeper now, as though emanating from the very walls. “Every step you take here will be not just a choice, but an echo of who you were and who you might become.”
Melania felt the sword in her hand pulse, its light mingling with the glow of the runes. The Fire of Infinity was her guide, but even its flame seemed dimmer in this place.
Taking her first step into the labyrinth, she realized time flowed differently here. Every second stretched into minutes, perhaps hours. Her sense of time dissolved, leaving only a sharp awareness of the moment.
At the first crossroads, something strange appeared. Floating in the air, as if suspended in water, were images. She saw herself as a child, standing in a garden with her father. Then the scene shifted, showing the day she first learned about the Guardians of Eternity. Her heart quickened.
“What is this?” she asked aloud.
“This is your echo,” the voice replied. “Every choice you make creates ripples, leaving traces in time. Here, you will confront what was and what might be.”
Melania realized that the labyrinth was not just a test but a mirror reflecting herself. She chose the left path, but it felt less like choosing a direction and more like choosing a part of herself.
Her journey was not easy. The walls moved, closing off passages and opening new ones. At one turn, a figure appeared before her — a silhouette that resembled her but older, with weary eyes burdened by too much pain.
“Who are you?” Melania asked, gripping her sword tightly.
“I am the you who broke,” the figure replied, its voice heavy with bitterness. “The you who could not bear the weight of your choices.”
The image vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Melania understood that every step in this place would force her to face her fears, doubts, and hopes.
At another turn, she encountered a different figure — herself, but with eyes filled with light and strength. This version of her exuded calm and power, as if she had already achieved something greater.
“This is who you could become,” the voice said. “But are you willing to make the sacrifices it will demand?”
Melania remained silent. She knew there was no answer, that every step was a choice, and every choice would leave a new echo in her soul.
The labyrinth stretched on. Her sword grew dimmer, but it still illuminated the path. And Melania pressed forward, knowing that ahead lay a truth that would change everything.