Melania stepped into the hall where time had ceased to flow. The space around her appeared frozen in a moment of utmost tension. Hundreds of crystal stars hung in the air as if someone had cast them into the sky but never allowed them to fall. Their cold radiance reflected off the marble floor, which looked almost mirror-like, as though every step could pull her into another dimension.
In the center of the hall stood a figure. Tall, clad in gleaming silver armor, it held a sword that mirrored the glint of the crystal stars. The helmet was adorned with intricate curves resembling a crown of ice, and the figure’s movements were so fluid that it seemed to be dancing even when standing still.
“You’ve arrived,” the stranger’s voice was calm, yet its words carried a chill that made even the air seem to freeze.
“Who are you?” Melania asked, her voice quiet but steady.
“I am the one who stands between choice and chaos,” it replied, raising the sword so its blade reflected her face. “And you are the one who will bring balance or destroy everything.”
Melania didn’t avert her gaze from the figure, though every part of her instincts screamed that this being was dangerous.
“Are you one of those who guard eternity?”
“I am one of those who guard what should not exist,” it corrected, lowering the sword. “And now you are the key that can either lock the door or open it forever.”
The tension in the air seemed to grow with every word. The stars around them began to spin, forming a delicate vortex of light. Melania noticed that each star reflected scenes from different eras: battles, births, betrayals, and forgiveness.
“What is this?” she asked, pointing at the spinning crystals.
“Your possibilities. Each star represents a path you could have avoided or achieved. But you may choose only once.”
“How do I choose?” her voice was firm, though inside, she felt despair creeping in.
The figure didn’t answer but took a step forward. Its hand touched one of the stars, and a scene unfolded before Melania’s eyes: her hometown engulfed in chaos. Streets burned, and her name was shouted, either as a rallying cry or a curse.
“This is what will happen if you choose destruction,” it said, looking at her as though trying to read her soul.
The figure ran its hand over another star. This time, she saw a field where she stood surrounded by people swearing loyalty to her. Yet her eyes were empty, as though she had lost everything that gave her life meaning.
“And this is the price of preserving balance.”
“Is there no path where I can save both myself and everything else?”
“There is no path without sacrifice. But remember: every sacrifice becomes a part of you,” it said, its voice resonating not as a warning but as an eternal truth.
Melania took a deep breath and fixed her gaze on a third star. She reached out to touch it, and a new scene unfolded: she was walking through ruins, but her eyes burned with determination, and behind her, those who believed in her were rising. It was neither preservation nor destruction — it was restoration.
“This cannot happen unless you accept what you must change,” the stranger said, seeing her choice. “But be cautious: one who seeks to restore must become a part of what they are changing.”
“And will you help me?”
“No. But I will not stand in your way if you prove that you can endure it.”
It raised its sword, and the space filled with a light that flooded the hall. Melania found herself once again in the center of choice, but now she knew what she sought. She clenched her fists and stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenge her path would bring.