Melania stepped into the blinding light, and the world around her changed so abruptly that she felt dizzy. The air was heavy here, filled with an incomprehensible presence that seemed to observe her every move. As her eyes adjusted, she realized she was inside an enormous hall whose walls were woven from pure energy. Each strand pulsed, shimmering with colors barely perceivable by the human eye.
In the center of the hall stood a column—smooth, black, and unadorned, yet exuding an aura of immense power. Spheres of light orbited the column, changing their trajectories and sizes as if reacting to Melania’s presence. Her footsteps echoed through the hall, even though the floor felt soft, like a surface of silken mist.
— “You have arrived,” a voice resonated through the space, though this time it came from a specific point ahead.
Melania tensed. The voice sounded similar to the one she had heard before, but now it carried a more human tone, almost familiar. In front of the column, a cluster of light began to coalesce, taking on the shape of a human figure. Within moments, a woman appeared, clad in dark garments that seemed to be made of the fabric of night itself. Her eyes gleamed like stars, and her long hair flowed as if caught in an invisible breeze.
— “You stand at the threshold of truth, Melania. But before you may proceed, you must answer: what do you seek?”
Melania drew in a breath. Her voice was steady, though she trembled inside:
— “I seek answers. I want to know why I was brought here. Why am I the thread that holds the fabric together? And above all, do I have the right to tear this fabric apart if I believe it is necessary?”
The woman studied her for a long moment, her gaze piercing, before she nodded slowly.
— “These questions are worthy of one who comes here. But you must understand, the answers will not grant you peace. Sometimes, truth feels more like a burden than liberation.”
She extended her hand, and the surrounding space began to shift. The column at the center of the hall unfurled like a flower, revealing a throne of silvery crystal rising from its core. The throne was empty, yet it radiated an overwhelming presence.
— “This throne is the heart of the Tower. It holds all knowledge, all stories, all truths. Sit, if you dare, and you will see the world as it truly is. But remember, you cannot return to who you were.”
Melania stepped closer. Her steps felt heavier, as though something sought to hold her back. Her hand clenched into a fist.
— “What happens if I refuse?”
— “Then you will remain in ignorance, but you will preserve what you have now. Perhaps that will be easier. Time and space will no longer touch you. But your journey will end here.”
Melania gazed at the throne. Her heart pounded like a bell. She knew her choice had already been made. Her own determination had brought her here. She stepped forward and sat.
A single second stretched into eternity. Light enveloped the throne, and her body seemed to dissolve into it. Her consciousness shattered into countless fragments, each living its own life. She saw herself in many roles: a warrior, a ruler, a traitor, a savior. She saw other worlds, each with its own laws, people, and stories. She saw the future, where time was torn apart, and the past, hidden behind the veil of oblivion.
She felt pain unlike anything she had ever known and joy she had long forgotten. Her mind filled until it seemed ready to burst.
And then, everything stopped.
Melania found herself standing before the same throne. But now, threads of light extended from her hands, connecting her to the walls of the hall. She was intertwined with everything—and yet she remained separate.
— “Now you understand,” the voice echoed.
— “I do. But the choice has not become any easier,” she replied. Her voice was firm, but her eyes burned with newfound light.
She turned toward the exit. Ahead lay a world that now belonged to her more than ever before.