The air was heavy and thick, as if saturated with time that had stopped. As the massive doors of pure light closed behind Melania, Aaren, and Elaine, they found themselves in an entirely new space. Instead of the familiar labyrinth walls or sharp shadows, an endless plain stretched before them, adorned with shimmering, lace-like mirrors.
The mirrors stood tall, as high as giants, like trees in an ancient forest. They reflected not only their forms but something deeper. When Melania approached one, her reflection at first appeared ordinary, but within moments, it began to change. She saw herself as a child, then as a teenager, then as she was now—and then as someone unrecognizable, but someone she might one day become.
“What is this?” Elaine asked, her gaze fixed on another mirror, stepping back as if it might consume her. “They show… more than just us.”
“These are reflections of our essence,” Aaren guessed, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He didn’t trust this place, and his tension was palpable even in his hushed voice. “But what’s their purpose?”
Melania reached out and touched the surface of the mirror. It was cold, like ice, but in that instant, she felt as though someone on the other side was looking back at her. Her heart clenched as she realized: this wasn’t just a reflection. It was a part of her—her past, present, and potential future.
Suddenly, the mirrors began to tremble, and the reflections shifted. Instead of their images, the mirrors displayed scenes from their lives. Melania saw herself discovering the Key of Eternity for the first time—the moment her choice had changed everything. She saw Elaine standing amidst the ruins of her village, tears streaming down her face as she clutched a fragment of a shattered statuette. She saw Aaren, younger, swearing to protect someone she didn’t recognize but whose image still lingered in his heart.
“This is a test,” Melania said quietly. Her voice was firm, but tension laced her words. “These mirrors force us to confront ourselves, to face what we hide and what we might become. If we don’t accept it, we can’t move forward.”
Aaren nodded grimly but didn’t step closer to his mirror. Elaine, on the other hand, bowed her head, clutching her medallion as if praying for something to shield her from what she was seeing.
“It’s a trap!” Elaine cried, her voice sharp and almost broken. “They’re toying with our minds, making us doubt! Why do we have to look at this? We should just move forward!”
“Because this place isn’t about external enemies,” Melania replied, releasing the mirror’s surface. She turned to Elaine. “Our greatest battles are the ones we fight within ourselves. Until we can face what’s here, no door will open.”
Her words were steady, but she knew how hard this was. She had struggled with the image in her own mirror, which reminded her of all her failures and fears. Yet she understood: this wasn’t weakness. It was a part of her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped toward the mirror again.
“How does it work?” Aaren asked, cautiously approaching his own reflection.
“You have to look,” Melania replied. “And accept. Everything—the good and the bad.”
He exhaled and extended a hand toward the mirror. It responded instantly, filling with images of his past: his first victory, betrayals, and his greatest vulnerability. Aaren froze but did not look away.
Elaine resisted the longest. Her fear of what she might see was greater than the reflections themselves. But when she finally approached the mirror, tears streamed down her face. She nearly collapsed but remained standing.
The mirrors suddenly flared with light. It flooded the space around them, forcing them to close their eyes. When it faded, the mirrors dissolved, leaving behind a new set of doors—ones that opened the path forward. Yet none of the three felt relief. Their hearts were heavier than ever.
“We did it,” Aaren said, his gaze fixed on the doors. “But I’m not sure if we’ve become stronger or if we’ve just realized how weak we are.”
Melania didn’t answer. She knew this was only the beginning. The Mirrors of Eternity had shown them not just who they were but what they would have to face to survive the battles yet to come.