The rustling of the web in her spine gradually faded as Melania found herself in a world that seemed both endless and enclosed. The light that enveloped her after touching the thread dimmed, leaving only darkness, but it was different—deeper, thicker, alive.
Ahead, through the misty glow, remarkable spheres emerged. They seemed to float in the air, spinning and shimmering in red and gold, like little suns that breathed and sang. Their song—soft, mysterious—filled the space around, like the voices of ancient beings.
Melania took a step forward, feeling something like a crystal bridge beneath her feet. Its surface was transparent, yet below it, there was nothing but emptiness. Each step she took echoed slightly, as if the very heart of this strange reality was touched.
Suddenly, the spheres began to move, forming patterns in the air. They rotated around one another, crossing invisible orbits. Each sphere left behind a trail of golden-red sparks, like the tail of a comet.
— “The Spheres of Time,” a voice resonated from the darkness.
Melania turned, but saw no one. The voice sounded as though it came from the structure of the world itself.
— “Each of them contains a fragment of truth, but they all burn. Are you ready to touch them and accept what they will show you?”
— “What if I make a mistake?” she asked, stepping closer.
— “Mistake is just a word. Choice is your key.”
She gazed into the nearest sphere. Inside it, through the fiery glows, she saw images: a city that once was magnificent, now submerged in ruins. In its streets, covered in ash, stood a tall figure in a black cloak, holding something in their hand. Was it a sword or an ancient key? Melania couldn’t tell.
The second sphere glowed brighter. Inside it, a scene of battle sparkled, with her standing among other warriors. Her sword was wrapped in unfamiliar runic symbols, and beside her stood a man with mysterious silver eyes.
— “What do they mean?” she muttered, not looking away.
— “Each of them is a reflection of a possibility. One will show you what was. Another will show you what might happen. But both lead to one thing: the truth you seek.”
Melania reached out for the sphere with the battle, but hesitated. A sudden question appeared in her mind: is this truly her choice? Or do these spheres control her?
— “Is there freedom in this world?” she asked, not knowing if she’d be heard.
The voice fell silent for a moment, then replied:
— “Freedom is an illusion you create yourself. But even in illusion, you can find truth.”
She took a deep breath and finally touched the sphere with the ruins. The fire burned her fingers, but it was not painful—more like the touch of the deepest cold, instantly sinking into her body.
The images consumed her. The city, buried under ash, came alive before her eyes. She saw shadows moving through the streets, and the figure in the black cloak turned to her face. Her heart squeezed— it was her.
The sphere dimmed, releasing her from its grasp. Melania breathed heavily, trying to comprehend what she had seen.
— “You see yourself as you will become if things do not change,” said the voice. — “Now your task is to decide whether to accept this fate or try to change it.”
The spheres began to swirl around her again. The song intensified, but now there was a different tone—almost like a warning. Time was running out, and Melania could feel it. She needed to move on, but what lay ahead, she could not yet fathom.