The heroes stood before the grand gates, which slowly began to open, revealing the path to the City of Eternity. The path leading through these gates was covered in soft white stone, reflecting the light of millions of stars. The feeling of time here was different — each step felt as though an invisible flow of energy was transporting them into another dimension. The sky above was extraordinarily clear, without a cloud in sight, and there was neither day nor night, only an endless expanse.
This city was unlike anything they had ever seen. It had no walls, only vast arches that stretched infinitely. Buildings made of white marble towered toward the sky, their outlines blurring as the heroes approached. Everything here seemed alive, breathing, as if the very walls of the city could sense every thought and emotion passing through the travelers.
Ayna, walking ahead, stopped and looked back.
“This place… it lives,” she whispered, feeling her heart beat in sync with the invisible forces of the city. “It reflects our innermost desires. Everything we seek is here. But we must be prepared for the fact that this city will show us not only our hopes but also our deepest fears.”
Antem gazed at her, feeling the weight of her words. This city truly was something more than they could imagine. It was not simply a place or space — it was a living entity, responding to every thought, every movement.
“We can’t stop,” he said, trying to steady both himself and his friends. “We came here for the truth, and it doesn’t matter how many obstacles we must overcome.”
Lumis, walking beside him, looked at his friend and nodded, though his gaze was clouded with doubts.
“And what if this truth is too much for us?” he asked, looking at the reflected shapes of the marble walls, which seemed to change depending on their angle of view. “What if what we find here exceeds everything we thought we knew about ourselves and this world?”
The answer came from Ayna, her voice calm, yet full of deep wisdom.
“We can only change when we’re ready to see the whole truth,” she said, extending her hand toward the nearest arch. “And that truth won’t always be what we want to see. But only by accepting the whole truth will we become who we are meant to be.”
Their hearts beat in unison as they stepped into the city, which opened before them not only a physical path but also a path into their very souls. The sensation was so strong that they felt as if they were becoming part of this space, part of the eternity that was not bound by time.
Tarik, walking alongside them, felt the forces of the city intertwining with his own thoughts. His hand rose for a moment, and he felt energy currents from all directions surrounding him, creating this space. It was not just magic — it was the pulse of the world itself.
“The city reveals our deepest desires,” he said quietly. “It opens the way to our true essence. But in order to pass through it, we must be ready to let go of everything that binds us to this world.”
And standing at the threshold of this unfathomable place, the heroes sensed they were nearing a moment that would change their lives. Their path lay not only ahead but also deep within their hearts and souls. And all that remained was to step into the darkness, which would unveil the light of truth.
An unfamiliar voice echoed from afar:
“Only the one who can see themselves as they truly are will be able to pass through this city. Only by accepting everything within the heart can one find the path to eternity.”
And so they moved forward.