Their first steps beyond the gates unveiled a world that seemed both beautiful and terrifying. The ground resembled black velvet, while the sky appeared as an endless canvas sprinkled with moving stars that sometimes vanished, leaving behind dark voids.
Eili clung closer to Lumis, and his presence offered her strength. Yet with each step, the tension grew.
— Something isn’t right here, — she said, peering into the distance.
— I feel it too, — he replied, gripping her hand tighter.
Before them lay a broad path, but its surface was constantly shifting. At times it was smooth water, at others a crumbling stone bridge beneath their feet. Shadows began to emerge around the road.
— They are here again, — Eili whispered, pressing against Lumis.
The shadows resembled moving silhouettes of people but were devoid of facial features. Their movements were languid, yet each step seemed directed straight toward them.
— Don’t let go of me, — she implored, clutching his hand.
— Never, — he assured her, gazing into the approaching shadows.
One of the shadows stopped right in front of them. It raised its ghostly hand and touched Lumis. He felt cold penetrate through his entire body.
— What do you want? — he asked, trying not to show his fear.
The shadow didn’t respond, but its form began to shift. Before them appeared an image that made Eili freeze in horror. It was her likeness, but worn and hollow-eyed, with hands drenched in blood.
— What is this? — Eili recoiled, but Lumis held her shoulders.
— It’s just a reflection, — he said. — They’re trying to break us.
Another shadow turned toward Lumis, morphing into his own likeness. But this Lumis was different—gloomy, with eyes filled with disdain.
— You always doubt yourself, don’t you?— asked his doppelgänger with a smirk.
— You think you can protect her, but you don’t even know what you’re doing.
Lumis felt his heart tighten. He wanted to look away, but Eili grasped his face, forcing him to look only at her.
— It’s not true, — she said, her voice filled with strength. — You are more than they’re trying to show.
Her words restored his confidence. Lumis turned away from the shadows and extended his hand forward.
— You don’t control us.
The shadows froze, then began to retreat, dissolving into darkness. But their departure left behind the sensation that this was only the first part of a game they had started together.
— They wanted to break us, — Eili whispered when the last shadow vanished.
— But they failed, — Lumis replied, taking her hand. — And they never will.
They continued on their path, knowing that the real test lay ahead. The world around them transformed, becoming even more wondrous and perilous. Yet their bond grew stronger with each new step.
And now they knew: together, they could overcome anything.