Melania walked forward, no longer feeling fatigue or fear. Her heart was cold, but stubborn, like a stone that refuses to be worn down by water. The darkness surrounding her began to change. It was no longer so thick and impenetrable, but seemed to scatter, leaving behind a soft light that pulled her toward new boundaries. Strange lights appeared occasionally, seemingly marking her path, but each flash struck her with the uncanny feeling that they were part of something greater, part of her choice.
And then, in the vast expanse, she saw something she had not expected. On the horizon, a fortress rose, seemingly from another world. It was built from a transparent stone that didn’t exist in her reality, and it gleamed, reflecting the light like a precious gem. Melania approached, and her eyes were momentarily overwhelmed by the light emanating from the fortress, as if the magic itself was seeping into her body.
As she drew nearer, a man in white armor emerged from the enormous gates of the fortress. His figure was bright and unusual, as if made from light itself. He approached her without a sound, and though his appearance seemed out of time, there was something familiar in his gaze.
“You have made your choice,” he said, his voice sounding like music, coming from the depth of the earth. “Now you must accept what comes next.”
Melania inhaled and nodded. She understood that her choice had not only echoed in reality but also in the very magic of the world. Everything around her had become something more than just a play of forces. She had become part of this world, part of the light and the darkness, and all that remained now was to find out where her choice would lead her.
The man extended his hand to her, holding a sword made of light. The blade was transparent, but energy flowed from it, shifting the reality around them. Melania took the sword, feeling the power it transmitted filling her.
“This is your path, your weapon,” he said. “This sword does not simply cut physical barriers. It slices through the fabric of reality, tearing apart old worlds and opening new ones. But remember, every strike carries consequences.”
Melania held the sword, feeling its weight. Her hands trembled, but it was not weakness—it was the awakening of power in her heart. She realized that she was no longer just a player in the great game; her choice had now become the force that would shape the future of all worlds.
“What must I do?” she asked.
The man stepped back, his face becoming blurry, like the wind that erases tracks in the sand.
“You must awaken this power,” he said. “Now you stand at the threshold of a great battle, and this sword will guide you. But remember, every path has two sides, and not everyone who takes up a weapon can bear its burden.”
With those words trembling in her soul, he vanished. She was left alone, standing at the gates of the fortress, the sword in her hand reflecting her own image.
She knew her journey had not ended—it had only just begun. Now, she was more than just a traveler. She had become the bearer of choice, and every step she took would mean more than just a movement in space. She was destined to awaken a new reality, and this sword was her key.
Melania raised her head and once again looked at the fortress walls. Her path, which now seemed so clear, was in reality filled with uncertainty, for she knew that every choice had its price.
And this sword was only the beginning of her trial.