A thin mist blanketed the cold stone floor as Luma, Kael, and Ereth stepped into the deepest chamber of the Cracked Tower. The atmosphere was silent and dark, swallowing every footstep. The light from a small spell Ereth cast could only illuminate a few steps ahead—beyond that was a resonating darkness.
The three walked slowly, but suddenly—a loud slam echoed as the stone door behind them shut tight, sealing the space. In an instant, Luma found herself alone.
"Kael? Ereth?" Luma called out, but only her own voice echoed back. The walls around her had changed—now surrounded by dark mirrors.
From within the shadows, a figure emerged. She was the same height as Luma, her face… was Selene's. But her eyes were empty, and her voice, flat.
"You are only a reflection. That light does not belong to you."
Luma swallowed hard. The figure walked closer. "You will fail, just like the others."
But Luma stood firm. "If I am her shadow, then even a shadow can choose to become light."
She stepped forward and embraced the figure—and in that moment, Selene's shadow trembled, turning into particles of light before vanishing. Inside, Luma felt something change. The light that once came from outside now burned from within.
Meanwhile, Kael stood before a living image from his past—his father kneeling before Vaeloth, offering their entire village in exchange for his family's safety. Vaeloth's voice in the vision whispered, "Your blood is the blood of a traitor."
Kael gripped his sword. "My father chose that path out of fear. I won't repeat it. I fight not for legacy—but for those who believe in me."
With a sharp strike, he shattered the vision. The image broke into pieces, and Kael was surrounded by a warm light. His resolve stood unshaken.
Ereth, on the other hand, faced his former self—dressed in pitch-black, red eyes glowing, filled with hatred.
"Change is useless. You'll always be Vaeloth's tool."
Ereth took a deep breath. "Maybe I was once a tool. But now, I choose who I am. And I choose to stand against him."
The shadow attacked, but Ereth didn't resist—instead, he closed his eyes and let the shadow pass through him. It vanished, like smoke without substance.
Moments later, the three of them reunited in a large, circular hall. Ancient murals were carved into the walls—depicting the rise and fall of Vaeloth, and the faces of those who once opposed him… all of whom had failed.
Ereth read the final inscription aloud: "The Shadow never sleeps. It awaits a new master."
Suddenly, from the dark ceiling above, something descended slowly. A half-physical being—tall, thin, its form like a moving shadow.
"The Shadow Keeper…" Ereth whispered.
The creature gazed at them, its eyes a faint red. "Three arrive bearing light. But only one shall walk to the end."
Tension filled the air. They braced themselves. The light within each of them began to glow—signaling that the coming battle would not be one of strength alone, but of the soul.
The shadow smiled—and the chamber began to tremble.
To Be Continued...