"I trust you," she whispered, almost to herself.
She turned and sprinted toward Liam and his group.
They froze for a moment, taken aback by her sudden change. Then, their faces twisted into grim determination. They raised their swords and rushed to meet her.
Meanwhile, Kael pushed off the wall, willing his body to move. Move! he screamed inwardly, slapping his legs with his palms, willing some spark of strength to ignite.
It's pointless, he thought bitterly. But then he dropped to the ground and began to crawl toward the corridor.
Five meters... four... three... two... one!
He reached the entrance of the corridor, panting heavily. He glanced back one last time. He saw Astra vault over their heads in a blur of speed and disappear through the glowing exit.
Then, he saw the faces of four furious opponents turn toward him. Their eyes were filled with bloodlust as they charged.
He grinned weakly, lifted his hand, and gave Liam the middle finger before dragging himself through the corridor's opening. As soon as he crossed the threshold, a solid gray wall appeared behind him, sealing off his path. The sound of furious shouts and steel hammering against stone echoed faintly through the barrier.
At least one good thing about this shitty situation, he mused, a flicker of humor crossing his mind. But it faded as quickly as it had come. Ahead, the symbols on the walls began to glow. First softly, then with a steady, otherworldly radiance.
They didn't dance like flames, so it wasn't a fire trap. However, they didn't carry the heavy pull of memory traps, either.
Great, he thought bitterly. A new kind of nightmare.
Then it began.
Something stirred deep within his mind and pulsed gently through his body. It wasn't painful but strangely soothing, like a warm breeze brushing over his thoughts.
With a low rumble, two walls on opposite sides of the corridor slid open. Kael forced himself forward, crawling toward the openings. When he reached them, his eyes widened.
To his right, there was nothing. Just a dim, mist-filled corridor surrounded by gray walls, familiar and endless. It was endless and silent.
The exit was on his left. It was bathed in brilliant white light. It shimmered like a dream finally within reach.
That's it? he wondered. What's the point of this trap?
The answer came almost instantly.
Before his eyes, two visions began to unfold: One in each opening.
Out of curiosity, he turned toward the exit, side first. But his amazement twisted into horror as the images sharpened.
The corridor vanished, replaced by a silent battlefield. Blood soaked the ground like spilled ink.
Zaros was the first to fall. His chest was pierced, yet he still clutched his sword. His body was frozen in place. He had died protecting someone. Lia was next to him. Her head lay beside her body. Tears had dried on her cheeks, and her wide eyes were fixed on him.
Then Astra. She was in his arms. Her breath was shallow. Her small, pained smile was heartbreakingly gentle. "I'm sorry," she whispered. As her fingers slipped from his, he saw his blade buried in her chest.
"No..." His knees gave way. "No! That's not—"
But her lips moved again, barely audible: "This was always your fate."
The world cracked like glass around him, and his heart pounded against his ribs. Did I do this? Is this my fault?
His mind refused to process it. His thoughts shut down, instinctively shielding him from the overwhelming weight of what he saw. He stared at the scene in defeat, his heart hollow.
What's the point of it all? Is this how it ends?
His eyes wandered over the three bodies—Lia, Zaros, and Astra. What if their deaths are the price for having me in their lives? What if I was never meant to exist at all?
A bitter, broken laugh escaped him as he turned to the next vision.
The air turned soft and golden, like an eternal sunset. A gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers he couldn't identify. In the distance, laughter rang out. It was Astra, laughing with children as they chased fireflies. Lia stood before an alchemical tower reaching the skies. She wore elegant robes and smiled as if she'd never known sorrow. Zaros wore the commander's cloak and gave speeches to his troops.
And Kael? He stood in front of a small wooden hut, splitting firewood. The scent of home lingered in the air. It was the same scent that had once ripped his heart open. His eyes were calm, but the longing remained—quiet yet unshakable.
Everything shimmered faintly, like a painting with wet paint that never dried. The light didn't flicker. The wind didn't shift. The laughter repeated the same melody over and over.
A whisper crept into his ear: "Stay."
He smiled softly as he stood up and stepped toward his vision of a world where everyone lived and no one died. The light ahead was warm and gentle, like a peaceful embrace.
But just as he was about to cross the threshold, his steps faltered. His hands clenched into trembling fists.
Faces flashed before his mind like stars fighting through darkness.
Zaros with a bold grin. "If you're going to run, at least run forward."
Lia teasing with a smirk as she held one of her volatile potions. "If you give up, drink this. But if there's even a spark left in you, fight."
Astra's stern voice. "If you seek death, do it alone. But as long as you're with me, you'll keep walking."
Her words burned into his heart like a seal.
They will always be with me, no matter what happens.
With a sneer on his lips and fire in his chest, Kael turned away from the comforting illusion. He faced the unknown—the future he would carve with his own hands. Step by step, he walked through the vision, defying it, not seeking escape.
Kael staggered, but he didn't fall. Not yet. This is my path, he thought just before the brilliance consumed him completely. The last thing he felt was not fear, but rather a strange, calm strength. Then, everything faded to white.