A few minutes…
Half an hour…
An hour…
a few hours…
A day…
Losing the count of the time axis just kept walking.
Strangely enough no matter how much he walked he did not feel fatigue , nor hunger nor thrust…
Time stretched on. The mist thickened and then thinned intermittently, teasing him with faint glimpses of shapes that never fully formed. Axis's heart pounded in his chest. Was he lost? Was this some kind of test?
Just as his resolve began to falter, a faint flicker of light appeared ahead.
Axis's breath caught in his throat. The light was small, almost insignificant, but in this endless fog, it was something—anything—to guide him. He quickened his pace, drawn toward the flickering glow.
As he moved closer, the mist began to part slightly, revealing more of his surroundings. The ground beneath his feet felt firmer, more solid, and the light grew brighter. It was now clear that the light wasn't just random—it was leading him somewhere.
He stepped through the thinning mist and found himself standing before a large, ornate mirror. The mirror itself was framed in silver, its surface rippling like water. The flickering light he had been following was coming from the mirror's reflection, though the source remained unseen.
Axis hesitated, staring at his own reflection. Something felt off. The boy in the mirror wasn't exactly him—he looked older, his eyes more weathered, his expression harder.
"What... is this?" Axis whispered, taking a step closer.
As if responding to his words, the mirror began to shimmer, and the reflection shifted. The figure in the mirror turned, as if acknowledging him. Then, the reflection smiled—a cold, knowing smile that sent a chill down Axis's spine.
"Who are you?" Axis demanded, his voice steadier than he felt.
The reflection tilted its head, as if amused, but said nothing. Instead, the figure raised a hand, and to Axis's horror, his own hand mirrored the movement. It was as if the reflection was controlling him, not the other way around.
"I'm you," the reflection finally spoke, its voice soft yet powerful. "Or rather, I'm the you that you could become."
"What does that mean?" Axis asked, his heart pounding harder now. He was struggling to maintain control of his own body, but it felt as if the reflection had a grip on him.
The reflection's smile widened. "It means you have choices to make, and paths to walk. But not all of them lead to the light. Some... lead to power. Power you can't even imagine."
Axis clenched his fists, fighting the sensation that his movements weren't entirely his own. "I don't want your power."
"Don't be so sure," the reflection replied with a laugh. "The door you seek is close. But the question is—are you ready for what lies beyond it?"
Before Axis could respond, the mirror rippled violently, and the figure within it dissolved into a swirling mass of light and darkness. The mist that had surrounded him dissipated entirely, and Axis was no longer in the empty void.
Just as it disappeared he heard a small whisper " world inside the mirror "
Axis stared at the door in front of him, frustration gnawing at his mind. He had tried again and again, but the door wouldn't budge. The whisper, "world inside the mirror," echoed in his thoughts, lingering like a riddle he couldn't solve.
His hands trembled slightly as he traced the glowing sigils etched into the massive door, his heart pounding. He wanted to understand the strange reflection, the cryptic message, and what lay beyond the door—but he also feared what it might mean for him.
Then the system's voice interrupted his thoughts, snapping him back to reality.
{Host, it's almost morning. We should leave.}
Axis glanced around, realizing that the mist had cleared completely. The strange ethereal atmosphere was fading away, and he could sense the world around him slowly returning to normal.
"Leave?" he muttered under his breath. His instinct was to push forward, to keep trying until the door opened, but something in him hesitated. He knew that continuing without fully understanding the path ahead could be dangerous.
He let out a slow breath, stepping back from the door. His mind raced through the events—what the reflection had said, the strange sensations, and the message about the mirror. Maybe he wasn't ready, or maybe there was something he was missing. Either way, he knew that for now, he had to leave.
"Fine," he muttered, though the words left a bitter taste in his mouth. "Let's get out of here."
The forest around him seemed calm as the first hints of morning light began to creep through the trees. Despite the stillness, Axis couldn't shake the feeling that the reflection was watching him, waiting for him to make a choice.
As he turned away, a quiet resolve settled in his chest. The door would remain, but so would his questions. He would return, but not now. Not until he had the answers he needed.
With one last glance at the towering door, Axis whispered to himself, "Next time."
...
Hi guys i made discord server for you guys and me to interact with each other if you guys interested join in.
Discord server link: https://discord.gg/htcCHBHjXd
see you guys in next chapter.