Raven steeled himself and nodded. "I'm ready to face the truth," he said.
The shadow self vanished, leaving Raven feeling a sense of emptiness. But Lyra and Mira approached him, their faces filled with concern.
"What just happened?" Lyra asked.
Raven took a deep breath. "I confronted my shadow self," he said. "It's...it's hard to explain."
Mira's eyes narrowed. "What did it say?"
Raven hesitated, unsure of how to reveal the truth. But something about Kaelara's words echoed in his mind: "The truth will set you free."
"It said that I've been running from my past," Raven admitted. "From the mistakes I made, from the people I hurt. It said that I've been using my sword as a crutch, a way to hide from my own weaknesses."
Lyra's expression turned somber. "I had no idea," she said.
Mira's eyes were filled with understanding. "We all have our own demons to face," she said.
Kaelara approached them, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. "You've reached the heart of the maze," she said. "The truth has been revealed. Now, you must face the consequences."
As they turned a corner, they found themselves facing a large, ornate door. The door was adorned with intricate carvings, depicting scenes of battles won and lost.
"This is it," Kaelara said. "The door to the heart of the maze. Are you prepared to face what lies beyond?"