The oppressive silence of the labyrinth pressed down on Nox, Luna, and Elara as they ventured further into the dark, winding corridors. The brief respite after defeating the shadowy beast did little to ease the tension in the air. Every step felt heavier, as though the very walls around them held their breath, waiting for the next challenge to emerge.
Nox led the way, her eyes flickering with the faint glow of her Aether Vision, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. Luna and Elara flanked her, their bodies tense but ready, their weapons drawn. The bond between the three of them felt stronger after their confrontation with the beast, but the labyrinth was not done testing them.
"This place is endless," Elara muttered under her breath, her voice filled with frustration. "Are we even making progress?"
Nox glanced over her shoulder at Elara. "We are. It's trying to wear us down, mentally and physically. Every step forward is progress, no matter how it feels."
Luna's eyes narrowed as she studied the shadows that seemed to ripple along the walls. "It's like the labyrinth is alive, feeding off our emotions. We need to stay focused."
As if responding to Luna's words, the ground beneath them trembled, and the corridor ahead began to twist and shift. The walls morphed, and the once-straight path turned into a jagged, spiralling maze. The air grew colder, and a soft, mocking laughter echoed from somewhere deep within.
Nox's heart quickened. "This again."
Suddenly, the floor beneath them cracked, and the trio found themselves falling through the abyss. Nox's breath caught as the void swallowed them whole, the sensation of weightlessness disorienting. Darkness enveloped them, and for a moment, it felt like they would fall forever.
But just as quickly as it began, the fall ended. Nox hit solid ground with a thud, her body jolting with the impact. She groaned, pulling herself to her feet, her hands trembling slightly from the shock. Luna and Elara landed nearby, each of them recovering in their own way. Luna was on her feet almost immediately, her eyes scanning their new surroundings, while Elara muttered a string of curses under her breath as she rose.
Nox's eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing a new chamber—one vastly different from the others they had encountered. The floor was a polished black stone, reflecting their forms like a dark mirror. In the centre of the room stood a towering obsidian statue, its eyes glowing with a faint, eerie light. The statue depicted a figure draped in tattered robes, its face hidden beneath a hood, and in its hand, it held a large, cracked mirror.
The air was thick with a strange energy, a subtle pressure that made it hard to think clearly. Nox's heart raced as she approached the statue cautiously, her hand resting on her artifact. "This… feels different," she whispered.
Luna's eyes remained locked on the statue. "It's watching us."
Before Nox could respond, the statue's eyes flared brighter, and the cracked mirror in its hand shimmered. Without warning, the reflection in the mirror shifted, showing not their own images but something far more sinister. The figures in the mirror were twisted versions of themselves—each distorted and corrupted.
Nox's reflection was a version of herself consumed by darkness, her once-bright eyes now hollow and cold. A cruel smile twisted her lips, and in her hand, she held a bloodied dagger. Luna's reflection showed her drenched in shadows, her crimson eyes filled with a predatory hunger, her fangs bared. Elara's mirror image was surrounded by an aura of darkness, her once-kind expression replaced by one of ruthless, calculating malice.
"These aren't us," Elara hissed, stepping back, her voice laced with anger. "It's just another trick."
But Nox's stomach twisted as she stared at the reflections. The voice of the labyrinth echoed in her mind again, taunting her with her deepest fears. What if this is who you truly are?
The reflections in the mirror began to move, stepping out from the glass like spectres coming to life. Nox's dark doppelgänger smirked, twirling the dagger in her hand as she approached with slow, deliberate steps. "You think you're different?" she whispered, her voice a distorted echo of Nox's own. "You think you've changed, but the darkness in you is still there. It always will be."
Luna's shadow self bared her fangs, her voice low and venomous. "You can't escape what you are, no matter how hard you try."
Nox clenched her fists, her heart pounding. She knew this was just another trick of the labyrinth, another test, but the weight of their words gnawed at her. The doubts she had tried so hard to bury resurfaced, clawing at her mind.
"We won't fall for this," Luna said, her voice steady, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty. "These are just illusions."
Elara nodded, stepping forward. "We've dealt with worse. Let's end this."
But as they prepared to fight, the dark versions of themselves moved in perfect unison, their attacks swift and precise. Nox barely had time to block as her doppelgänger lunged at her, the dagger aimed straight for her heart. The force of the impact sent her staggering back, her arm trembling from the shock.
"These aren't just illusions," Nox muttered through gritted teeth. "They're strong."
Luna and Elara were faring no better. Their counterparts moved with a speed and precision that mirrored their own, anticipating their every move. It was like fighting themselves, but with no hesitation or restraint.
Nox's breath came in sharp, shallow gasps as she fought to keep her doppelgänger at bay. Every strike felt heavier, every dodge more sluggish. She could feel the doubt creeping in, slowing her down, clouding her mind. The voice in her head whispered again. What if they're right? What if this is who you're meant to be?
A flash of red caught her eye as Luna was knocked to the ground by her shadow self, the twisted Luna standing over her, ready to deliver a final blow. "No!" Nox shouted, surging forward, her power flaring as she slammed into the doppelgänger with everything she had. The impact sent the shadow Luna flying, crashing into the obsidian statue with a deafening crack.
The statue's eyes flickered, and the mirror in its hand began to fracture further, the cracks spreading across its surface. Nox's doppelgänger faltered, her movements slowing as the mirror continued to break.
"This is it," Nox realized. "The mirror—it's controlling them!"
"Elara!" Nox shouted. "Destroy the mirror!"
Elara nodded, her determination renewed. She dashed toward the statue, dodging her own doppelgänger's attacks with a new sense of urgency. With a powerful strike, she brought her weapon crashing down on the mirror. The glass shattered, and with it, the dark versions of themselves dissolved into smoke, their forms dissipating into the air.
The oppressive energy in the room lifted, and the statue crumbled into dust, leaving only the broken mirror at their feet. Nox let out a breath, her body trembling from the exertion. She glanced at Luna and Elara, both of them equally drained but alive.
"We did it," Elara said, her voice soft but filled with relief.
Luna wiped the sweat from her brow, nodding. "Another test down… but what's next?"
Nox looked around the now-silent chamber, her eyes lingering on the shattered remains of the mirror. "Whatever it is… we'll face it together," she said, her voice steady. "No more illusions. No more tricks."
They turned toward the only exit, a doorway that had appeared at the far end of the chamber. With their resolve strengthened and their bond unshaken, they stepped forward, ready for whatever the labyrinth had in store for them next.