They pressed forward, the steps shifting beneath their feet. Aria's face was pale with concentration as she worked to keep the dream space stable, but cracks began to form, distorting the edges of their surroundings. The path was treacherous, the chasm beneath them seeming to pulse with each step as if it were alive, waiting for them to slip.
Midway across, Vlada suddenly froze, her gaze fixed on the figure.
"Vlada?" Ayan's voice was low but urgent.
The figure chuckled, watching her reaction. "Ah, you recognize me now, don't you?"
Her face paled. "This is… impossible."
The figure leaned forward, his eyes glinting. "Am I, though? Or am I exactly what you feared you'd find?"
Vlada's hands shook as she struggled to steady herself. "You're just a projection. A shadow."
