The image of the ancient door haunted Eveline's thoughts in the days that followed. She knew that the vision wasn't merely a dream but a manifestation of something deep and hidden in her mind, or perhaps even in her soul. Every night, the same door appeared, mysterious and cloaked in shadows, calling her. She didn't know what lay beyond it, but part of Eveline felt that, somehow, it was tied to her rebirth and the reason for her arrival in this new world.
One of those days, curiosity began to outweigh fear. She woke up early, determined to seek answers. She knew that the mage Isolde was the only person who could guide her at that moment. Isolde wasn't just a magic teacher; there was something mysterious about her presence, as if she knew secrets beyond the comprehension of most. Perhaps she could help Eveline understand the meaning of that door.
After the morning lesson, Eveline made her way to the tower where Isolde usually practiced her magic. The tower was an ancient structure, isolated from the mansion, surrounded by tall trees and an unsettling silence. When she reached the carved wooden door, she hesitated for a moment but soon knocked. The door creaked as it opened, revealing Isolde's elegant figure.
"Lady Eveline," Isolde said with a slight smile. "What brings you here so early?"
"I need your help, Lady Isolde," Eveline replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "Something strange is happening to me… I've been having recurring dreams about a door, an old door. And I feel… I feel it's important, but I don't know why."
Isolde observed Eveline for a moment, her amber eyes fixed on her as if analyzing her words and emotions. "Come in," the mage said, stepping aside for Eveline to enter. "Let's talk about it."
The room in the tower was simple, with shelves full of books and vials containing mysterious ingredients. In the center was a round wooden table, and on it sat an oval mirror that glowed faintly. Isolde motioned for Eveline to sit.
"Tell me more about this door," Isolde requested, her voice calm and controlled.
Eveline settled into her seat and took a deep breath. "The door… it's old, made of dark wood, with strange carvings. Every time I see it, it's at the end of a dark corridor. I always feel like I need to open it, but something holds me back. I don't know what's beyond it, but… I feel it's somehow connected to my past."
Isolde listened intently, her eyes narrowing slightly. When Eveline finished speaking, the mage stood up and began to pace around the room, her hands clasped behind her back.
"There are doors that exist only in the mind, Eveline," she said, stopping in front of the mirror. "But some of those doors are more than mere creations of the subconscious. They can be portals to hidden truths, forgotten memories, or even… realities beyond this one."
Eveline frowned. "So you think this door might be related to my past? To my previous life?"
Isolde glanced at her over her shoulder, her expression serious. "It's possible. Your rebirth in this world was no accident. Doors like this tend to appear when there are secrets from the past that need to be revealed. But the question is: are you ready to face whatever lies on the other side?"
The question made Eveline hesitate. Part of her feared what she might find beyond that door. What exactly was she searching for? And what if something dangerous or disturbing was hidden in her past?
Still, she knew she couldn't ignore it forever. "Yes," she finally replied, her voice steadier than she expected. "I'm ready."
Isolde nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer. "Very well. There is a ritual we can perform to access this door and see what it holds. But I want you to understand: what we may see might not be what you expected. You must be prepared to accept any truth you encounter."
Eveline took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her decision. She was determined. "I accept."
Isolde moved with precision, retrieving books and crystals from her shelves. She arranged the objects on the table, forming a circle with the stones. In the center, she placed the mirror, which now seemed to glow more brightly. Eveline watched as the mage muttered words in an ancient language, causing the stones and mirror to emit a soft light.
"Close your eyes, Eveline," Isolde instructed. "Focus on the image of the door in your mind. Picture yourself standing before it, ready to open it. When you feel the presence of the door, touch the mirror."
Eveline closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The image of the door quickly formed in her mind, clearer than ever. She could feel the coldness of the corridor, the smell of mold in the old wood. When she saw herself standing in front of the door, she reached out and touched the mirror.
Suddenly, it was as if the ground had disappeared beneath her feet. Eveline was overcome by a sensation of vertigo, as if she were being pulled into an abyss. When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in Isolde's tower. She was back in the dark corridor, and the door stood before her.
Now, the door seemed even more imposing, almost alive. She knew there was no turning back. With a deep sigh, Eveline reached out her trembling hand to the cold iron handle and turned it.
The door creaked open slowly, revealing a dark, dusty room. In the center of the room was a large mirror, much like the one Isolde had used in the ritual. Eveline took a hesitant step inside, her heart pounding in her chest.
As she approached the mirror, a figure appeared inside it. Eveline froze when she saw a version of herself—not as Eveline, the daughter of a count, but as Suzume, the girl she had been in her past life. The other version looked directly at her, eyes full of sadness and regret.
"Why did you abandon me?" the figure whispered, its voice echoing through the room.
Eveline felt a sharp pain in her chest. It was as if all the insecurities and regrets from her previous life were manifesting in that figure. She stepped closer to the mirror.
"I didn't abandon you," Eveline replied, her voice trembling. "I… I was reborn. I had no choice."
The figure of Suzume continued to stare at her, and for a moment, Eveline felt that she was facing a part of herself she had not yet overcome. A part of her old self that was trapped in the limbo between the two lives.
Then, like a distant whisper, Isolde's voice echoed in her mind. "True liberation only comes when you accept who you were and who you've become."
Eveline took a deep breath and looked at the figure in the mirror with resolve. "I accept that I was Suzume. But now, I am Eveline. And I choose to live this life fully."
The figure smiled slightly before disappearing like mist dissolving into the air. The room around Eveline began to fade, and she felt the sensation of vertigo return. When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the tower, seated at the table before Isolde.
"Well?" the mage asked, her expression calm but attentive.
Eveline smiled softly, feeling lighter than ever. "I think… I'm finally starting to understand."
Isolde nodded. "The journey isn't over yet, Eveline. But this was the first step toward fully accepting your destiny."
Eveline knew there was still much to discover, but for the first time, she felt she could face whatever lay ahead. After all, the shadows of the past only hold power as long as you leave them hidden.
Now, Eveline was ready to open all the doors, one by one.