An suffocating, bone-chilling force permeates the air surrounding The Shaper's Gate, feeling alive and ready to devour anybody who dares to enter. The shadowy outlines of The Shaper's warped domain, where time, space, and reality bend to its whim, lurk beyond the tall, shadow-veiled barrier. Standing together, silent yet near, Arin and Cassiel are both struggling with the weight of what is ahead.
With a racing heart, Arin grabs Cassiel's hand and finds strength in their company. A black inscription burns over the portal's surface: Only those who are willing to sacrifice may pass. The portal responds to their resolve with a faint hum, as if testing their devotion.
They exchange glances as comprehension dawns on both of them. To go across this line and face The Shaper, they have to permanently give up a part of themselves. For Arin, this entails losing the essence of their Time Fragments, as well as pieces of the aspirations, dreams, and memories that have driven them along the way. Cassiel sees it as a sacrifice that will permanently weaken them—the cutting of a piece of their old, strong soul.
Cassiel hesitates, and Arin can tell by the way their eyes linger on the whirling blackness outside the gate. Arin moves closer silently and places a palm on the chilly surface, sensing their energy pulsing into it as the gateway frequently drains a crucial portion of their vitality.
Cassiel's gaze expands. "Wait, Arin—"
However, Arin fixes Cassiel's stare with unwavering resolve, a glimmer of warmth illuminating their exhausted face. "If we desire to, we must give it our best to rescue this earth. If it meant we could do this together, I would be willing to contribute much more.
Arin's determination causes Cassiel to tremble, and their heart tightens. They come to understand how much they care about Arin—not just as another comrade, but as something far more valuable—in this one act of selflessness. Cassiel has been battling to save the planet for a long time, but now, for the first time, they are fighting for someone inside the globe as well.
They take a step forward, pushing their own hand to the doorway in the same manner as Arin. They experience a profound sense of loss when the gateway drains their essence, depriving them of abilities they've possessed since ancient times, leaving the place where power used to pour empty.
They are overcome by a wave of passion that unpredictably ties their sacrifice to Arin's. Cassiel has a deep feeling of connection as well as a greater fragility as their powers fade. Feeling a rush of warmth that lessens the loss, they turn to Arin and grab for their hand. It's about facing whatever comes next together, no matter the cost; it's no longer about duty or responsibility.
The doorway changes once their sacrifices are made, glimmering as though it understands the significance of their offerings. It allows them to pass through, and when they do, they quietly realize that they are now bonded by a love that was created in the depths, transcending time and space, fear, and grief of hopelessness.
The world beyond The Shaper's Gate opens out before them as the shadows fade, revealing a warped terrain where the relics of their worst fears still exist. Nevertheless, bolstered by their sacrifice and their unshakable love, they go hand in hand, prepared to face whatever lies ahead.