The journey from Calanthar had left Yuki feeling contemplative, the weight of the memory he'd taken resting on him like a newfound responsibility. He kept replaying the images in his mind—snippets of courage, endurance, and love from lives that were not his own, yet had somehow left an indelible mark.
As the trio moved forward, the landscape transformed once more. Rolling hills gave way to shimmering pools, their waters so clear they reflected the sky like polished glass. In the distance, they saw their next destination, a city unlike any they had encountered so far: the City of Reflections.
Tall crystalline towers rose from the center, their surfaces mirroring the surroundings with pristine clarity. Every structure, from the smallest shack to the grandest building, was made of a material that seemed like glass but emanated a faint, otherworldly light. It was as if the city was both there and not—an illusion that kept shifting with every step.
"Is this entire city…made of reflections?" Sae whispered, her voice full of awe.
"It's said that those who enter the City of Reflections must confront their true selves," Taro said, recalling an old story he had read. "They say the city holds up a mirror, not just to your face, but to your heart."
Yuki felt a stirring of anticipation mixed with trepidation. Every journey he had taken, every realm he had entered, had been an encounter with the unknown. But this was something different. This was a confrontation with the self, and he wasn't sure what the city would show him.
They stepped through the city gates, and as soon as they entered, their surroundings shifted subtly. It was as if the city itself was alive, attuning itself to their presence. The crystalline walls seemed to ripple, images flickering within them like moving paintings.
Yuki glanced at one of the walls and stopped dead in his tracks. Reflected back at him was an image he hadn't seen in years—himself as a young boy, clutching a book close to his chest, with his eyes bright and full of wonder. He remembered that moment vividly; it was the first time he had discovered a story that truly captivated him, sparking the curiosity that would guide his entire life.
Sae, too, paused before a reflection of herself, a younger version with a look of fierce determination, yet sadness, in her eyes. She seemed to be arguing with someone just out of frame, and though the details were blurry, Yuki sensed that this was a moment of pain she rarely spoke of.
Taro, standing nearby, saw a version of himself dressed in ceremonial armor, holding a sword with a look of sorrow. Yuki could feel the tension radiating from him, as if the reflection had revealed an unresolved part of his past he had tried to leave behind.
"This city…it shows us things we've buried," Yuki murmured.
As they moved deeper, the reflections grew more intense, more personal. Shadows of fears, regrets, and unfulfilled dreams appeared around every corner. In one corridor, Yuki saw his own reflection, but twisted—his eyes hollow, his expression cold and distant. It was a version of himself he did not recognize, and it filled him with unease.
"Are these possibilities…or warnings?" Sae asked, a tremor in her voice as she gazed at a reflection of herself surrounded by faces she seemed to recognize but couldn't place.
A soft voice interrupted their thoughts. "They are truths," said a figure emerging from the shadows—a woman draped in shimmering robes, her face obscured by a hood that reflected her surroundings. "The City of Reflections reveals what lies within, be it the light or the darkness."
The figure extended a hand, and the walls around them shifted to show new scenes. Yuki saw his future self, older, worn from his travels but with a resolute strength in his eyes. He was surrounded by people, a mixture of allies and strangers, all looking to him as a leader. The sight filled him with both pride and an unexpected fear of responsibility.
"Why are we shown these?" Yuki asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"To understand what drives you, what you seek to overcome," the woman replied. "Each of you carries both strength and hesitation. The city shows you the paths within you—the paths of your past, present, and what may be."
They stood in silence, absorbing her words. Yuki felt a sense of clarity washing over him. The memory he had taken from the Celestial Loom, the courage of the mother he had connected with, now resonated within him. He realized he didn't have to fear these reflections; they were part of him, but they didn't define him.
"Thank you," Yuki said, bowing to the woman.
With a faint smile, she lifted her hood just enough for him to catch a glimmer of kind eyes before she disappeared, melting into the shimmering walls of the city.
As they exited the City of Reflections, each of them was quieter, more introspective. The visions they had seen lingered in their minds, a reminder of who they were and who they might become. And as they stepped back into the open landscape, Yuki felt a renewed sense of purpose. This journey wasn't just about discovering new realms—it was also about understanding himself.
"Let's keep moving," he said, leading the way. The others followed, their steps in harmony, as they continued down the ever-unfolding path before them.