"You can't fight me, Seraphina," the reflection hissed, its voice sharp and cold. "Because I am you. Every doubt, every failure, every fear—you created me."
Seraphina staggered backward, her chest heaving. The dark forest seemed alive, twisting and reshaping itself to echo her growing panic. The mist clung to her like icy fingers, and the shadows whispered accusations she couldn't block out.
"I'm not you!" she shouted, her voice breaking.
The reflection smirked, stepping closer. Its clawed fingers gleamed like polished obsidian, and its eyes, though hollow, glowed with a sinister light. "Aren't you? You were always too weak to face the truth. You hide behind duty, behind your crown, pretending you're selfless. But deep down, you're afraid—of him, of this curse, of yourself."
Seraphina clenched her fists, trembling with fury and despair. "You're lying!"
The reflection's laugh was sharp and cruel. "Am I? Then why are you here, trapped in a trial meant to reveal your truth? Face it, Seraphina. You'll never save him. You'll fail, just like the others."
The words pierced her like a dagger. She thought of the Shadow Lord, of Caelan, fading into the darkness while she was stuck here, fighting her own mind. Was the reflection right? Would she fail, just like every bride before her?
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "I won't fail. I can't."
Her reflection's smile widened, and with a flick of its hand, the forest erupted into chaos. Trees groaned and twisted, their branches clawing at the sky. The ground beneath Seraphina's feet cracked, revealing an abyss of swirling shadows.
"Prove it, then," the reflection taunted. "If you're so strong, if you truly believe you can save him, face me."
Before Seraphina could respond, the reflection lunged. Its claws slashed through the air, and Seraphina barely dodged, stumbling over the uneven ground. The reflection was fast—too fast—and its movements were eerily fluid, like a predator stalking its prey.
"You can't outrun me, princess," it sneered. "I know your every move, your every thought. I am you."
Seraphina gritted her teeth, her mind racing. This wasn't just a fight for survival—it was a battle against herself. She needed to outthink it, to find a way to defeat it without succumbing to the darkness.
Her eyes darted around the forest, searching for anything she could use. The shadows were closing in, their whispers growing louder, more insistent. But then she noticed something—a faint glimmer in the distance, barely visible through the mist.
Hope sparked in her chest. Whatever it was, it had to be her way out.
"You're wrong," she said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. "You're not me. You're just a shadow, a twisted version of my fears. And I'm not afraid of you."
The reflection snarled, its form flickering. "We'll see about that."
Seraphina turned and ran, her heart pounding. The reflection's laughter echoed behind her, but she didn't look back. The glimmer grew brighter as she approached, revealing a small pool of crystal-clear water nestled among the twisted roots of an ancient tree.
She skidded to a stop, her breath catching. The water's surface shimmered like a mirror, reflecting the sky above. It felt... different, untouched by the darkness surrounding it.
"Think this will save you?" the reflection sneered, appearing behind her. "You can't run from yourself, Seraphina."
She turned to face it, her back to the pool. "I'm not running," she said, her voice firm. "I'm confronting you."
The reflection hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing. "What are you doing?"
Seraphina didn't answer. Instead, she stepped backward, into the pool. The water was ice-cold, but it felt soothing against her skin. She sank to her knees, her reflection staring back at her from the water's surface.
"You think hiding in there will save you?" the reflection scoffed, circling the edge of the pool like a predator. "You're only delaying the inevitable."
Seraphina closed her eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath. This wasn't just a physical fight—it was a test of her resolve, of her belief in herself. She had to trust her instincts, to find the strength within her to overcome the darkness.
When she opened her eyes, the reflection was standing in the water, mere inches away. Its claws glinted menacingly, but Seraphina didn't flinch.
"I'm not afraid of you," she said, her voice steady.
The reflection's eyes widened, and for the first time, it faltered. "What... what are you doing?"
"I'm accepting you," Seraphina said, her gaze unwavering. "You're a part of me, but you don't define me. I won't let my fears control me anymore."
The reflection let out a strangled cry, its form flickering wildly. "No! You can't—"
But before it could finish, the water surged, glowing with a brilliant light. Seraphina felt a warmth spreading through her, a sense of peace she hadn't felt in years. The reflection screamed, its form dissolving into the water like ink.
When the light faded, the pool was calm once more, its surface reflecting the clear sky above. Seraphina stared at her reflection, but this time, it was just her—no shadows, no twisted version of herself.
She stood, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time. The forest around her began to shift, the twisted trees straightening, the shadows retreating.
A voice echoed in her mind, soft and kind. "You have passed the first trial, Princess Seraphina. But beware—the next will test your heart in ways you cannot yet imagine."
Before she could respond, the ground beneath her feet gave way, and she was falling once more, the forest vanishing into darkness.
Seraphina landed hard, the air knocked out of her lungs. She struggled to her feet, her surroundings coming into focus. She was in a grand hall, its walls lined with mirrors.
But something was wrong. The mirrors didn't reflect her—they showed Caelan, chained and struggling, his shadowy form flickering like a dying flame.
"Seraphina," his voice echoed, filled with pain. "Help me."
She stepped forward, her heart pounding. But as she reached out to touch the nearest mirror, a cold voice rang out.
"To save him, princess, you must first destroy what binds you."
Before she could ask what that meant, the mirrors began to crack, one by one, the sound echoing like thunder.