"Would you truly sacrifice him for your own salvation?"
The question thundered through Seraphina's mind as though it had been spoken aloud. She stood frozen, her hand still clutching Caelan's. His eyes burned with urgency, but there was something else there—acceptance.
"Seraphina," Caelan said quietly, his voice steady even as the world around them trembled. "Don't answer it."
Her heart clenched. "How can I not? It's asking me to choose. If I don't—"
"It will twist whatever you say," he interrupted, his tone growing sharper. "That's what it does. Don't let it manipulate you."
"But what if it's the only way?" she countered, tears stinging her eyes.
Before Caelan could respond, the voice returned, louder and more sinister.
"You have hesitated. That alone is a choice."
"No!" Seraphina shouted, her voice cracking. "I won't let you decide for me!"
The ground beneath her gave way suddenly, and she screamed as she was plunged into darkness. The last thing she saw was Caelan's outstretched hand, his expression stricken.
Seraphina landed hard, the air knocked from her lungs. She scrambled to her feet, her surroundings unfamiliar. The hall was gone, replaced by a dense forest bathed in eerie twilight. The trees were twisted, their branches gnarled like skeletal hands. Shadows danced around her, whispering incoherent words.
"Where am I?" she murmured, her voice trembling.
A faint glow appeared ahead, drawing her attention. It was warm, golden, and inviting—a stark contrast to the cold, oppressive darkness. Without thinking, she stepped toward it.
As she approached, the glow grew stronger, and she found herself standing before a massive, ancient tree. Its bark shimmered with veins of light, and at its base was a small, wooden door.
"Enter," the voice commanded.
Seraphina hesitated. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but she couldn't. She knew this was the beginning of the final trial.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room she entered was impossibly large, its walls lined with mirrors. Each one reflected a different version of her—a child, a warrior, a queen, a shadowy figure cloaked in darkness.
"Do you recognize yourself?" the voice asked mockingly.
Seraphina didn't answer, her eyes darting between the mirrors. Her reflection changed as she moved, the images shifting and twisting.
"What do you want from me?" she demanded, her voice shaking.
"To see the truth," the voice replied. "The truth about you, about him, about what you truly desire."
One mirror began to glow, and Seraphina stepped toward it hesitantly. The image it displayed wasn't her own—it was Caelan.
He stood alone in a dark void, his shoulders hunched as though carrying an invisible weight. His eyes were closed, and his expression was one of profound sorrow.
"Do you see him now?" the voice whispered.
"I see him," she said softly.
"Do you see what he truly is?"
The image shifted. Caelan's form began to change, his features twisting until he became monstrous—his skin darkened, his eyes burned red, and shadowy tendrils writhed around him like living creatures.
"No," Seraphina said firmly, shaking her head. "That's not him."
The voice laughed. "You cling to your illusions. How can you save him when you can't even face the truth?"
The mirrors shattered, and Seraphina cried out, shielding her face. When she lowered her hands, she was no longer in the mirrored room.
She stood in a small, simple cottage. The air was warm, filled with the scent of herbs and flowers. A fire crackled in the hearth, and a figure sat at the table, his back to her.
"Caelan?" she whispered.
The figure turned, and her heart leapt. It was him, but he looked… different. Softer. Human.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice gentle but firm.
"I'm not leaving," she replied, stepping closer. "Not until I understand."
"There's nothing to understand," he said, standing. "This is who I am. This is the life I could have had, but it was stolen from me. And now, it's your burden too."
"No," she said fiercely. "I refuse to believe that this is all there is."
He smiled sadly. "You're stronger than they were, I'll give you that. But strength won't be enough."
The cottage began to fade, the walls crumbling into darkness. Caelan reached for her, his expression desperate.
"Find the truth, Seraphina. Before it's too late."
She was back in the forest, the ancient tree looming above her. The door was gone, replaced by a black void that seemed to pulse with malevolent energy.
"Your time is running out," the voice warned.
Seraphina squared her shoulders, her fear giving way to determination. "You won't break me. I'll find him, and I'll break this curse."
The shadows around her surged, their whispers growing louder.
And then she saw it—a pair of glowing red eyes staring at her from the darkness.
"Are you sure you can save him," the voice taunted, "when you don't even know who—or what—he truly is?"