Evren took a step into the twisting corridor, his eyes adjusting to the flickering shadows cast by torches along the walls. He had passed the Trial of Reflection, but whatever lay ahead felt no less sinister. The air here was thick with illusions, layers upon layers of shadows, each one a trick meant to distract or deter him. Evren smirked. Tricks and illusions were easy to sidestep—he'd spent too long tangled in his own doubts to let these feeble traps unsettle him.
As he moved deeper, a soft whisper brushed against his ear. "Lost, are we?"
He spun, his hand reflexively reaching for the dagger at his waist. A figure melted out of the shadows: a tall woman with sharp eyes and a half-smile, her face framed by a mass of dark, tangled hair. She wore dark leather armor, patched and scuffed in places, but her stance radiated confidence. She looked like someone who knew the Abyss well, someone who had navigated its twisted pathways and come out stronger.
"Who are you?" he asked, not lowering his guard.
The woman crossed her arms, assessing him with a tilt of her head. "Call me Mira," she said. "And judging by that bracelet and the aura you're giving off, I'd say you're here for the Depth Trials." Her smile widened. "Ambitious, aren't we?"
Evren's gaze narrowed. "What do you know about the Depth Trials?"
"Oh, enough to keep me alive," she replied nonchalantly, shrugging. "The Abyss is no place for fools or the faint-hearted. Most people wouldn't dare to wander this deep." She leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "But you don't strike me as 'most people.'"
Evren's mind raced. Mira could be a potential ally, someone who understood these trials far better than he did. But he knew better than to trust so easily. People in the Abyss rarely acted without motive, and Mira's apparent interest in him was suspicious at best.
Feigning a look of reluctant acceptance, he sighed and allowed his expression to soften slightly. "Alright, Mira. Maybe you can help me, then. I'm looking for…guidance."
Mira raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Guidance? You think you're in need of a mentor?"
"Or perhaps just a guide," Evren replied smoothly, his tone casual, though his senses remained sharp, attuned to any sign of deceit. "You seem to know the Abyss well."
"Oh, I do," she said with a chuckle, leading him deeper into the labyrinth. "But for a sweet guy like you, my help is free."
"Thank God," Evan thought to himself. He kept his face neutral, giving a curt nod as if he expected nothing less. He followed her, carefully noting every turn, every branching pathway, committing the layout of the labyrinth to memory. If she was leading him into a trap, he wanted to know his way back.
They continued in silence for a time, moving past corridors that seemed to shimmer and shift, bending reality in strange ways. Evren glanced at Mira out of the corner of his eye, studying her every movement. She walked with an easy, confident stride, never hesitating, as though the ever-shifting maze were as familiar to her as her own reflection.
"So, what's up with you?" Mira asked, breaking the silence. "I doubt a man like you wandered into the Abyss without a reason."
Evren offered a slight smile, one he hoped would come across as mysterious rather than evasive. "Let's just say I'm looking for something."
Mira chuckled.
They rounded a corner, and suddenly the air grew cold, the shadows pooling in thicker waves. Evren's skin prickled, and he felt the weight of something watching them, hidden in the dark recesses of the corridor.
"Stay close," Mira whispered, her voice losing its previous mirth. "There are things in this part of the Abyss that aren't too fond of visitors."
He obeyed, though his mind was working quickly. She wasn't wrong about the presence—they both felt it. But he couldn't help wondering if she had led him here intentionally, hoping to expose him to one of the Abyss's dangers. He tested the waters, letting a hint of concern cross his face. "Are you sure this is the right way?"
"Oh, trust me," Mira said with a smirk. "This is the only way if you're looking to prove yourself."
Her answer was vague, evasive, but Evren didn't press. He knew when not to overplay his hand. Instead, he decided to let her believe she held the upper hand. "Fine," he said. "But don't let me walk into a trap."
They moved on, and Evren could feel the intensity of the shadows pressing down on them, as if they were alive. Mira moved more quickly now, her steps urgent, and he followed, his mind focused but his expression wary. He noted her glance back at him once or twice, as if assessing him, perhaps to see if he would flinch or falter. He made sure he didn't.
Eventually, they came to a small chamber, dimly lit by a faint blue glow emanating from the walls. Mira halted, looking at him with an expression that was somewhere between admiration and appraisal.
"You've got guts," she said. "Most people would have turned back by now."
Evren shrugged, feigning a nonchalant tone. "Guess I'm not most people."
Mira laughed, and for a moment, he thought he saw something genuine in her eyes—an appreciation, or perhaps respect. But then it was gone, replaced by that same calculating gleam.
"This is where I leave you," she said, gesturing to a doorway beyond the chamber. "Go through there, and you'll find the path to the next trial."
Evren nodded, but didn't move. Instead, he looked at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Thank's, Mira. Perhaps we'll see each other again again."
Her eyes held his for a beat longer than necessary. "Perhaps," she said softly, her voice laced with something he couldn't quite place. Then, with a slight nod, she melted back into the shadows, leaving him alone.
As the darkness settled around him, Evren allowed himself a small smile. Mira was interesting, but he wouldn't let his guard down. If she wanted to play her own game, he was more than willing to play along—but on his terms.
With a final glance at the path ahead, he steeled himself and stepped forward.