Kael advanced cautiously, each step echoing in the oppressive silence of the labyrinth. The hall of crystals seemed infinite, its walls reflecting fragments of his life he didn't remember sharing with anyone. As he passed a particularly radiant crystal, his reflection stared back at him but didn't mirror his movements.
He froze.
"This isn't real," he murmured, his voice barely an echo in the vast chamber.
The reflection leaned toward him, as if challenging his statement. It was him, yet not entirely: his clothes were tattered and stained with dried blood, and his usually determined eyes were hollow. Suddenly, the reflection smiled—a twisted grin Kael had never made.
"Why do you insist on going forward?" the reflection whispered, though its lips barely moved.
Kael stepped back, but the crystal followed, moving closer without him touching it.
"Who are you?" he asked, a knot forming in his throat.
"The real question is: who are you?" The reflection tilted its head. "An explorer. A fugitive. A coward chasing something you'll never find."
Kael shut his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. He knew the labyrinth was toying with him. These were illusions—tricks meant to weaken him. Yet the reflection's words struck a chord deep within.
When he opened his eyes again, the crystal was gone, and the path before him stretched into a narrow corridor, dimly lit by a silvery glow emanating from the floor. Gripping his lantern tightly, he turned it on to push back the gloom.
The corridor was tight, and the mirrored walls refracted the light into a kaleidoscope of shifting colors that flickered like they were alive. He walked in silence, his steps muffled by the smooth, slippery texture of the ground. Every so often, a soft chime, like the tinkling of bells, broke the stillness, making him glance over his shoulder.
After several minutes, the passage opened into another chamber, but this one was different. In the center, atop a raised platform, stood a massive crystal, darker than the others, with a crack running from top to bottom. The air around it hummed, and Kael felt a weight on his chest, as though the crystal were drawing all the energy from the room.
As he approached, he noticed something trapped within the crystal. It was humanoid—or at least it appeared so. The features were blurred, but the outline of a body was unmistakable.
"What… is this?" he whispered, stepping closer with caution.
The figure inside the crystal moved. It was a faint gesture, but enough to make Kael recoil, his heart pounding.
"Help me…" A faint, barely audible voice echoed in his mind.
Kael turned, searching for the source, but no one else was in the room. The voice had come from the crystal.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice steadier this time.
The figure stirred again, raising what appeared to be a hand, though the crystal's crack distorted the details.
"I'm a traveler… like you. This place… this labyrinth… trapped me."
Kael eyed the crack in the crystal, wondering if he should touch it. Something deep within him warned against it, but the desperation in the voice tugged at his conscience.
"How can I get you out?"
"The crack… it opens a portal. But the labyrinth… it won't let you do so without a price."
Kael frowned.
"What price?"
Silence was the only answer. The figure within the crystal slowly began to fade, as though the crack were consuming it. Realizing he wouldn't get more answers, Kael scanned the room for something he could use.
Suddenly, the walls began to vibrate, and a deep sound filled the chamber. The crystals surrounding the platform lit up, casting shadows that moved like living entities. Kael stepped back, gripping his spear as the shadows elongated, solidifying into faceless humanoid forms.
"The price… is always yours," a voice whispered in the air.
The figures advanced toward him, their movements slow but menacing. Kael took a deep breath, raising his spear.
"If you want something from me, you'll have to take it."
The first attack was swift, almost too fast for Kael to react. The shadows bore no weapons, but their limbs were sharp like blades. With a quick sidestep, Kael dodged the strike and countered, his spear piercing the nearest figure. It dissolved into black dust, but two more replaced it.
The chamber filled with the cacophony of whispers and blows as Kael fought with every ounce of strength he had. Though each shadow that fell vanished, they seemed to multiply, as if the labyrinth had no end to its attempts to break him.
At last, when Kael could barely breathe, an intense light emanated from the cracked crystal. The shadows froze, retreating as if afraid of the light. Kael collapsed to his knees, his spear trembling in his hand.
"The labyrinth will not let you go easily…" the voice from the crystal resonated again.
Kael looked up, gasping for air.
"Then… let it try."