Chereads / Beasts Beauty and Purity / Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Echoes of the Past

Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Echoes of the Past

The golden path led them out of the Whispering Grove and into a landscape starkly different from anything they had encountered. The air grew colder, the golden light from the grove fading into a pale gray mist that veiled the horizon. The land ahead was barren, dotted with jagged rocks and twisted remnants of once-mighty trees.

"This place feels… empty," Isabella said, her voice breaking the oppressive silence.

The beast scanned their surroundings, his golden eyes narrowing. "It's more than that. This is a scar."

"A scar?"

He nodded. "A wound left by the curse. This land was once alive, like the grove. But the curse consumes, leaving nothing but emptiness in its wake."

Isabella shivered, not from the cold, but from the weight of his words. Every step they took felt like a violation as if they were trespassing on sacred ground. Yet, the path continued, faint but persistent, as if urging them forward.

A Familiar Voice

As they walked, the mist thickened, curling around them like tendrils. Isabella's footsteps slowed as a strange sensation washed over her—a feeling of being watched. She turned, her heart skipping a beat when she saw a figure emerging from the mist.

"Mother?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The figure stepped closer, its features sharpening. It was her mother, her face exactly as Isabella remembered: kind, warm, and gentle. But there was something off about her eyes. They were too bright, too fixed.

"Isabella," the figure said, its voice soft but laced with an unnatural echo. "You've come so far. Come back to us. You don't have to fight anymore."

Isabella froze, her mind reeling. The beast growled, stepping between her and the figure.

"It's not real," he warned. "The curse is trying to deceive you."

"But it's her," Isabella said, tears welling in her eyes. "It's my mother."

The figure reached out, its hand almost touching Isabella's cheek. "You've suffered enough, my child. Come home."

The beast snarled, his claws glowing faintly. "Step back," he commanded, his voice rumbling with authority.

The figure's expression darkened, its warm facade crumbling. "You would trust this beast over your blood?" it hissed, its voice distorting. "He'll betray you, just as they all did."

Isabella's hands trembled as doubt clawed at her heart. But the glowing leaf in her hand pulsed gently, its warmth cutting through the fog of her emotions.

"You're not her," she said, her voice firming. "You're just another trick."

The figure shrieked, its form unraveling into mist. The beast relaxed slightly, but his gaze remained sharp.

"The curse is testing you," he said. "Stay strong."

The Echo Chamber

The path led them to a massive stone archway carved into the side of a cliff. Intricate runes covered its surface, glowing faintly with a sickly green light. Beyond the arch was a cavern, its entrance yawning like the mouth of a great beast.

"What is this place?" Isabella asked, staring into the darkness.

"An echo chamber," the beast replied. "It's a place where the curse amplifies your fears and regrets. Be prepared to face what lies within."

Together, they stepped through the archway. The air inside was heavy, filled with a low hum that seemed to vibrate in their bones. The cavern walls were smooth, reflecting their faint silhouettes like distorted mirrors. With every step, the hum grew louder, transforming into fragmented voices.

*"You're not strong enough."* 

*"This journey will break you."* 

*"He will abandon you, just like the others."*

Isabella's fists clenched as the voices echoed around her, their words burrowing into her mind. The beast walked silently beside her, his expression unreadable but his posture tense.

"Don't let them in," he said, his voice steady. "They're just reflections."

But the cavern had other plans. The floor shifted beneath them, separating Isabella from the beast. A wall of glass-like material rose between them, and no matter how hard they pounded against it, they couldn't break through.

"Isabella!" the beast roared, his voice muffled.

She pressed her hands against the barrier. "I'll find a way to you. Just hold on!"

The Trial of Self

Isabella turned, facing the cavern that seemed to stretch endlessly before her. The whispers grew louder, and shadows coalesced into a figure—herself. This doppelganger was a perfect replica, but its eyes burned with malice.

"You think you can save him?" the reflection sneered. "You're weak. Powerless. He'll die because of you."

"I won't let that happen," Isabella said, drawing her blade. The glowing leaf pulsed in her other hand, its light steady.

The reflection laughed, raising its weapon. "Then prove it."

The two clashed, their blades ringing out in the cavern. Isabella's reflection fought with ferocity, mirroring her every move. But as the battle wore on, Isabella began to notice subtle differences. Her reflection was faster, stronger, but it hesitated at moments when Isabella pressed forward.

"You're not me," Isabella said, stepping back. "You're just my doubts. And I won't let you control me."

She raised the glowing leaf, its light flaring brightly. The reflection screamed, its form dissolving into smoke. The barrier separating her from the beast shattered, and he rushed to her side.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his eyes scanning her for injuries.

She shook her head. "I'm fine. Let's keep moving."

A New Resolve

The cavern began to change, the oppressive atmosphere lifting as they reached its end. A narrow tunnel led them back into the open air, where the mist had cleared to reveal a sprawling valley below. In the distance, a dark fortress loomed, its spires piercing the sky like jagged teeth.

"That's where we need to go," Isabella said, her resolve solidifying.

The beast nodded, his expression grim. "The heart of the curse. Be ready, Isabella. The trials we've faced are nothing compared to what lies ahead."

Isabella glanced at him, the weight of his words sinking in. But she held her head high, the glowing leaf in her hand a reminder of how far they'd come.

"I'm ready," she said. Together, they descended into the valley, the fortress growing larger with every step.