The strange, unsettling tension left by Thalos hung in the air like a storm cloud, oppressive and ever-present. Lia's thoughts whirled, her mind struggling to piece together everything she had experienced since crossing the veil. The Astral Realm was unlike anything she had ever imagined, and the people—if you could call them people—who inhabited it were shrouded in mystery, power, and secrets.
She followed the Keeper in silence, the soft, silvery dust beneath her feet crunching with every step. The world around her seemed to watch, the shifting lights and crystalline towers pulsating as if alive. Despite the beauty of the land, Lia couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, hunted even, as if the realm itself had its eyes on her.
The Keeper led her through a winding path, a narrow corridor of towering crystal walls that seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance. Each wall was carved with intricate patterns, like constellations in the night sky. The light from the twin suns above refracted off the crystal surfaces, casting rainbow-like beams across their path.
Lia's thoughts kept drifting back to Thalos, his cold eyes and the dark promise in his words. "Soon, you'll have to choose where your allegiance lies," he had said. But what did that mean? She didn't even know what was going on here, let alone what "allegiance" she was supposed to give.
She glanced at the Keeper, walking silently beside her, and tried to steady her nerves. He was still an enigma—someone who clearly knew more than he was telling her. She needed answers, but for some reason, every time she opened her mouth to ask, the questions seemed to evaporate before she could voice them.
The Keeper stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed ahead, and Lia almost collided with him.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice hoarse from the anxiety that had been steadily building inside her.
The Keeper remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. He motioned for Lia to look ahead.
Before them stood a massive structure, unlike anything Lia had seen so far. It was a mirror, but not like the ones on Earth. This one was made of shimmering glass, its surface rippling with an ethereal glow. It stood at least ten feet tall, its edges framed by dark, twisted tendrils of shadow, as though something dark was trying to escape from within.
Lia felt an odd pull toward it. As if the mirror wasn't just reflecting the world—it was calling to her.
"What is that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The Keeper's voice was grim. "The Mirror of Truth. It shows you not only who you are, but who you could become. Many have gazed into it. Few have been ready for what they saw."
Lia's heart raced, her curiosity piqued. She wanted to ask more, but the sight of the mirror held her in place. The air around it shimmered, and the reflection began to distort, swirling like liquid. She felt her mind tugged toward it, as if it was trying to pull something from within her, something hidden deep in her soul.
"It's not just a mirror," the Keeper continued, his voice heavy with meaning. "It reveals your essence—the truth you may not even know about yourself. But beware, Lia. Not all truths are meant to be seen."
Lia stepped closer, her breath shallow. She couldn't resist. She had to know what it would show her.
The moment her fingers brushed the surface of the glass, a surge of energy shot through her, and the world around her seemed to vanish. She was no longer standing in the crystal corridor. Instead, she was standing in a place that felt far more familiar, yet just as foreign.
She was standing in the middle of a large, open field, the wind gentle against her skin. The sky above was a soft blue, and in the distance, the outline of a small town could be seen. Everything was eerily still, as if suspended in time.
Then, she saw herself.
Lia stood before her reflection, but it wasn't her. The woman in the reflection was older, her hair longer, her eyes more intense. Her clothes were different—darker, more regal. The woman in the mirror exuded power, confidence, and a strange sense of peace. She was standing in the same field, but her gaze was directed at something just beyond Lia's reach.
Lia tried to speak, but her voice was caught in her throat. The figure in the reflection turned, her eyes locking with Lia's. There was recognition there, but also something deeper—a knowing.
Suddenly, the woman in the mirror reached out, her hand pressing against the glass. The surface rippled like water, distorting the reflection as if trying to reach through. The energy between them hummed, and Lia felt the unmistakable pull of her own power, the potential within her that she had always ignored.
"You are more than you know, Lia," the reflection spoke, her voice a soft echo in Lia's mind. "This world is where you are meant to be. Where you can truly live, truly be free. But it will not come without sacrifice."
Lia's heart pounded. She wanted to ask questions, to demand answers, but the reflection in the mirror only smiled sadly before the image shattered, the glass splintering and breaking apart like fragile ice.
Lia stumbled back, her mind reeling from the experience. The world around her returned to normal, but she could still feel the power, the truth, lingering in her chest.
She gasped for air, feeling as though she had been holding her breath for an eternity. Her heart raced, and the emotions that swirled inside her were almost too much to handle. She looked at the Keeper, who had remained silent throughout the entire ordeal.
"What did I just see?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The Keeper's gaze was steady, his expression unreadable. "You saw the truth of your soul, Lia. The potential that lies within you. But there are consequences to that power. The path you choose will shape not just your future, but the future of this world as well."
Lia felt the weight of his words sink deep into her chest. She had seen a glimpse of herself, someone powerful, someone who belonged here—but what did it mean? What was she supposed to do with this knowledge?
The Keeper spoke again, his tone more somber now. "The Mirror of Truth shows us what we could become. But it does not tell us how to get there. That is for you to discover. And there are those who will try to stop you, those who do not want you to reach your full potential."
Lia's mind was awash with questions, but one thing was clear: this was only the beginning. The journey ahead would be difficult, and the stakes were higher than she had ever imagined.
The Keeper turned, his gaze moving beyond the mirror. "We must keep moving. The Mirror shows you what you need to see, but there is much more you must learn. And you are not yet ready to face what lies ahead."
Lia nodded, though the uncertainty weighed heavily on her. The truth had been revealed, but it had only raised more questions. Who was the woman in the mirror? What was her destiny here? And what sacrifices would she have to make to uncover the full extent of her power?
As she followed the Keeper once more, her mind burned with the need for answers. The Astral Realm was no longer just a place of wonder—it was a battleground. And Lia had just taken her first steps into it.