Lia's footsteps echoed through the endless corridors of crystal and shadow, the air heavy with an unspoken tension. The Keeper moved ahead, his pace steady and unhurried, but Lia could feel the weight of his presence beside her. It was as though the world around them was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Or perhaps it was her own heart that thudded too loudly in her chest.
Her mind refused to settle. The image in the mirror—the older, more powerful version of herself—kept replaying over and over. The woman had spoken of freedom, of power, but what did it all mean? What was she supposed to do with that vision? And why did it feel like there was so much more to uncover?
"You're quiet," the Keeper said, his voice low, breaking the silence.
Lia looked up at him, startled by his sudden words. She hadn't realized how lost in thought she'd become.
"I'm just trying to make sense of it all," she confessed, her voice uncertain. "The mirror… what was that? What did it mean? And why do I feel like there's something more I'm supposed to do?"
The Keeper's expression softened, though the weariness in his eyes remained. "The mirror shows you the truth of your soul. What you could become, what is hidden within you. But it's not just about power, Lia. It's about understanding your place in this world—and the sacrifices that will come with it."
Lia nodded, though she didn't quite understand. "And the woman in the mirror? Was that me? Is that who I'll become?"
He didn't answer immediately, his eyes distant, as if considering the weight of her question. Finally, he spoke, his voice grave. "The person you saw is a potential. It is one version of you, one possible future. But the Astral Realm does not simply hand you power, Lia. It tests you, challenges you. And there are those who will try to use you for their own gain."
Lia's stomach churned. "Who would want to use me?"
The Keeper glanced at her, his gaze sharp. "There are forces in this realm—forces that seek to control the power of those like you. Thalos is one of them. But he is not the only one. There are others who will stop at nothing to keep you from realizing your potential. They will make you doubt yourself, make you question everything you know."
Lia's heart skipped a beat. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to do here. I don't even know what I am."
The Keeper's voice softened, though his words held a gravity that made Lia pause. "You are a bridge between worlds, Lia. The Astral Realm is a place of transition, a place where the boundaries between reality and the beyond blur. And you—" he hesitated before continuing, as though testing the weight of his words, "—you have the ability to reshape those boundaries."
Lia's head spun. "Reshape the boundaries? What does that mean?"
Before the Keeper could answer, a distant sound caught Lia's attention. It was a faint whisper at first, so soft she thought she might have imagined it. But then it grew louder, clearer—voices, chanting in a language she didn't recognize. The words reverberated through the walls, filling the air with a strange energy.
Lia's pulse quickened. "What is that? Who's speaking?"
The Keeper's expression darkened. "We are being watched."
Without warning, he grabbed Lia's arm, pulling her into a shadowed alcove just off the main corridor. The whispering grew louder, echoing through the crystal halls, like a thousand voices speaking at once.
Lia could barely catch her breath, the weight of the voices pressing against her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the noise, but it felt as though the very air itself was vibrating with the power of the words.
The Keeper stood motionless beside her, his eyes scanning the corridor. "We must remain hidden. The Watchers are near."
"Watchers?" Lia whispered, her voice trembling.
The Keeper nodded, his gaze still focused ahead. "They are ancient beings, remnants of those who came before. They guard the secrets of the Astral Realm, and they do not take kindly to trespassers."
Lia's mind raced. She had been a trespasser from the moment she crossed into the Astral Realm, hadn't she? But why was the Keeper hiding from them? And what secrets were they guarding?
The whispers grew louder, more insistent, and Lia could feel the ground beneath her feet tremble. The walls of the alcove seemed to warp and pulse, as though the very space around them was shifting.
Suddenly, the sound stopped.
A deep silence fell over the corridor. Lia's heart pounded in her chest, every fiber of her being on edge. The air was still, too still, and she could hear the faintest movement from the other side of the alcove. Someone—or something—was approaching.
The Keeper's hand tightened around her arm, his grip firm but gentle. "Stay close," he murmured.
Lia nodded, her breath shallow as she tried to steady herself. The darkness of the alcove seemed to close in on her, and she could feel the pulse of her own heartbeat, loud and fast, as if it could give them away.
A shadow moved past the alcove, its form barely visible in the dim light. Lia held her breath, not daring to make a sound.
The Watchers were here.
Time seemed to stretch on, the silence unbearable, until at last the shadow passed and the whispers faded into the distance. The Keeper exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "It's safe—for now."
Lia slowly pulled herself from the alcove, her knees weak from the fear that had gripped her. "Who… what were those? Why are they following us?"
The Keeper's eyes were distant again, as if recalling something long buried. "The Watchers are remnants of the ancient ones, guardians of this realm. They see all, know all. And they will not let anyone who doesn't belong here go unchallenged. They are not enemies, but they are not allies either."
Lia's mind whirled with questions. "Why would they be watching us? Are they watching me?"
The Keeper's eyes met hers, and for the first time, she saw something like pity in them. "They are watching you, Lia. They are watching to see if you are worthy of your place in this world. And if you fail… they will cast you into the depths of the Forgotten."
Lia shuddered at the thought, her thoughts racing. The Forgotten? What could be worse than that?
"There is much you must learn," the Keeper said, his voice steady once more. "And the path will only grow more dangerous from here. But if you wish to understand your purpose in this world, you must first face the shadows within yourself."
As the Keeper turned to lead her once more, Lia felt the weight of his words settle deep within her. She was no longer just a wanderer in this strange realm. She was something more—something dangerous. And if she wanted to survive, she would need to confront the darkness inside her.
But for now, all she could do was follow.