Chapter 14: The Council of Lost Souls
The days after the shadow attack passed in a blur. The inn seemed quieter, its usual hum of life replaced by an eerie stillness. Mikel couldn't shake the feeling that the inn itself was holding its breath, waiting for something.
Naira and Dorian had grown more watchful, their expressions tight with concern. They didn't speak of the attack, but Mikel could see the tension in their every movement. He, too, felt it—a growing weight on his shoulders as though the inn's mysteries were pressing down on him.
Late one evening, as Mikel sat in the common room poring over the journals from the east wing, Naira appeared at his side.
"They're ready for you," she said softly.
Mikel looked up, confused. "Who's ready for me?"
"The Council of Lost Souls," Naira replied, her tone grave. "They've been watching your progress, and they've decided it's time to meet you."
Mikel's stomach churned. "The Council? Who are they?"
Naira hesitated, then said, "They're the ones who guide the inn's purpose. Former guests, like you, who've uncovered its deepest secrets and chosen to stay. Their wisdom will help you, but their questions will test you."
Despite his unease, Mikel nodded. He couldn't back down now.
Naira led him through the labyrinthine halls of the inn, finally stopping before a massive set of double doors carved with intricate patterns. The symbols seemed to shimmer in the dim light, alive with an energy that made Mikel's skin prickle.
"Once you enter," Naira said, "you'll be alone. Answer their questions honestly. They'll know if you're lying."
Mikel swallowed hard, then pushed the doors open.
The room beyond was vast and circular, its walls lined with glowing mirrors that reflected not only Mikel's image but others—faint, shifting figures that seemed to watch him. In the center of the room sat five figures, cloaked in shadow. Their faces were hidden, but their presence was palpable, filling the air with a heavy, almost suffocating energy.
Mikel stepped forward, his footsteps echoing in the silence. He stopped before the Council, unsure whether to speak.
"You seek the truth," one of the figures said, their voice neither male nor female but something in between. "You seek to uncover the inn's purpose and your place within it."
"Yes," Mikel said, his voice steady despite his fear. "I need to understand why I'm here."
Another figure leaned forward, their shadowy form shifting like smoke. "The inn does not summon guests without reason. Each who enters these halls carries a burden, a truth they must confront. Tell us, Mikel—what do you fear most?"
The question caught him off guard. He opened his mouth to answer, but the words caught in his throat. What did he fear most? Losing himself? Failing to find the answers he sought? Or was it something deeper, something he wasn't ready to face?
"I…" he began, then stopped. "I'm afraid of forgetting who I am. Of losing myself to whatever this place is."
The Council was silent for a moment, then another figure spoke. "A fair fear. But the inn does not take without giving. It reveals who you are, not who you wish to be."
The third figure gestured toward one of the glowing mirrors. "Step forward, and look into the Mirror of Truth. See the reflection of your soul."
Mikel hesitated but obeyed. The mirror's surface rippled like water as he approached, and when he looked into it, he saw… himself. But not as he was now.
The reflection showed a younger version of him, standing in a forest, his clothes torn and his face streaked with tears. It was the boy from the visions, frightened and alone.
"What does this mean?" Mikel asked, his voice trembling.
The first figure spoke again. "You must confront your past to understand your future. The inn will guide you, but only you can take the steps forward."
The mirror shimmered again, and the image changed. Now Mikel saw himself standing before the shadowy door he had unlocked earlier. But this time, the door was open, and beyond it was not darkness but light—a blinding, golden light that seemed to pulse with life.
"The choice will be yours," the Council said in unison. "Will you walk the path of truth, no matter the cost? Or will you turn away, as so many before you have?"
Mikel's heart pounded. He didn't answer, but he knew the choice was already made.
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