The air in the inn grew heavier with each passing day, as if the building itself was reacting to Mikel's journey. The whispers in the halls grew louder, their tone shifting from faint curiosity to something more urgent, almost panicked. The cracked clock in the workshop ticked louder in his mind, a constant reminder that time was running out.
Mikel and Naira sat in the common room late one evening, maps and journals spread out before them. Dorian leaned against the hearth, his arms crossed and his expression grim.
"You're certain about this?" Dorian asked, his voice low. "The golden door isn't just a legend—it's a boundary. What lies beyond is… unknown. Even to us."
Mikel nodded. "I don't have a choice. The boy—the visions—they're leading me there. I need to find out what's behind it."
Naira traced a path on one of the maps. "If the journals are accurate, the door is in the western wing. But that part of the inn has been sealed for decades. No one knows what's in there—or why it was closed off."
"Then we'll unseal it," Mikel said, determination burning in his eyes.
Dorian's expression darkened. "It's not just the door you need to worry about. The shadows… they've been growing stronger. They know you're close, and they won't let you reach the door without a fight."
As if on cue, the lights in the room flickered. A chill swept through the air, and the shadows in the corners seemed to stretch and twist unnaturally.
Mikel stood, his heart pounding. "They're here."
The shadows began to coalesce, forming into humanoid shapes with glowing red eyes. They moved silently, their forms flickering like smoke.
"Get behind me!" Dorian shouted, drawing a blade that shimmered with a faint blue light.
Naira grabbed Mikel's arm and pulled him back as Dorian charged at the shadows. His blade cut through them, dispersing their forms temporarily, but they reformed almost instantly, their movements faster and more coordinated.
"We can't fight them all," Naira said, her voice tight with fear. "We need to move—now!"
Mikel hesitated, watching as Dorian fought valiantly against the encroaching shadows. "We can't just leave him!"
Dorian glanced over his shoulder, his face set in a grim smile. "I'll hold them off. Find the door, Mikel. It's the only way to stop this!"
Reluctantly, Mikel allowed Naira to pull him away. They sprinted through the halls, the sound of Dorian's blade clashing with the shadows echoing behind them.
As they ran, the inn seemed to shift around them, its halls stretching and twisting unnaturally. The shadows were everywhere, their whispers growing louder, more insistent.
Finally, they reached the sealed door to the western wing. It was massive and ornate, its surface covered in intricate carvings that glowed faintly in the dim light.
"This is it," Naira said, her voice trembling. "But it's locked. How do we open it?"
Mikel reached for the pendant around his neck, the glowing rune pulsing in time with the carvings on the door. "I think this is the key."
He pressed the pendant against the door, and the carvings flared to life. The air around them crackled with energy as the door slowly creaked open, revealing a dark, foreboding corridor.
"Let's go," Mikel said, stepping inside without hesitation.
---
The air in the western wing was colder, heavier, as though it hadn't been disturbed in centuries. The walls were lined with mirrors, their surfaces covered in a thin layer of dust. Mikel felt an overwhelming sense of unease as he and Naira moved deeper into the corridor.
"These mirrors…" Naira whispered, running her fingers along one of the frames. "They're not ordinary. They show glimpses of the past."
Mikel stopped in front of one and wiped away the dust. The reflection wasn't of him and Naira—it was a scene from his childhood. He saw himself as a boy, standing in the middle of a burning village, tears streaming down his face as he called out for someone.
"That's the vision," Mikel said, his voice shaking. "The fire… it's real. This is my past."
The reflection shifted, showing the boy being pulled away from the flames by a shadowy figure. The figure's face was obscured, but Mikel felt a deep sense of familiarity.
"Who is that?" Naira asked, her voice soft.
"I don't know," Mikel admitted. "But they saved me. I wouldn't be here without them."
They moved to the next mirror, which showed a different scene—Mikel as a young man, standing in a clearing in the forest. He was holding the pendant, his expression determined.
"That's when I first found the inn," Mikel said. "I don't remember it clearly, but… it felt like the inn called to me."
The mirrors continued to reveal fragments of Mikel's life, each one filling in a piece of the puzzle. But as they approached the end of the corridor, the reflections grew darker.
One mirror showed Mikel standing before the golden door, his face twisted with fear and anger. Shadows swirled around him, their forms reaching out as if to drag him back.
"That hasn't happened yet," Naira said, her brow furrowed. "Is it a warning? Or a glimpse of what's to come?"
Before Mikel could answer, the final mirror caught his attention. Its surface was black, reflecting nothing. But as he stepped closer, the darkness began to ripple.
A voice echoed from the mirror, low and haunting. "You're close, Mikel. But are you ready to face the truth?"
Mikel stared into the mirror, his resolve hardening. "I've come this far. I'm not turning back now."
The black surface shattered, revealing a hidden door behind it. Unlike the ornate golden door he had seen in his visions, this one was simple and unassuming.
Naira placed a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever's behind this door… we'll face it together."
Mikel nodded and pushed the door open, stepping into the unknown.