Julian stood beside Raith, both of them gazing at the massive statues that seemed to touch the ceiling of the vast hall. The grandeur emanated from every stone in those statues, their eyes watching anyone who passed by. Julian felt a sense of awe fill his chest as if the spirits that these statues were built to honor were still present.
Julian asked while admiring a statue of a knight holding a massive sword, its hilt engraved with intricate designs:"Were these knights… part of the organization's history?"
Raith answered in a deep tone, gently running his hand over one of the statues:"These are the warriors who founded the Order of the Twilight. They were the ones who repelled the Abaliths and restored balance to this world. Now, they are part of our legacy, but their secrets remain shrouded. Some say they never truly died… that they are somewhere, watching over us."
Julian studied the statues intently, but he couldn't shake the strange feeling creeping over him. The knights' eyes seemed alive as if they could see what was inside him, what he hid from the world.
"Raith…" Julian said hesitantly, "What does 'Twilight' mean in the organization's name?"
Raith smiled a small, enigmatic smile:"Twilight is the moment when day transitions into night, where shadows blend with light. The organization was founded on this principle: balance between light and darkness. We are neither servants of the light nor prisoners of the dark. We are the guardians who stand between them."
Julian paused for a moment before asking with curiosity:"So… do you live with darkness to know how to fight it?"
Raith raised his eyebrows with a mysterious smile and said:"That may be the reason. Or perhaps the reason is bigger than you think."
They walked together through the inner corridors of the castle, where the dark stone walls swallowed any light. The only sound was the soft echo of their footsteps and breaths. Julian felt that this place mirrored something of his soul: dark, complex, and full of questions.
Raith stopped at a wooden door and spoke calmly:"This is your room. Rest now. Tomorrow will be long, and you will face much."
Julian smiled faintly and said:"Thanks, I'll be ready."
He opened the door and entered the room, which was simple and peaceful. He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath, trying to calm the thoughts racing in his mind. On the table in front of him was a book he had read before, but he felt his mind could no longer handle any more words.
He approached the window and looked out at the dark sky. The wind was blowing through the trees outside as if soothing the earth to sleep. But Julian knew sleep would escape him that night. He whispered to himself:"What awaits me here?"
He sat on the bed, closed his eyes, and tried to let his thoughts drift away, but he knew tomorrow would not be just any ordinary day.
The next day, Julian was taken by Cross to a place far from the castle. It was a vast field, filled with ancient ruins and strange plants glowing in multiple colors. Cross stood there, waiting, his expression stern.
"Welcome to the Field of the Self, Julian. Here, you will face your true self. You will learn how to harness your power, but in return, you will also confront your fears and mistakes."
Cross stepped forward and pointed to a circle of markings on the ground."Enter the circle, close your eyes. Everything will begin from here."
Julian looked at the circle hesitantly, then stepped toward it slowly. He felt a strange energy emanating from the markings, as though it was coursing through his body.
Cross spoke firmly:"Now, focus on your inner energy. Let the Sefrania guide you."
Julian closed his eyes and quickly felt that he was no longer standing in the field. He was somewhere else, dark and cold. Before him appeared a version of himself, but it was different. Its eyes burned with anger, and its smile held bitter sarcasm.
"Who are you?" Julian asked, his voice trembling.
The version replied in a voice similar to his own:"I am you… but I am the face you try to deny. I am all your fears, all your mistakes, all your moments of weakness."
Julian felt a shiver run through his body."Your shadow? I expected something greater than this." He tried to mock, but his voice was filled with anxiety.
The shadow approached with heavy steps, the ground beneath it seemingly obeying.
"Do you think you can face me with words? You are nothing but a lie, Julian. Everything in you is fragile.
Why do you try to be more than what you are?"
Julian felt the shadow's words as though they were arrows piercing his chest. He tried to hold himself together, but the images began to fall before him, images from his past… those moments he tried to forget.
He remembered his father, looking at him with angry eyes, saying:"You're the reason she died… If you hadn't been born, she would still be alive."
Then he remembered the day his father died, that moment when Julian was unable to save him. His father lay on his bed, speaking to him in a broken voice:"You can't even take responsibility for yourself… What's the point of your existence?"
These words were enough to make everything inside him crumble. His body began to shake, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He tried to resist, to stand against these images, but he couldn't. The shadow before him grew larger, its words louder.
"You are nothing but a burden, Julian. You don't deserve power, and you don't deserve anything. Every time you try to move forward, you will fall again."
Julian took a step back, his hands trembling violently. He screamed in a choked voice:"This isn't real! You're just an illusion!"
But the shadow laughed deeply as if enjoying watching him fade away."An illusion? No, Julian. I am the truth you refuse to face. I am every moment you failed, every person you betrayed. I am you."
The darkness around him grew denser, as though the walls themselves were pressing in on him. He tried to breathe, but the air became heavy as lead. He began to feel his body crumbling under the weight of this burden.
He screamed again, trying to push this nightmare away. "Shut up! Shut up! I'm not what you say!"
But his scream didn't stop the shadow. It grew larger and closer until it reached out and grabbed Julian by the throat."If you believe that, then why are you shaking? Why are you running away?"
At that moment, Julian felt something inside him break. He couldn't take it anymore. He screamed in pain, squeezed his eyes shut, and in a moment of despair, threw himself out of the circle as if it was his only escape from this hell.
He opened his eyes to find himself lying in the field, his body soaked in sweat, and Cross's gaze filled with disappointment.
"You failed, Julian," Cross said quietly. "You didn't face yourself. You ran away."
But Julian couldn't respond. His heart was heavy with shame, and his eyes were fixed on the ground. He had never felt so defeated before.
"The test is not over yet, but you will need greater courage if you want to try again," Cross said before turning his back and leaving Julian alone with his thoughts.
Julian sat on the ground, staring at the broken circle. He knew he couldn't run from the shadow forever.