The vision fades, leaving Li Wei breathless and shaken. The echoes of the figure's words reverberate in their mind, growing louder, insistent. **The curse is not just outside you. It's within you.**
Li Wei shudders, their body trembling. The oppressive weight of the Well's energy presses in, more intense than before. Jian remains silent, standing at the edge of the cavern, watching them closely. His face is unreadable, but there's something in his gaze—something that hints at a deeper understanding, a familiarity with this trial.
Li Wei turns to him, their voice hoarse. "What just happened? That figure... it looked like me. It was me."
Jian steps forward, his expression hardening. "The Well shows you the truth—the truth you refuse to face. It is not just a place of power; it is a place of reckoning. The curse inside you, Li Wei, it was always a part of you. That vision was the first of many trials you must face."
Li Wei's hand clenches into a fist, their breath coming in ragged gasps. "I don't understand. How can something so—so horrible be a part of me? How do I stop it?"
Jian's eyes narrow. "You don't stop it. You learn to control it. The curse is not an enemy, but a force you must master. Until you accept that, you will never be free."
The words cut deep, but Li Wei knows there is no turning back now. They must face whatever lies ahead, no matter how terrifying it may be.
The stone Well before them begins to glow brighter, the symbols on its surface swirling as if alive. The cavern shakes, and the hum of ancient power fills the air, vibrating through the very bones of the mountain.
---
Suddenly, a deep voice echoes throughout the cavern, low and thunderous. "**You have entered the Well, and now you must face the trials. Only those who conquer their darkness may pass.**"
Li Wei's heart races. "Trials? What do you mean?"
The voice continues, unyielding. "**First, you must face the Trial of the Heart. Only by confronting your deepest fears can you unlock the power of the Well. Fail, and the curse will consume you.**"
The ground beneath them rumbles as the Well's energy surges. Li Wei feels a pull—an overwhelming urge to step closer. But they hesitate, looking at Jian, their eyes searching for reassurance.
Jian meets their gaze, his expression grave. "You must face it alone. This trial is yours and yours alone. I cannot help you here."
Li Wei swallows hard but nods. They take a deep breath and step forward, their heart pounding in their chest. The air around them grows colder as the cavern begins to shift, the mist thickening once more. Shadows twist and writhe, forming into shapes that seem too real, too alive.
As Li Wei steps deeper into the cavern, the world around them shifts again. The mist clears, and they find themselves standing in a familiar place—**the village they once called home**. But something is wrong. The buildings are abandoned, the streets empty. The air is thick with a suffocating silence.
A figure appears in the distance, silhouetted against the dim light. Li Wei's heart skips a beat as they recognize the figure. It's their **mother**—but she looks different, her eyes dark and hollow, as if drained of life.
"**Li Wei...**" the figure whispers, her voice soft and haunting. "**You left us. You left me. You abandoned everything.**"
Li Wei's breath catches in their throat. "Mother?"
The figure takes a step forward, her face contorting in pain. "**You never came back. You never thought of us again.**"
Li Wei's mind races, their thoughts spinning. This isn't real. It can't be. They didn't abandon anyone—they couldn't have.
But the vision presses on, each word from the figure digging deeper into Li Wei's heart, bringing up old memories of **guilt** and **regret** they've buried for years. The weight of responsibility, the fear of failure, the feeling of never being enough—all of it floods back, threatening to drown them.
"**You failed me, Li Wei. You failed us all.**" The figure's voice grows louder, more accusatory. "**And now, you will never escape.**"
Li Wei's legs begin to tremble, their chest tight with panic. The vision of their mother looms over them, a relentless force pulling them into the past.
---
**But then something inside Li Wei snaps.**
The figure is an illusion, a manifestation of their fear. It is not real. It does not define them. They are **not** their mistakes. Li Wei clenches their fists, pushing back against the wave of guilt threatening to consume them.
"No," Li Wei whispers, their voice trembling but growing stronger. "I didn't abandon anyone. I did what I had to do. I'm not that person anymore."
The figure falters, its form flickering like a candle in the wind. Li Wei steps forward, their voice steady now. "You don't control me anymore. I control my own fate."
With those words, the vision of their mother shatters, dissolving into mist. The oppressive weight of guilt lifts, and the cavern around them begins to shift again, the darkness receding.
---
Li Wei stands in the center of the cavern, gasping for breath, the echoes of the vision still ringing in their ears. They feel shaken, but **stronger**. They have faced their deepest fear—the fear of failure—and they have conquered it.
Suddenly, the voice booms again, this time softer, almost approving. "**You have passed the Trial of the Heart. The path ahead is now open. But the journey is far from over.**"
Jian's voice reaches them from the edge of the cavern. "You've done it. But there's more to come."
Li Wei turns to him, their heart still racing, but their resolve solidifying. "What comes next?"
Jian steps forward, his expression unreadable. "The trial isn't over. Now, you must face the Trial of the Soul."
Li Wei nods, knowing they are not yet done, but determined to finish what they started. They step forward again, ready for whatever lies ahead.