The fog was thick when Elara and Kael climbed the last steps to the Citadel. The mountain had stood against them, the darkness had tested them - but now they were finally at the mighty gates of the legendary fortress.
The citadel of Solara was built of pure white stone, its walls seemed to capture and reflect the light as if it were formed from pure energy. But the huge gates in front of them were shrouded in darkness.
"These are the gates of truth," Kael said quietly as he cautiously stepped closer. "They say they only let in those who accept themselves - with all their mistakes, fears and shadows."
Elara stepped in front of the gate and looked at the dark inscriptions that ran over the massive wings. "How do you open it?"
Kael hesitated. "You face yourself."
Elara felt goosebumps her arms. Set yourself? Wasn't that exactly what she had avoided all these years?
"There's only one way to find out," she muttered, placing her hand on the cold metal.
She immediately passed through a wave of energy. The darkness of the gate spread, became alive, formed into images – images from their past.
She saw herself as a child, lonely in the night, the pain of the losses she had suffered. She saw her doubts, her fear that she was not strong enough to go that way. She saw the dark fire inside her, whispering louder and louder.
"What is this?" she gasped and stepped back.
"Your truth," said a voice out of nowhere.
Elara turned around - and saw herself. A darker version of her, with cold, emotionless eyes.
"I am you," said the figure. "The version you don't want to see. Which you fear."
Kael stepped back as if he felt that this was a fight that Elara had to fight alone.
"You want to know the truth?" her dark reflection continued. "The truth is that you fear your own power. You think you're the heroine of this story, but what if you're not?"
"I'm not a monster," Elara said in a firm voice.
"Are you sure?"
The shadow version of her stepped closer, her voice was a whisper. "You are powerful. More powerful than you understand. And you know that power seduces. You think you will be the light that drives away the darkness... but what if you become the darkness itself?"
Elara trembled. She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want that doubt.
But she knew she had to face this truth.
"I will not allow my power to control me," she said. "I'll control them. I will decide who I am."
The dark figure smiled. "Then prove it."
With a huge bang, the darkness tore apart, and Elara was drawn into her own past.
She was back there. The moment she lost her parents. The moment she swore never to be weak again.
"Why are you here, Elara?"
Her own voice echoed through the void.
"To save the world? Or to finally be strong enough so that you never get hurt again?"
Elara clenched her fists.
"I..."
The truth was hard.
"I'm here because I want to determine my own destiny," she finally said. "Because I want to be in control. But that doesn't mean I'll choose the darkness."
The shadows began to shiver. The dark version of her smiled - this time not mockingly, but... appreciatively.
"Then you've passed the exam."
With a huge flash of light, the darkness collapsed.
Elara gasped and opened her eyes - and stood again at the gates of the citadel. Kael held her as she fell forward.
"Elara!" he shouted. "What happened?"
She was breathing heavily, but then she heard a deep rumble - the huge gates of the citadel opened slowly.
"I faced my truth," she said quietly. "And now... I can get in."
Kael looked at her for a long time, then nodded. "Then we'll go."
Behind the gates was the ancient citadel - the place where they would finally find the answers they were looking for.
But in the distance, hidden in the shadows, another presence watched their coming.