Lyrius's feet landed softly on the cold stone, the gauntlet pulsing faintly with energy. He had fallen into the dark depths beneath the earth, but now, a heavy silence surrounded him. The torch had gone out mid-fall, leaving him in complete darkness. Yet, he could feel something ahead, an unsettling presence drawing him forward, a presence that called to him through the stillness.
There was a flicker of light in the distance.
His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his dagger, but it was the gauntlet on his left arm that seemed to guide him, its warm glow illuminating the narrow corridor. Each step he took seemed to echo through the stone, though there was no sign of life in this place.
The walls of the corridor were slick with moss and age, their surfaces covered in symbols that seemed to shift in the dim light. The air was heavy, thick with the scent of damp earth. A shiver ran down Lyrius's spine, and despite the absence of any tangible danger, he felt as if something was watching him.
The whispers came again, barely audible, as if carried on the wind. "Truth walks with lies. Do you?"
He clenched his fists. The voice was faint, almost mocking, but Lyrius didn't have time to contemplate it. He needed to press forward. Something told him he was close—close to something he needed to understand.
A Moment of Reflection
Back in Stoneveil, Elira stood at the edge of the village, watching the mist that clung to the ground like a living thing. The quiet was unsettling. There was no chatter from the market stalls, no children's laughter echoing through the streets. The village was still. Too still. And Lyrius was gone.
"Elira?" Kael's voice broke through the silence. She turned to see him standing just behind her, his expression grim.
"He's gone," she said softly, her heart heavy with worry. "He left without a word."
Kael crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "Something's wrong. I can feel it."
Before she could answer, Nara appeared, her presence as quiet as ever. Her cold gaze swept over them, and without a word, she spoke. "Do you feel it?"
Kael looked at her, his brow furrowing. "Feel what?"
"The disturbance," Nara replied, her voice low, distant. "It has begun."
The words sent a chill through Elira. What had begun?
"The Seals are awakening," Nara continued, her eyes distant. "Lyrius has crossed the threshold. There's no turning back."
The Hall of Shadows
Lyrius walked further into the depths, the faint glow of the gauntlet casting long shadows on the stone walls. The further he went, the colder the air became. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever, narrowing with each step. The oppressive silence weighed on him, but he pushed forward, determined to see this through.
Finally, the path opened into a vast chamber. The ceiling disappeared into shadow, and towering stone pillars lined the edges of the room. In the center of the chamber stood an altar, bathed in pale, ethereal light. But it wasn't the altar that drew his attention.
It was the mirror.
The massive mirror was framed with intricate carvings, the patterns matching those on the walls. But unlike any mirror Lyrius had ever seen, its surface rippled like water disturbed by an unseen hand.
A voice, deep and resonant, filled the room. "Come closer."
Lyrius hesitated for a moment, the voice echoing in his mind. But something compelled him to move forward. His feet carried him toward the mirror, each step seemingly in rhythm with the pulsing of his gauntlet.
As he drew near, the mirror began to take shape, his reflection slowly forming on the surface. But the reflection that stared back at him wasn't his own. It was darker, more twisted, its eyes cold and filled with regret.
"You seek the truth," the reflection said, its voice full of disdain. "But truth is not a gift, Lyrius. It is a burden. One you cannot bear."
Lyrius staggered back, his heart racing. The reflection mimicked his every movement, but its smile was cruel, twisted.
"I am you," the reflection said. "The man you fear to become."
The words stung, and for a moment, Lyrius felt a chill run through him. Was this truly what he was destined to become? A man consumed by darkness and regret?
But before he could respond, the mirror shattered, its surface exploding into a thousand shards. The room trembled, and Lyrius instinctively raised his gauntlet. It flared to life, its power surging through him as the mirror's broken pieces fell around him like rain.
The reflection vanished, leaving only the shattered remains of the mirror. Lyrius stood in the center of the room, breathing heavily. The vision had come and gone, but the weight of its meaning lingered.
The Village's Reckoning
Back in Stoneveil, the ground shook, and the sky above grew dark. The villagers had gathered at the edge of the fissure, watching in fear as cracks ran through the earth. The strange energy pulsed from below, and Elira, Kael, and Nara could feel it too. It was as though the world was on the verge of tearing itself apart.
"We have to go," Elira said urgently, her voice trembling. "We can't wait any longer."
Kael nodded grimly. "We go to him. Now."
Nara's gaze turned to the darkening sky. "The Seals are stirring. Lyrius's path is sealed."
Without another word, the three of them rushed toward the fissure. There was no turning back. Whatever had awakened beneath Stoneveil, they would face it together.