The path narrowed.
Twisting trees arched above them, forming a tunnel of gnarled roots and whispering leaves. In the center of the forest, the mist parted, revealing a stone gate covered in mirrored shards.
Ashar stepped forward, frowning. "This is old magic. Memory-forged."
"It's the Maze," Riven said grimly. "Once you enter, it shows you the moment you regret most — the one that shaped you."
"And if you can't face it," Kaelen added quietly, "you don't come back."
Aelira stared at the gate, heart pounding.
The forest was forcing her hand — demanding she see herself clearly.
"One at a time," she said. "We go alone."
☁️ Inside the Maze – Aelira
The world around her dissolved into firelight.
She stood in the throne room of her past life — as Queen Seraiya — cloaked in obsidian armor, her eyes gleaming gold. Before her knelt a line of rebels, chained and bloodied.
Kaelen stood beside her.
So did the Mirror King — face shrouded in silver light.
"Spare them," Kaelen whispered."They have families," he pleaded.
But Seraiya's voice was cold. "Mercy is weakness. And I do not love the weak."
Aelira screamed inside the memory, clawing at the walls of her past self's mind. "No! That's not me anymore!"
"But it was," the Maze whispered.
She watched helplessly as Seraiya gave the order to execute every soul in the room.
And then she turned… and kissed the Mirror King, blood still dripping from her hands.
Aelira collapsed, sobbing. "I was a tyrant."
The ghost of Seraiya smiled bitterly.
"You were a queen."
🔥 Outside the Maze – Kaelen
He emerged first.
Sweating. Pale.
But alive.
Aelira fell into his arms, trembling. "I saw it. What I did. What I became."
Kaelen held her tight. "Then let it shape you — not shatter you."
Ashar and Riven followed, silent and shaken. Whatever they'd seen, they didn't speak of it.
But when Aelira looked at Riven, there was a new weight in his eyes — like he, too, had once chosen love over duty… and paid for it.
As they passed beyond the Maze, the forest began to fade.
The Hollow had tested them.
And found them worthy.
At its edge, a new trail revealed itself — leading to a cliffside temple carved from moonstone.
At its heart waited Vault Two.
But something else waited there, too.
A tall figure cloaked in violet, with eyes like stormlight and a voice like winter.
"Welcome back, my queen," the Mirror King said, his lips curling into a familiar smile."I was wondering when you'd remember me."