Chapter Two: The Fractured Mind
Sai wakes up the next day to begin his second illusion trial.
Max Vista begins teaching him the true mechanics of illusion energy — the power of perception and distortion.
Sai faces a more advanced illusion — one that doesn't show fear, but manipulates reality itself.
The line between illusion and truth begins to blur.
The crimson dawn over Emberfall painted the city in shades of molten gold and ash-gray. The air shimmered faintly, as if the world itself were an illusion struggling to stay real. Sai Fujimoto opened his eyes to that sight, lying on a stone bed inside the temple's inner quarters. His body ached, but his mind… was alive.
He sat up, brushing away faint trails of soot that clung to his cloak. The memories of the night before still lingered — the boy, the screams, the shattered world. For a fleeting moment, he could still feel the heat of the flames against his skin.
"Fear," he muttered quietly, "wasn't meant to be destroyed. It was meant to be understood."
A calm voice replied from the doorway, "Good. You remembered the lesson."
Sai turned. Max Vista stood there, leaning lazily against the doorframe, his black eyes gleaming faintly like distant stars. Today, his appearance was slightly different — his silver hair now tinged with crimson strands that flickered like firelight.
"I thought demons didn't sleep," Sai said.
Max gave a faint smirk. "Sleep is another illusion, just like everything else. But even illusions need rest to stay believable."
Sai exhaled through his nose, half amused. "So, what's next?"
Max walked into the room, his boots making no sound. "Yesterday, you faced the illusion of fear — your past, your regrets. Today, you'll face something far crueler."
"Crueler than my own past?" Sai asked.
"Yes," Max said simply. "Yourself — in the present."
Sai frowned, standing. "You mean I'll fight myself again?"
Max shook his head slowly. "No. You'll question yourself. Until you can't tell which version of you is real anymore."
He gestured for Sai to follow. Together, they walked through the winding halls of the temple until they reached another chamber. This one was circular, its walls etched with living runes that shifted like fireflies. At the center was a pool of liquid silver, glowing faintly.
"This," Max said, pointing at the pool, "is the Reflective Core. Every illusion user must master it. The Core amplifies perception — but it doesn't show you what's fake. It shows you what you believe to be real."
Sai stared at the silver surface. It was so clear it almost looked like still air. "So if I step in…"
"You drown in your own truth," Max said flatly. "And if your mind isn't strong enough to separate what's real from what's not… you stay there. Forever."
Sai nodded slowly. "Then I'll have to make sure I don't drown."
Max's faint smirk returned. "Confidence. Good. Just remember — arrogance and truth look the same in reflection. Don't confuse them."
Without another word, Sai stepped forward and plunged his hand into the pool. Instantly, the world melted.
He didn't even feel himself fall — one second he was in the temple, and the next, he was standing in a world of glass and echoes. His reflection shimmered in every direction — hundreds, thousands of him, each one staring back with hollow eyes.
Sai took a step forward. All his reflections moved too.
"What is this place?" he whispered.
"Your perception," Max's voice echoed faintly around him. "But tell me, Sai Fujimoto — which one of those faces do you think is real?"
Sai turned, watching the mirrored versions of himself twist and shift. Some smiled. Some frowned. Some bled. Some wept.
He clenched his fists. "None of them. I decide who I am."
The reflections laughed — a chorus of his own voice mocking him.
You decide? one said. Then why do you keep running from who you were?
Why pretend to be strong when you still doubt yourself?
Why train if you don't believe you can win?
Sai grit his teeth. "Shut up."
But the reflections stepped closer, overlapping, distorting into a storm of faces and voices. His surroundings warped — the mirrored floor cracked, and from beneath it rose a twisted version of himself.
It had his face, but its eyes were black voids. Chains of light wrapped around its arms and chest.
The other Sai smiled cruelly. "You think you're here to master illusion. But you're only here because you're afraid of who you'll become if you fail."
Sai drew his blade, a faint shimmer of energy surrounding it. "If you're me… then you already know I don't give up."
The twisted reflection tilted its head. "No. I know you say that."
Then it lunged.
Sai parried, the impact of the clash sending waves through the mirrored world. Each strike shattered more of the reflections around them, splintering into fragments of light. The twisted version fought with ferocity — every movement mirroring Sai's perfectly. It was like fighting his own mind.
How do you win against yourself?
Sai's blade locked with his double's. He pushed forward, forcing it back. "You're not me," he hissed. "You're the weakness I've already cast aside."
The reflection smiled — blood dripping from its mouth. "Then why do I still exist?"
Sai froze for a heartbeat. The hesitation was enough — the reflection struck, slashing across his chest. Pain seared through him, real and heavy. He staggered back.
Max's voice whispered faintly through the chaos. "Remember… illusion isn't false. It's real as long as you believe it."
Sai closed his eyes, breathing hard. "Then I just have to believe something stronger."
He steadied himself, focusing his energy inward. The reflection lunged again — but this time, Sai didn't move to block. He dropped his sword and extended his hand, catching the reflection's blade bare-handed. The steel cut deep, blood spilling, but Sai didn't waver.
"I accept you," he said firmly. "You're part of me — the doubt, the fear, the weakness. But you don't control me anymore."
The reflection's eyes widened — then began to crack like glass. It screamed, splintering into shards of light that rained down around him.
When Sai opened his eyes again, he was standing in the temple, his hand still submerged in the Reflective Core. The silver pool rippled, then went still.
Max stood beside him, silent for a long moment. Then he spoke softly. "You didn't destroy it. You accepted it. That's the mark of someone who understands illusion."
Sai looked at his bloodied palm, then at Max. "Illusions aren't meant to be broken… they're meant to be embraced."
Max nodded slowly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're learning faster than most. But remember, Sai — the deeper you go, the less you'll know what's real. Don't lose yourself in the process."
Sai met his gaze, eyes burning with resolve. "If losing myself means finding who I'm truly meant to be… then it's a risk worth taking."
Max chuckled softly, turning away. "Good answer. Tomorrow, we test your reality itself."
As Sai stood there, staring into the still silver pool, his reflection smiled faintly — but for a split second, it didn't move the same way he did.
And deep within the Core, something else smiled back.
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