Chapter 26
The Forbidden Door closed behind them with a low, resonant thud, leaving Elana and Lucian alone in the chamber. Crimson mist swirled around their ankles, rising slowly like smoke from an unseen fire. The air was thick, heavy with the weight of countless memories trapped within the hall.
"Elana," Lucian said softly, "the hall stores every memory it has absorbed—the fears, regrets, and secrets of everyone who walked these halls. It can show us the past… or twist it into illusions that can break us."
Elana swallowed hard, gripping her mark through her shirt. Its warmth pulsed steadily, a reminder of their bond. "How do we know what's real?" she asked.
"You don't," Lucian replied. "You trust your instincts, your bond… and each other."
The crimson mist parted, forming shapes that shimmered in the dim light. Figures walked through the chamber—some familiar, others impossible. Elana's heart skipped as she recognized shadows of her parents, frozen in conversations she had never witnessed. Other shapes were distorted, monstrous parodies of teachers and classmates she knew.
"They're memories," Lucian whispered. "But the hall twists them to test our resolve."
Elana's pulse raced. One shadow stepped forward, forming an exact image of Kade—but younger, softer, almost human. His crimson eyes locked on hers.
"You see him as he wishes you to see him," Lucian warned. "Do not let the hall manipulate your perception. He is dangerous, but the illusion is more dangerous."
The figure smiled cruelly, stepping closer. "You've grown stronger, human," it whispered, voice dripping with mockery. "But strength alone won't save you. Your bond… your fear… it's all I need to unravel you."
Elana felt the hall tug at her mind, dredging memories of every moment of doubt she had ever felt. She stumbled back, nearly losing her balance.
Lucian's hand shot out, steadying her. "Focus, Elana. The mark responds to your intent. Show the hall loyalty, courage… control."
Closing her eyes, Elana concentrated on the warmth of the mark, the rhythm of their shared heartbeat, the trust she had in Lucian. She projected their bond outward, letting it flow through the chamber, into the mist, into the shadows.
The Kade illusion faltered. His smile wavered, then vanished, dissolving into the crimson mist. The other figures shifted, bowing slightly before fading away entirely.
Lucian exhaled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Good. You're learning. The hall recognizes your bond now. It will respect your strength—at least for the moment."
Elana sank to her knees, exhausted, trembling from the intensity of the experience. "I… I controlled it?" she whispered.
Lucian nodded, helping her to stand. "For now. But the hall's memory is vast. Kade will still try to manipulate it. You must remain vigilant. Every trial will be harder than the last."
She looked down at the mark on her chest, its warmth pulsing like a heartbeat intertwined with Lucian's. "I'm ready," she said, voice stronger than before.
Lucian smiled faintly. "Then let's see what secrets the hall chooses to reveal next."
The crimson mist shifted once more, whispering around them. Somewhere deep within the hall, unseen eyes watched.
And the next trial was waiting.
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