The face on the smooth surface of the fourth door was looking at Elara. It resembled Elara, but it was not Elara.
There was no Moon in its eyes. No orange light. No fear either. That did not make it less frightening. On the contrary, that empty calm on its face made Elara shiver even more. Because the absence of a person's pain could sometimes look like healing. But there was no healing in this face. Only a reduced silence.
The reflection spoke again. "Return home cannot happen without leaving a body empty."
The Moon Spirit pulled back sharply inside Elara.
This retreat was not escape. It was more like an old wound opening from the same place. Elara felt it. The Moon Spirit was not hearing this sentence for the first time. Perhaps the words were different, but the logic was the same.
If a being leaves, emptiness remains.
If power is withdrawn, the body is diminished.
If order is to be established, someone gives up themselves.
