Whispers between worlds

water still clung to her skin, but her heart had found a steady beat. The fear she had faced-her deepest, most paralyzing fear-had shattered, leaving

heir veil stirring as though disturbed by an unseen breeze. "You have passe

pulse quickening.

y a reflection of one's soul. It is a weapon-an ancient force that can restore balance or destroy everything. The shards you now car

The weight of her responsibility was becoming heavier with every step she took. The Mirror o

ked, her voice steady, despite the grow

the Shadowborn have begun to grow restless. They know you have claimed the second shard. They will come for y

it before-whispers about it spoken in the halls of the Forgotten Library, but never in detail. I

on hardening. "I will go. And

er to pass. "Beware, Keeper. The Shado

skin as she entered the shadowed woods. The trees here were ancient, their trunks twisted and gnarled, and their branches arched

ht in the growing darkness. As she moved deeper into the forest, she fel

uds. The forest seemed to shift, as if it had come alive, its ancient magic responding to her presence

the distance, qu

er senses alert.

e ethereal, flickering in and out of existence, their bodies cloaked in shadows. The

, its voice like the rustling of dead leaves. "Th

in her hand as if responding to the

s are not just keys to the mirror-they are traps, lures meant to drag you into darkness. You have a

and a pulse of energy shot from it, sending the Shadowborn flying back with a force that rattled the very air. The crea

nted, its voice laced with venom. "The

alter. She had faced trials before-this

rge within her, a fire that coursed through her veins. The Shadowborn lunged again, but this time, she was ready. She

smoke as they were pushed back. For a moment, the forest was silent

and was still warm, its pulse steady. The Shadowborn were ret

the war was far from over. The Shadowb

her. The path ahead was uncertain, but the second shard was

a clearing ahead. In the center of the clearing stood a stone altar, ancien

ard, the one that would bring her closer to restoring the Mirror of Veils. But as her finge

d to shift, its shadows lengthening and twisting into something more si

ena

as not. It was a whisper, an echo th

d, but there w

led again, this time l

upted. The shadows around her began to stre

unnatural light. It was her mother-at least, it loo

eal," Elena whisper

e wrong, Elena. I've always been here, waiting for you. You wer

st, and the world around her seemed to shudder. The sha