When The Stars Forget To Shine

inside the threshold, her heart hammering. A hush pressed around her, broken only by the distant drip of water and the faint susurrus of voices that seemed both e

d black stone that reflected their wavering lights. The walls curved inward, twisting them gently off the path. "Do you hear that?" Liora asked.

past, hearts shall be tried." Liora felt that prophecy settle in her chest like a stone. She gripped th

ne, and in each one Liora recognized a face from her past: her mother cradling her as a baby, her younger brother's wide grin, and at the far end, her

e Labyrinth to test us." Still, Liora couldn't look away. She stepped forward until she stood before Master Serin's statue. Serin's

last words-how she'd sent Liora away to protect her from forces beyond elders' comprehension. And how Liora had

cusation. The lantern trembled in Liora's hand. Regret washe

A high-pitched shriek echoed through the hall as Liora fell backward, huddle

oulder. "You're safe." His voice was gentle but strained-an e

they feel so real." She spoke between ragged bre

gan to crack, their eyes glowing with an inner light. Mael g

er mother calling, beckoning her to return home and forget the quest. Mael heard a whisper of children'

it, suspended from the ceiling by slender chains, hovered a mirror-like disk that reflected the chamber in reverse. Liora approach

d, horror bloomi

lunged forward, reaching through the glass. Mael stumbled back, arm raised to ward off the specter, but

's echo said. "You will aban

curiosity will lead us to ruin

surface shimmered and broke, and out of it stepped two figures-one the illusion

ora. "Mael," she whisp

g between the twin appari

the only way out." The false Mael beckoned too, voice strained: "Come wi

ew smaller, the walls bending inward, the floor slick with condensation. The real shard of Celestial

ip wavered as the false Mael snarled, "Reject me, betray me, and die here alone!" Mael staggered under the weight

would just step through the fallen shards. A final tear slipped down Liora's chee

through the chamber. Mael screamed, stumbled backward-and the real Liora cried out his nam

one Liora, trembling with regret and pain, and a space where Mael should hav

ispered, voice breaking over ragged sobs. She pu

red the mirror. Alone, battered, and filled with remorse, she cradled the shard in shaking hands and peered in

ered back, "I'm coming for you." Then, heart pounding wi