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She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves and looking in the dark tunnel. It was dark and she already was feeling fear engulf her. But she had to keep going, she had to find her mother.

Glancing around, she knew she needed some kind of torch to see where she was going. Searching around the backyard, she found a lantern with a bit of oil in it. With a sigh of relief, she lit it, casting a dim light on the tunnel. The air in the tunnel was damp and musty, and she resisted so hard to yell and jump back when looking at the spider webs on the walls. She knew it would only make her sound like a frightened child but it was still scary.

Finally, she saw a dim light coming from the end. Her pace quickened and she approached the light further. As she approached, she realized it was the portal. Its swirling mass was white.

She reached out a trembling hand and touched the edge of the portal. It felt warm, almost hot to touch. 

Taking a deep breath, she stepped through the portal. The sensation of passing through the barrier was disorienting, like falling through a bottomless pit. But then, she landed on solid ground, her feet sinking into the soft, mossy earth. She looked around, trying to get her bearings. The forest seemed endless, filled with woods and creepy vines. She saw the portal was still there, not disappearing. Regan let out a breath in relief, not sure what she would have done if it had disappeared.

As she walked deeper into the forest, the air grew colder and the trees taller. The branches reached out like skeletal fingers, blocking out the weak light of the stars. The sounds of the forest were eerie, with the occasional rustle of leaves or hoot of an unseen creature.

She wondered where the temple the Agnes talked about would be. Maybe somewhere in this forest. Maybe the Shadowslands weren't that big after all.

The Forbidden Forest was scary and creepy, the air filled with a pressure of fear and unease. The trees were ancient and twisted, their branches reaching out to her like the claws of a monster. Even the tree trucks were shaped like horrific beasts, their bark grotesquely carved with symbols she didn't understand.

She wondered if anyone lived there or if it was just an abandoned forest. As she walked, she saw some letters placed on the trunks of trees, each one with a symbol that she didn't recognize. It seemed that someone had left her a message, but she couldn't understand it. The letters seemed to dance before her eyes, refusing to stay still.

Maybe it was the riddle that Agnes had told her about. But Regan couldn't quite figure it out. They were symbols she couldn't explain so she took a deep breath and continued on her way.

She tried to stay as calm as possible, knowing that fear wouldn't lead her anywhere.

Suddenly, she heard a growl. It was close, but she couldn't see anything. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and she clutched the lantern tighter. Another growl, closer this time. Something was stalking her through the forest. She felt a chill run down her spine as she realized she was not alone.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she hurried through the trees, trying to lose whatever it was that was following her. The woods seemed to close in around her, trapping her in a maze of ancient trees. The growls grew louder, more menacing with each step.

Maybe they were wolves or maybe they were other beasts. Whatever they were, she was still terrified. She had fought with yaxils and other creatures in the past, but she still had to be careful. The air seemed thick with menace, as if the very trees were alive and plotting against her.

She tripped over a root, falling hard on her hands and knees.

"Ouch!" she cried out, feeling a sharp pain shoot through her. The growling grew louder, closer. Whatever was following her was now very close. She forced herself to stand, her hands shaking as she clutched the lantern tighter.

She saw that the bushes started to spread and here, they seemed to move on their own. She took a step back, her heart beating even faster. Suddenly, a large, black wolf emerged from the bushes, its fur standing on end and its teeth bared in a snarl. It was even bigger than she had imagined, its muscles rippling beneath its sleek coat. The wolf crouched low, ready to pounce.

But Regan wasn't going to back either. She gathered her spells and threw a burst of fire at the wolf. The wolf winced in pain and backed away a little. But it turned back on its position again. Regan casted a protective shield around her and sprinted in a run. She almost stumbled on the vines and woods and she could hear the wolf's growls.

Regan shot the wolf with flames, hoping it'd lose its footing at least. She managed to trick him, ran and hid behind a tree. The wolf growled and tried to find her. The forest was full of danger and she knew she had to be careful. She kept running and running, trying to find a way out of this place.

After what seemed as eternity, the wolf had lost her. Regan took some time to catch her breath, her heart still racing.

As she brushed the sweat off her forehead, she could see a pyramid towering behind the woods. It was covered with vines and leaves. It's color was not noticeable since it was night.

This must be the temple, Regan thought to herself as she approached the pyramid. It was larger than she had first imagined, its sides covered in ancient carvings and other unknown languages that looked like they had been worn away by time. The vines and leaves that covered it made it appear as if it had been reclaimed by the forest, and it was a wonder that she had even been able to spot it through the trees.

As she walked, she couldn't help but feel a large wave of fear wash over her. On the center of the pyramid, was a small door she could see. But the problem was, how could she enter there alone? She was terrified. What if Agnes had lied her and wanted her to die there? 

Right now, she really hoped she had someone with her. As she stared at the door on the pyramid, she tried to gather her courage. She couldn't lose her courage now. She had gone too far at this point. She had done so many things. She had rised rebellions, she had killed bad monsters, she had escaped from so many dangerous situations.

She had to be brave now. She had to be strong now. She couldn't let fear win. She had to get inside that pyramid. She had to get the sword that Agnes was babbling about and then she had to open the portals of Oblivion and find her mother.

With courage filling her veins, Regan stepped forward and brought her hand near the door. It was made of stone, covered in intricate carvings and runes that seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. She took a deep breath and placed her hand on it. 

The door, immediately, started to slowly slip open. She stared in surprise as she door revealed a dark chamber. A pitch black chamber to be more precise.

"Oh, God." Regan whispered, trying to see something. But she couldn't see anything.

She brought the lantern close to the ground and saw that there were some stony old brown tiles.

As she took a shaky step inside, the lantern glowed dimly. She leaned more and could see the chamber was large, with murals and colorful mosaics om the walls, shining from the dim light.

Taking a shaky breath, Regan stepped in with her both legs. The stone door slipped closed after all, making the walls on it groan in noise and the dust flicker around the fire. Regan flinched, having no idea how she was going to get out now.

She was now completely alone in the dark, musty chamber. The only source of light came from the flickering torch in her hand. The ancient murals on the walls depicted strange, otherworldly creatures and other carved words in symbols and letters. Maybe if she had more knowledge, she would have known what they spoke about.

She bought the lantern closer to the wall and there was a mural of a woman dressed in a loose white gown, her hair was long and blonde. A description was under her mural but Regan had no idea what the words meant. As she took deep breaths, the air around was old, filled with the smell of dust and old books. The silence was deafening and scary.

As she kept throwing unsure and trembling steps, she noticed some spikes on the walls. Then a thought hit her. This place must be filled with traps and hidden dangers. She had to be careful. She moved slowly and carefully, her eyes darting around the room, trying to find anything that could hurt her. And then, as she placed her foot on a tile, it immediately sunk into the floor, revealing an black abyss. She flinched, knowing that if she was going to fall in there, it was over. But she was too scared to move.

"Hello?" She called out, her voice echoing through the chamber. There was no reply. The silence was eerie and unsettling. She took a deep breath and carefully moved her other foot, testing the floor. It held firm. Slowly, she moved forward, inching her way across the room, her heart pounding in her chest. The air was thick with anticipation, and she could feel the weight of the ancient history pressing down on her.

Finally, she reached the other side, which was lit by few torches on the walls. On the end of the dark hallway, there was a tall, wide door. It was carved in the intricate patterns of dragons and other creatures. In front of it, stood two statues of terrifying creatures that seemed to be frozen, awaiting to be awakened. The room seemed to be larger than the one before, and Regan could hear her own rapid heartbeat.

On the right side of the chamber, was a stone table, holding a chest. The chest was made of wood. Regan slowly approached it, throwing her steps carefully. As she bought her hand close the chest, she changed her mind and brought her torch instead. As the torch touched the surface of the chest, spikes erupted from the chest, hiting her torch. The higher part of the torch still glowed, casting a dim light around her, while the lower part was stuck into the spikes.

"Damnit." She whispered in frustration, glancing around. If she had put her hand there, she would have gone already. The thought itself made her terrified.

As she snatched the torch away from the spikes, the lower part broke while the higher part was holding firm, allowing her to see at least.

As she stood there, on the quiet and scary chamber, she noticed the statues etched in the walls. They were one of the same design, similar to humans. She couldn't help but feel watched.

She turned the torch somewhere down and noticed how there were some tiles with spikes on them. Swallowing hard, Regan tried to collect her voice and speak.

"Hey, I mean no trouble. I'm here for the sword of Oblivion." She said, glancing around, her voice slightly shaky. Her voice echoed in the walls and she got no response.

"I was told that it was hidden here. I'm not here to cause any harm. I just need to open the portals to Oblivion and I'll be on my way," Regan said nervously as she walked closer to the statues. The creatures seemed to tower over her but they didn't answer.

Regan took a deep breath as she tried to reach that door. She threw her steps carefully and cautiously. As she moved closer to the door, she realized that it was much larger than she had initially thought.

The statues seemed to stare at her for death, threatening to crush her with their massive stone bodies if she made a wrong move. Regan swallowed hard, her heart racing as she continued to step carefully forward. The door loomed before her, its intricate carvings glowing eerily in the dim light.

As she reached out to touch it, a sudden chill ran down her spine. She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering in mid-air. But she couldn't afford to be afraid now. She had come too far. She had faced too many obstacles. She had to keep going.

Anyway, there was no handle or anything on that door. She put her hand on it and nothing happened for a moment. Then, the walls began to shake and she flinched. The ground below her began to shake as well, making her lose her balance for a second. She reached out to steady herself on one of the statues, feeling its cold, hard surface beneath her fingers. As the shaking intensified, Regan panicked even more. The walls looked like they were going to crumble and she was going to die here, trapped in this chamber.

Finally, the shaking stopped and the chamber turned quiet again. She removed her hand from the statue, feeling its surface quite cold.

"You dare enter the Forbidden Forest, let alone the Forgotten hollow? Who are you, stranger?" A cold and stern voice echoed around the empty space, making Regan jump in surprise. She glanced around, not being sure where the voice was coming from. She had no idea what was going to happen next. The door remained shut, and the statues still loomed over her, their gazes unblinking.

"I am the guardian of this place," the voice continued. "You must answer my question before you may pass." The voice was deep and ancient, making it seem as if it was disturbing the walls as well.

Regan hesitated, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart. "I'm Regan. I'm here for the sword of Oblivion. I mean no harm and I need the sword only to open the portals to Oblivion."

"Very well, traveler," the voice responded. "Your intentions are true, and your purpose just. The sword of Oblivion you seek lies behind this door." As Regan listened to the voice, she felt a surge of relief wash over her. However," the voice continued, "You must answer a riddle no one has ever been able to solve before you may take the sword."

The guardian fell silent, leaving Regan to ponder what the riddle might be. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "Go ahead," she said finally. "Ask your riddle."

There was a deafening silence that Regan doubted if the voice was even real. But when it spoke, it spoke on a chillingly calm tone, "Listen at the riddle carefully. Because you can hear it only once. Here's it: "Two shadows of a half. One loves me, one betrays me. One builds, one destroys. Both watch me, both know me. One would die for me, the other would die by me. I shall only spare one. Whom do I spare?"

From the start to the end of the riddle, Regan's mind was racing, trying to make sure she remembered it and didn't miss anything. It was like talking to someone about something important, focusing so much in the need to remember it that you end up remembering nothing. Thankfully, here she didn't miss a lot of things. The riddle was paradoxical. Its answer would be easy: spare the one who loves, who builds and....and what? No, this wasn't the answer.

The riddle was like a knife that cut both sides. The two 'shadows' could morph with each other. The one who loves, could have a misguided love, even a love for the evil. The one who destroys, could destroy to protect from the evil. Similarly, betrayal could be to clear one's soul from evilness, or to reveal a truth, while build could be something ominous, as if building power for sinister purposes.

Her mind raced with all the possible interpretations but the more she thought, the more confusing and difficult it became...

"Remember, you have only one chance. If your answer is wrong, you shall to be trapped here for eternity," the chilling voice spoke again, echoing through the silence.

Regan's mind was troubled, part of her wanted to get out of here while the other part, the part that was too determinated and desperate to find her mother, pushed her to stay.

pushed her to stay.

She didn't know why her mind went to Sirius. He was her sworn enemy, and the riddle's words: betray and destroy, would suit his personality. On the other side, love in this case could be any kind of love. It could be a love she didn't want. It could be a love from someone she didn't want too. It could be love in the most shallow perception, like lust. It could be anything. It could be even the twisted kind of love that actually had a good side. Meanwhile, the one who'd die for her, that wasn't just any kind of love. It was a deeper connection, one that transcended any selfish desire.

"I...." she began, her breath speeding up just like her heart. She didn't want to make mistakes anymore. The thought of being trapped in this place terrified her. She'd probably be never able again to find her mother. What if her answer wouldn't be the right one?

She was in a dilemma for the one who loves and the one who'd die for her, and time was running out. The one who 'loves' wouldn't always risk their lives; it could be a shallow kind of love based on self-interest. But the one who would die for her had to hold a deeper connection, a sacrifice that spoke of true devotion and selflessness. She hadn't had much experiences in her life and although it was the most absurd example, she remembered when Sirius had rescued her from drowning. He could've done it for his own gain but....

"I-I chose to spare the one who'd die for you," she blurted out, her heart racing so wild it felt like it was going to burst. It was the only thing hearing in the pin drop silence. Her blood pounding on her ears. Had she made a mistake? Had her answer been wrong?

She glanced around the chamber furiously. Where had the voice gone? The silence stretched for so long that she didn't know what to think. She started moving a bit cautiously, the statues looking more ominous than ever.

"You have chosen....right," the voice startled her, echoing through the chamber with the same seriousness but also with what could've been a hint of approval. Regan's heart soared with relief and she felt a heavy weight lift off her shoulders, "The one who'd die for you is the one who loves you truly. The sword of Oblivion is yours. But remember, its power should be used wisely."

The guardian's word's echoed in Regan's mind and she felt a sense of foolishness for thinking about Sirius as an example. But at that moment, it didn't matter. Her answer was correct and she was grateful for it.

The ground beneath her began to shift and shake and she saw it lighting up in patterns, forming a mosaic of blue tiles. The glow reached the intimidating door, its symbols lightening in the same color.

With a groan, the door opened slowly, a mist of dust rising up from the ground. The following was the reveal of a bright hall that looked as if it was from another dimension. The bright light entered in through a set of tall white windows lined one after the other, casting a warm glow on the blue pedestal that stood in the middle. Outside the windows, everything looked white, as if she hasn't just been in a foreboding forest and dangerous chamber.

On the pedestal lay a beautiful sword, with a hilt wrapped in leather and adorned with precious gemstones. The blade was sharp, its surface shimmering with

an ethereal glow. It was the sword of Oblivion, and it was finally within Regan's reach. She took a deep breath and took a step forward.