Chapter 4: The Land of UndineEpisode 5: The Trial of the Heart

Akira's team swam through the Death Triangle, their minds heavy with the aftermath of their victory against the Kraken. Ahead of them loomed the ruins of Atlantino, a city that once flourished but was now swallowed by the chaos, reduced to rubble and despair.

At the heart of the ruins stood an ancient castle, its imposing form untouched by the decay surrounding it. The castle emanated an eerie presence, as though guarding a secret of immense power and malevolence.

"This place…" Mirelle whispered, her voice trembling as they approached the castle, "it feels like the origin of something… terrible."

But as they crossed into the castle's domain, a dense black mist enveloped them, as if an ink cloud from a colossal squid had consumed the entire space. The mist was so thick that they couldn't even see their own hands.

"What is this…?" Draco shouted, his voice muffled and swallowed by the suffocating fog.

The mist seeped into their minds, paralyzing not just their bodies but their thoughts as well. Slowly, an oppressive, twisted force began to claw at their deepest insecurities, pulling them into a harrowing mental trial.

Akira: Envy for the Unseen Rival

In the oppressive darkness, Akira felt a creeping sensation, like a shadow curling around his heart. It began as a whisper, faint yet chilling, growing louder with each passing moment.

"You're worthless… invisible to everyone," the voice murmured, echoing in his mind.

The whispers grew clearer, morphing into his own voice. Images flickered in his mind—Yue's radiant smile, her laughter as she spoke a name that wasn't his.

"Brother Leian is so kind and amazing! He's the best!" Yue's voice rang in his head, her tone filled with admiration and joy.

Akira's chest tightened. Leian? A name he had never heard, a face he had never seen, yet it loomed over him like a towering shadow. He could feel his stomach churn with an emotion he despised—envy.

Hadn't Yue said she had no one by her side? Why, then, did she speak so fondly of this Leian? And why did she call Akira "brother" with the same warmth she reserved for someone else?

The question burned in his mind. The jealousy grew, coiling tighter around his heart. I've been here for her. I've stayed by her side. Why am I never enough?

The images blurred into a haunting vision: Yue, standing next to a faceless figure, smiling brightly, her eyes filled with adoration. The figure wasn't him. The sight twisted the knife deeper into his heart.

The whispers turned into a mocking laugh, cutting through the darkness. "You'll never be enough. You'll never matter as much as him."

Akira's breath grew ragged as the weight of his insecurity dragged him down into a spiraling abyss. The more he struggled, the deeper he sank. He wanted to scream, to demand why Yue couldn't see him the way she saw this stranger.

Yue: A Heart Consumed by Doubt

In the suffocating void, Yue felt an unfamiliar weight pressing down on her. It wasn't fear—it was something darker, something she had never admitted to herself before.

Images of Mirelle shimmered in the darkness, her beauty, her grace, and her intellect shining brighter than any star. Then came Akira, standing by Mirelle's side, his eyes filled with admiration for the older woman.

"He respects her so much…" Yue whispered to herself, her voice trembling.

The whisper turned into a hiss in her mind. "He doesn't need you anymore. You're just a burden."

Yue's heart clenched as she saw Akira glancing past her, his focus entirely on Mirelle. She could almost hear his voice praising Mirelle's intelligence, her strength, and her poise.

And then… silence. Yue stood in the vision, unnoticed, unseen.

The whispers returned, sharper this time. "You'll never be enough for him. You're just a child, clinging to him like a shadow."

The vision shifted, showing Mirelle laughing with Akira, sharing strategies and victories. Yue's chest tightened as an icy tendril of jealousy wrapped around her heart.

Am I not enough for him? she thought, tears welling in her eyes. I'm not as strong as him, not as smart as Mirelle. What do I even bring to the team?

Her doubts consumed her, and the darkness grew thicker. The idea that Akira didn't need her anymore stabbed into her heart, leaving her feeling small and insignificant.

Mirelle: The Fear of Being Overlooked

Mirelle drifted in the endless void, her mind filled with echoes of a time when she had been a hero. Images of the children of Undine, their laughter and admiration, filled her heart with warmth—but only for a moment.

The warmth turned to ice as the vision twisted. The children ran past her, their joyous faces now turned toward Yue. Mirelle watched, her hands trembling as the children called Yue's name, their voices brimming with affection.

"They don't need you anymore," a voice whispered, sharp and cruel. "She's brighter, younger, more lovable. You're just… forgettable."

Mirelle clutched her chest as the words sank in. The admiration she had once cherished had been replaced. She saw herself standing in the shadows, forgotten and unseen.

"I sacrificed so much for them," she murmured. "Why can't they see me anymore?"

The voice hissed again, relentless. "You're just a relic of the past. No one cares about what you've done. They only care about her now."

The image of Yue, surrounded by smiling faces, cut deeper than Mirelle expected. The feeling of being replaced, of being unnecessary, gnawed at her heart.

Draco: Doubting His Own Worth

In the darkness, Draco saw Akira's silhouette—commanding, strong, and unwavering. Memories of Akira's brilliant sword strikes against the Kraken replayed in his mind.

"You'll never compare to him," a voice sneered. "He's everything you're not—smarter, stronger, better."

Draco clenched his fists, but the whispers grew louder. "You think you're a leader? You're nothing more than a shadow in his presence. No one will ever look at you the way they look at him."

The vision shifted to their battle in the arena, where Draco had once defeated Akira. The voice chuckled mockingly. "You only won because he didn't have his swords. Without that, you'd have been crushed."

The doubts began to fester, turning into a gnawing envy. Do I even matter? he thought. What do I have that anyone will remember?

Breaking Free from Envy

Amid the suffocating darkness, Akira closed his eyes, focusing on the voice of his grandfather echoing in his heart. "Envy is a shadow of your own insecurity. Everyone has their own worth, their own light. We are not born to compete but to complete one another."

The words pierced through the haze, and Akira opened his eyes with renewed determination. "I don't need to compare myself to anyone," he said firmly. "We all have our own paths, our own value. Envy doesn't mean I'm worthless—it's just a reminder to find strength within myself."

His declaration rippled through the darkness, shaking the mist. Yue, hearing Akira's words, felt a glimmer of light in her own heart.

I don't have to be like Mirelle, she thought. I have my own place. I'm here because I'm me, and that's enough.

One by one, the team confronted their inner demons, banishing the mist with their realization of self-worth. When the fog cleared, they stood together, united and resolute.

The trial of the heart had ended, but the castle's true challenge awaited them. Beyond the next chamber, a shadow loomed—an enemy Akira had seen only in his dreams. The true battle was about to begin.