Chapter 25: "Fragments of the Forgotten"
The silence in the maze was deafening. Lyra clenched her fists, her mind fogged with missing pieces she couldn't grasp. The harder she tried to remember, the more her head throbbed.
"Does anyone else feel... off?" she asked, breaking the uneasy quiet.
Kael leaned against the wall, his brow furrowed in frustration. "More than off. It's like I'm forgetting something important. But every time I try to figure out what, it slips away."
Silas paced in slow, deliberate circles, his usual confidence replaced with a simmering agitation. "The trial was cruel, but effective. We've lost something—memories, yes, but not just any memories. It took what mattered most."
Lyra's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Silas stopped pacing, his gaze sharp. "Think about it. We can still remember each other's names, our goal, this maze. But the bonds—the trust we've been building—they feel... fractured."
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Kael pushed off the wall, his expression dark. "You're saying it's trying to divide us. To make us doubt each other."
Silas smirked, though it lacked his usual charm. "Is it working?"
"Stop," Lyra said firmly, stepping between them. "This is what the maze wants. It wants us to fall apart. But we've come too far to let it win."
Kael's shoulders relaxed slightly, but his eyes remained on Silas. "Fine. But I still don't trust him."
Silas shrugged, his golden eyes glinting. "The feeling is mutual, I assure you."
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They continued through the maze in tense silence, the air growing colder with each step. Lyra's amulet glowed faintly, its light flickering as if struggling to stay lit.
"Something's ahead," Lyra whispered, holding up her hand to stop the others.
Kael drew his sword, his muscles tense. "What do you see?"
The faint outline of a doorway shimmered in the distance, surrounded by a swirling mist. Lyra's heart raced as she approached it, the amulet pulsing stronger with each step.
"It's another chamber," she said, her voice barely audible.
Silas chuckled darkly. "I'm starting to wonder if this maze ever ends."
---
The doorway opened into a small, circular room, its walls lined with mirrors. In the center stood a pedestal, atop which rested a golden orb that glowed faintly.
Lyra approached cautiously, her gaze fixed on the orb. "This has to be important. But what is it?"
"It's a memory sphere," Silas said, his voice uncharacteristically solemn.
Lyra turned to him, confused. "A memory sphere?"
Silas nodded, his expression unreadable. "They're ancient artifacts, designed to store memories. Touch it, and it'll show you glimpses of what's been lost."
Kael crossed his arms, his voice skeptical. "How do you know so much about it?"
"I've encountered one before," Silas replied smoothly. "Though the circumstances were... less than pleasant."
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Lyra hesitated, her hand hovering over the orb. "What if it's a trap?"
Kael stepped forward, his tone firm. "Then we'll deal with it. But we need answers, Lyra. We can't keep stumbling through this maze blind."
Taking a deep breath, Lyra placed her hand on the orb. A surge of energy coursed through her, and her surroundings shifted.
She was back in the village square, but this time it wasn't burning. She saw herself as a child, playing with other children, laughter filling the air. Her parents stood nearby, smiling warmly.
But the scene shifted, darkening. The laughter faded, replaced by screams. Shadows engulfed the square, and the warmth was replaced by an icy chill.
Lyra gasped, pulling her hand away. "It's... it's showing me the past. But it's distorted, like it's hiding something."
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Kael placed his hand on the orb next, his jaw tightening as the energy surged through him. He saw himself on the battlefield, surrounded by his comrades. But their faces blurred, and the scene dissolved into chaos.
"I can't make sense of it," he said, his voice low. "It's like pieces are missing."
Silas stepped forward, his smirk returning. "Allow me."
As he touched the orb, his expression changed, his usual composure faltering. He saw a grand hall filled with shadowy figures, their voices echoing with accusations. The scene shifted to a pair of golden eyes staring back at him—familiar and yet deeply unsettling.
Silas pulled away abruptly, his breathing ragged. "It's no use. The sphere shows us fragments, but not the whole picture."
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Lyra looked at the orb, her determination hardening. "It's trying to help us, but we're not ready. Not yet. We need to keep moving, to find the Tear. Only then will the pieces make sense."
Kael nodded. "Agreed. But we need to stay on guard. Whatever took our memories isn't done with us."
Silas straightened, his smirk returning, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Then let's not disappoint it."
As they left the chamber, Lyra couldn't shake the feeling that the orb had shown them more than just fragments of their past. It had shown them a warning—one they couldn't afford to ignore.
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Sneak Peek for Chapter 26:
The trio faces their deadliest encounter yet as the maze reveals a guardian determined to protect its secrets. As old fears resurface and new truths come to light, Lyra must tap into a power she never knew she possessed—or risk losing everything.