Chapter 67: The Labyrinth of Echoes
The new passageway was different from the ones before. It was lined with smooth, obsidian-like walls that seemed to absorb the light of the shard, leaving the space eerily dim. As Xiao Tian, Yue'er, and Lian'er ventured further, they realized that their footsteps produced no sound—an unsettling silence filled the corridor, as if the world itself had been muted.
Yue'er glanced around nervously, the shard clutched tightly in her hand. "I don't like this. It feels... wrong."
Lian'er smirked, though her voice was unusually quiet. "Every part of this cavern feels wrong. Just another day in the Keeper's trials."
Xiao Tian, ever vigilant, led the way, his sword gleaming faintly in the shard's light. "Stay close. If we've learned anything, it's that these trials don't give us time to breathe. Be ready for anything."
The corridor opened into a massive circular chamber. In the center stood a towering black obelisk, its surface engraved with glowing runes that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat. The chamber's ceiling was so high it vanished into darkness, and the floor was a maze of paths spiraling outward from the obelisk.
The voice of the Keeper resonated once again, low and deliberate.
"Welcome to the Labyrinth of Echoes. In this trial, you must navigate the maze and confront the truths hidden within. Only those who understand themselves can find the way forward. Fail, and you will be lost in the echoes of your own doubts."
---
Before they could react, the runes on the obelisk flared to life, and a wave of energy swept through the chamber. The paths shifted and rearranged themselves, forming an ever-changing labyrinth.
Lian'er cursed under her breath. "A maze? Really? This is going to take forever."
"It's more than just a maze," Yue'er said, her voice tense. "The Keeper said we'd have to confront hidden truths. That means this place is going to mess with our minds again."
Xiao Tian nodded. "Stay focused. We'll get through this together."
---
The group moved cautiously through the labyrinth, the shard's light their only guide. The paths twisted and turned in unnatural ways, some looping back on themselves while others ended abruptly in dead ends. The oppressive silence was soon replaced by faint whispers, similar to those they had encountered before.
"Why do you continue to struggle?"
"Do you think you can truly succeed?"
"You are not worthy of the shard's power."
The whispers grew louder as they pressed on, each word striking at their deepest insecurities.
---
The first trial came to Lian'er. She turned a corner, only to find herself standing alone in a familiar clearing. It was the battlefield from her past, the one where she had lost everything. The bodies of her comrades lay scattered around her, their faces twisted in pain.
"Lian'er…" a voice called out, soft but accusing.
She turned to see a figure approaching—a man she recognized instantly. He had been her mentor, the one who had taught her everything she knew about survival and combat.
"You let us die," the man said, his voice cold. "You saved yourself and abandoned us."
Lian'er's hands trembled, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "I didn't abandon you. I was outnumbered, outmatched. If I had stayed, I would have died too."
"And yet, here you are," the figure said, stepping closer. "Alive and thriving, while we rot in the dirt."
Lian'er clenched her fists, her voice firm. "I've spent every day since then honoring your memory. I won't let your sacrifice be in vain."
The figure hesitated, then dissolved into mist. The path before Lian'er cleared, and she hurried to rejoin the others.
---
Yue'er faced her own trial shortly after. She found herself in a vast, empty library, the shelves towering above her. At the center of the room stood a single desk, and on it lay a book with her name written on the cover.
As she approached, the book opened on its own, its pages flipping rapidly. The words on the pages began to rise into the air, forming the shapes of people she had failed to protect.
"You carry the shard, but what have you done with its power?" one of the figures asked, their voice sharp. "You couldn't save us, and now you think you're worthy of leading others?"
Yue'er's heart ached, but she refused to look away. "I've made mistakes, but I've also saved lives. The shard chose me because I won't give up, no matter how many times I fall."
The figures stared at her for a moment, then vanished. The book closed, and the library dissolved into darkness. Yue'er found herself back in the labyrinth, the shard glowing more brightly than before.
---
Xiao Tian's trial was the most harrowing of all. He found himself standing in a field of ash, the remnants of his childhood home scattered around him. Flames flickered on the horizon, and the cries of the villagers echoed in his ears.
In the distance, he saw a familiar figure—his younger self, kneeling beside the bodies of his parents. The boy looked up at him, tears streaming down his face.
"You could have saved them," the boy said, his voice choked with emotion. "You were too afraid to act. Too weak."
Xiao Tian knelt beside his younger self, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I was a child. I didn't have the strength to save them then, but I've worked every day since to become stronger. I won't let their deaths be meaningless."
The boy's expression softened, and the field of ash began to fade. Xiao Tian rose to his feet, the shard's light guiding him back to the labyrinth.
---
The trio reunited at the center of the labyrinth, their expressions weary but resolute. The obelisk stood before them, its runes glowing softly.
"You have faced your truths and emerged stronger. The path forward is yours."
The obelisk began to sink into the ground, revealing a staircase leading deeper into the caverns.
Xiao Tian looked at his companions, a small smile on his face. "One more step closer to the Keeper's treasure. Let's keep moving."
Yue'er and Lian'er nodded, their determination renewed. Together, they descended the staircase, ready for whatever lay ahead.
[End of Chapter 67]