THE DOOR OF ECHOES

Chapter 6

The air around the oasis shifted, thick with an energy that prickled against Aya's skin. The image of the door, once just a reflection in the water, had solidified into something tangible. It stood before them now, tall and ancient, set into an unseen wall of darkness that seemed to hum with unseen power.

Aya's breath caught in her throat. This was it for the threshold between what was known and what had been hidden for centuries.

Idris stood beside her, his body tense. "Once we step through, we may not be able to come back."

Aya swallowed hard but nodded. "I know."

The old man who had guided them here stepped forward, his tattered robes shifting like dry leaves in the wind. "To enter, you must make an offering," he said. "The door does not open freely."

Aya's fingers instinctively tightened around the map. "What kind of offering?"

The old man's gaze settled on her, deep and knowing. "A memory."

Aya blinked. "A memory?"

The man nodded. "This place exists beyond the veil of time. To pass through, you must leave something of yourself behind."

A chill ran through her. She had expected to pay a price, but losing a memory—what did that even mean? Would she forget something small, or would something vital be stripped from her mind forever?

Idris exhaled through his nose. "And if we refuse?"

"Then the door remains closed," the old man said simply.

Aya turned to Idris, her voice firm despite the unease twisting in her stomach. "We have to do this."

Idris hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But we do it together."

Aya nodded, and they stepped toward the door. The old man raised a hand, and a shimmering ripple passed through the air like a wave over still water.

"Place your hand on the door," he instructed.

Aya took a deep breath, then reached out, pressing her palm against the cold stone. Idris did the same beside her.

At first, nothing happened. Then, a sharp tug, deep inside her mind.

Aya gasped as a surge of emotion rushed through her—warm laughter, the scent of home, the soft touch of her mother's hands braiding her hair. And then—gone.

The memory had been plucked from her mind as easily as a leaf carried away by the wind. Aya staggered back, breathless. For a moment, she couldn't even remember what she had lost. She just knew something was missing.

Idris cursed under his breath, rubbing his temple. "That was unpleasant."

The old man inclined his head. "The price has been paid. The door will open."

As he spoke, the stone before them groaned and shifted. A crack appeared, light spilling through like dawn breaking over the horizon. The door split apart, revealing a passage bathed in eerie golden light.

Aya steadied herself, then exchanged a glance with Idris. Without another word, they stepped through.

The moment they crossed the threshold, Aya felt an intense weight settle over her as if she had stepped into a world where time moved differently. The golden glow surrounded them, but the air was thick with something else something ancient and unseen.

As her vision adjusted, Aya realized they were no longer in the desert. The landscape before them was surreal. Towering trees with golden leaves stretched high above, their branches forming a vast canopy that filtered the light into soft, dappled patterns on the ground. The earth beneath their feet was no longer sand but smooth stone, carved with intricate symbols that pulsed faintly with light.

A river ran through the land, its waters glistening like liquid silver. Strange, luminous flowers bloomed along its banks, their petals shifting colors as if responding to unseen rhythms.

Aya exhaled slowly, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of it all. "This is…"

"The true oasis," Idris finished beside her. His voice was hushed, but there was a wariness in his eyes.

The serenity of the place was undeniable, yet Aya couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

A rustling sound echoed through the trees.

Idris tensed, hand on his dagger. "We're not alone."

Aya's pulse quickened as she followed his gaze. Shapes moved between the trees—figures, cloaked in flowing robes that blended seamlessly with their surroundings. They watched in silence, their faces obscured by ornate golden masks.

One of them stepped forward. Unlike the others, this figure's mask was more elaborate, adorned with delicate patterns that shimmered under the light.

Aya forced herself to stand tall. "Who are you?"

The figure tilted their head, then spoke in a voice that seemed to echo through the air. "You have entered a place that does not welcome outsiders."

Aya swallowed hard but held her ground. "We came searching for the Shaded Oasis. The real one."

The masked figure studied her for a long moment before answering. "The oasis is not lost. It has merely been hidden—from those who seek to claim what does not belong to them."

Aya hesitated. "We don't want to claim it. We want to understand it."

A long silence followed. Then the figure spoke again.

"If you seek understanding, then you must prove yourselves worthy."

Aya's fingers curled at her sides. "How?"

The figure raised a hand, and the ground beneath them trembled. The trees around them shifted, their golden leaves rustling in the unseen wind.

"The oasis is not just a place," the figure said. "It is a trial."

At those words, the other masked figures stepped forward, forming a circle around Aya and Idris. The air thickened with energy, and a strange, rhythmic hum filled the space.

Aya's heart pounded. This wasn't just a sanctuary. It was a test.

The masked leader gestured toward the Silver River. "If you truly seek the oasis, step forward. Let the waters judge you."

Aya glanced at Idris, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. But he nodded, and together, they moved toward the river's edge.

The water was unlike anything Aya had ever seen, its surface rippling with a soft glow as if made of liquid light. She took a deep breath, then knelt, touching the cool surface with her fingertips.

The moment her skin met the water, a surge of memories flooded her mind. Not her own, but those of others.

She saw glimpses of the past, people kneeling before the river, their faces filled with hope and fear. She saw warriors, scholars, and wanderers, all seeking the oasis for their own reasons. Some were granted passage. Others… were not. The vision ended abruptly, leaving her gasping. Idris clutched his head beside her, his face pale. "What was that?"

"The waters do not just reflect," the masked figure said. "They reveal."

Aya steadied her breath. "What did they see in us?"

The figure didn't answer immediately. Then, slowly, they raised a hand, and the golden trees parted, revealing a narrow stone path leading deeper into the oasis.

"You have been granted passage," the figure said. "But be warned, the deeper you go, the more the oasis will demand of you."

Aya exhaled, her pulse still racing. She had passed the first trial, but the journey was far from over.

As she and Idris stepped onto the path, she couldn't shake the feeling that they had only just begun to understand what the Shaded Oasis truly was.

And what it might cost them.