The Secret Behind the Dimensional Mirror

The crystalline walls glowed softly as Kaelan and Yelena walked through the long corridors of this strange dimensional space. Streams of blue energy flowed beneath the crystal floor like rivers of light, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Though the place seemed serene, Kaelan couldn't shake the unease creeping into his heart.

Anya's voice still echoed in his mind. That was really her… or at least a part of her. But if she was truly trapped here, how was she still able to communicate with him?

"Yelena," Kaelan finally spoke, "what if… there's a way to bring her back?"

Yelena stopped and looked at him seriously. "Kaelan, I know how much Anya means to you. But you have to understand… what we saw earlier might not really be her. It could just be a remnant of her memory, lingering within the core energy of the mountain."

Kaelan clenched his fists. "But what if it is really her? What if there's a way to save her?"

Yelena gazed at him deeply before sighing. "If Anya truly exists in an energy form, then the only way to bring her back is by controlling the mountain's core energy. And that… is nearly impossible."

Kaelan remained silent. But deep down, he wasn't willing to give up so easily.

The Dimensional Mirror

They continued walking until they arrived at a vast chamber different from the previous ones. In the center of the room stood a massive mirror with a golden frame adorned with intricate ancient carvings. The mirror did not reflect their images but instead showed a different world—the same mountain, but under a darker sky and an atmosphere filled with eerie tension.

Yelena narrowed her eyes. "I don't like this…"

Kaelan stepped closer and touched the mirror's surface. As soon as his fingers made contact, the reflection inside the mirror began to shift.

A figure appeared.

A tall man in a black robe with glowing red eyes. Half of his face was covered by an intricately carved metal mask.

"Welcome, Kaelan," the man's voice was deep and raspy. "I've been waiting for you."

Kaelan stepped back, instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. "Who are you?"

The man chuckled softly. "You don't recognize me? What a shame… but perhaps it's for the best. I am the future you fear."

Suddenly, the image in the mirror changed. Kaelan saw himself—but not as he was now. His reflection appeared older, stronger… and darker. His eyes no longer shone with hope but were filled with hatred and emptiness.

Kaelan froze. "What is this?"

Yelena looked at the mirror in horror. "Kaelan, we need to leave."

The man in the mirror stepped closer, though he was still trapped within the reflection. "You can't run from your fate, Kaelan. Sooner or later, you will become me."

The Mirror's Trap

Before Kaelan could react, something pulled him from behind. A shadowy black hand gripped his body, dragging him into the mirror.

"KAELAN!" Yelena screamed, trying to grab his hand, but it was too late.

Kaelan was sucked into the mirror, thrown into another world.

When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the crystal chamber.

He stood in the same place… but everything was different. The sky was blood-red, and Mount Sambo behind him looked like an ancient ruin abandoned long ago.

"This… this isn't my world…" he muttered.

"You finally made it," the voice of the man from before spoke again.

Kaelan turned and saw the same figure standing before him. But this time, he wasn't just a reflection. He was real.

"I am Kaelan," the man said with a smirk. "The Kaelan who has been through it all… and chose the right path."

Kaelan drew his sword. "You are not me!"

The man raised his hand, and suddenly, a wave of dark energy struck Kaelan, sending him crashing to the ground.

"You'll understand soon," said the other Kaelan. "When loss breaks you, when everything you protect is destroyed… you will become me."

Kaelan gasped for air, struggling to rise. "I… will never become you."

The man laughed. "We'll see."

Suddenly, the ground beneath Kaelan began to crack, and black shadows emerged from the fissures. Horrifying creatures with hollow eyes and elongated hands crawled toward him.

Kaelan struggled to stand, but his body felt unbearably heavy.

Then, another voice rang out.

"Kaelan… hold on…"

The voice was distant yet crystal clear. It was Anya's voice.

Kaelan looked up, and in the crimson sky, he saw a faint figure of a woman standing among the shadows.

"Anya…"

Returning to His World

Kaelan felt a new surge of strength coursing through him. With all his might, he swung his sword at the fractured ground. A wave of light erupted, shattering the shadows.

The man who claimed to be his future self chuckled. "Interesting… it seems you still have hope."

But before he could do anything else, another light shone from above, and Kaelan felt a powerful force pulling him back.

"Kaelan!"

It was Yelena's voice.

In an instant, he was sucked back into his original world.

Kaelan collapsed onto the crystal floor of the previous chamber. Yelena knelt beside him, her face filled with concern.

"You disappeared for a few seconds! What happened?"

Kaelan panted, trying to comprehend what he had just experienced. To him, it had felt like hours, but for Yelena, it had only been a few moments.

"I… I saw another world. I met… myself. Or something that claimed to be me."

Yelena looked at him seriously. "Kaelan, whatever you saw there… don't let it control you."

Kaelan nodded slowly. "I know one thing… we have to find the next fragment of the artifact. And fast."

With renewed determination, they stepped out of the chamber, leaving the dimensional mirror behind.

Yet, Kaelan knew that his encounter with his other self was no coincidence.

It was a warning.

And perhaps… a glimpse of a future he must avoid.