Chapter 15: The Shadows of the Past

Elara felt the dark garden around her change. The black roses began to move as if they were alive. The silver-eyed guard stood motionless, his presence seemed surreal - as if he did not quite belong to this world.

Kael put a hand on his sword. "What do you want from us?"

The guard smiled. "Not from you. From her."

His eyes rested on Elara.

She swallowed. "What... what should I do?"

The guard stepped closer and pointed to the water basin. "Look inside. And know the truth."

Elara didn't know what to expect, but she stepped closer to the pelvis. The water curled as she looked down - and suddenly her body became heavy.

Her thoughts were carried away.

A look into the past

Suddenly she was no longer in the garden.

She stood in a burning city. People ran around screaming, flames leaked on the buildings. The air was filled with smoke and fear.

And then she saw her.

Yourself.

Or rather... a version of it.

The other Elara stood in the middle of the flames, her eyes glowing in dark red. In her hand she held a sword permeated by black magic.

"That can't be..." whispered Elara.

The dark Elara raised the sword - and with a single movement she let a wave of dark energy sweep over the city. People screamed before they disappeared into the darkness.

Elara gasped.

"That... is not me!"

"Not now. But maybe soon."

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere.

Elara wanted to turn around - but suddenly the dark version of her was right in front of her.

Her red eyes sparkled. A smile played on her lips.

"You fight so much against what you are," she said quietly.

"I'm not you!" Elara hissed.

The dark version laughed softly. "Not? Then why do you hear me?"

Elara felt her heart race. Part of her wanted to run away. Another part... wanted to listen.

"Do you really think you can change your destiny?" The dark Elara stepped even closer. "We both know you feel it. The power. The darkness. Freedom."

"I'm not like you!" cried Elara, clenched her fists.

The dark version of her tilted her head. "Proot it."

And then she attacked.

The fight against oneself

Elara pulled her arms up as the dark version charged at her at superhuman speed.

Their swords collided – light against darkness.

The force threw Elara several meters back.

"She's... so strong..."

But she was not allowed to lose.

Not against yourself.

Not against what they could have become.

With a battle cry, she stormed forward, ready to face her darkest shadow.Chapter 16: The Shadows of the Past

Elara felt the dark garden around her change. The black roses began to move as if they were alive. The silver-eyed guard stood motionless, his presence seemed surreal - as if he did not quite belong to this world.

Kael put a hand on his sword. "What do you want from us?"

The guard smiled. "Not from you. From her."

His eyes rested on Elara.

She swallowed. "What... what should I do?"

The guard stepped closer and pointed to the water basin. "Look inside. And know the truth."

Elara didn't know what to expect, but she stepped closer to the pelvis. The water curled as she looked down - and suddenly her body became heavy.

Her thoughts were carried away.

A look into the past

Suddenly she was no longer in the garden.

She stood in a burning city. People ran around screaming, flames leaked on the buildings. The air was filled with smoke and fear.

And then she saw her.

Yourself.

Or rather... a version of it.

The other Elara stood in the middle of the flames, her eyes glowing in dark red. In her hand she held a sword permeated by black magic.

"That can't be..." whispered Elara.

The dark Elara raised the sword - and with a single movement she let a wave of dark energy sweep over the city. People screamed before they disappeared into the darkness.

Elara gasped.

"That... is not me!"

"Not now. But maybe soon."

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere.

Elara wanted to turn around - but suddenly the dark version of her was right in front of her.

Her red eyes sparkled. A smile played on her lips.

"You fight so much against what you are," she said quietly.

"I'm not you!" Elara hissed.

The dark version laughed softly. "Not? Then why do you hear me?"

Elara felt her heart race. Part of her wanted to run away. Another part... wanted to listen.

"Do you really think you can change your destiny?" The dark Elara stepped even closer. "We both know you feel it. The power. The darkness. Freedom."

"I'm not like you!" cried Elara, clenched her fists.

The dark version of her tilted her head. "Proot it."

And then she attacked.

The fight against oneself

Elara pulled her arms up as the dark version charged at her at superhuman speed.

Their swords collided – light against darkness.

The force threw Elara several meters back.

"She's... so strong..."

But she was not allowed to lose.

Not against yourself.

Not against what they could have become.

With a battle cry, she stormed forward, ready to face her darkest shadow.