CHAPTER 15:The Art Of Falling (Poorly)

Falling into the unknown was not on anyone's to-do list for the day. Yet here they were—screaming, flailing, and questioning their life choices as the shattered bridge disappeared above them.

"WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO US?!" Zayn yelled, wind whipping past his face.

"BECAUSE WE KEEP TRUSTING MYSTICAL TALKING OBJECTS!" Lior shouted back.

Amara, the Seer, was attempting to stay composed, but even she couldn't ignore the fact that they were plummeting through nothingness with no end in sight.

"Everyone, stay calm! We need to—"

Her wisdom was interrupted when Elias, the Scholar, zoomed past her mid-air, flipping like an out-of-control book caught in a tornado.

"I AM NOT BUILT FOR THIS!" he wailed. "I STUDY GRAVITY—I DON'T EXPERIENCE IT LIKE THIS!"

The mist that had surrounded them moments ago had now become a swirling vortex, glowing faintly as if it were alive. The further they fell, the more it changed—flashes of landscapes appeared around them, shifting between dense forests, endless oceans, and blazing deserts, only to disappear before they could make sense of anything.

Rafa, the Keeper, squinted through the madness. "I think we're falling through places."

"Oh, is that all?" Lior snapped. "For a second, I thought this was serious."

Zayn was still trying (and failing) to control his descent. "Okay, okay, okay. Does anyone have a plan? Because personally, I'd prefer not to end this fall as a human pancake."

Just as he said that, the mist below them shifted into what appeared to be… the ground.

"Oh, that's convenient," Lior said. "And by convenient, I mean TERRIFYING."

The moment stretched, their impending doom approaching faster than anyone was comfortable with.

Then—impact.

Except… it wasn't the splat they expected.

Instead, they landed on something soft. Almost too soft. Like a cloud made of… pillows?

Zayn groaned, rolling onto his back. "Either we survived, or the afterlife is aggressively comfortable."

Amara sat up, brushing what looked like tiny feathers off her robe. "Where… are we?"

The group clambered to their feet, realizing they were in an entirely new place. Gone was the endless sky and the golden bridge. Instead, they stood in what looked like a massive, ancient library, with towering bookshelves stretching higher than they could see. Floating lanterns hovered in the air, casting a soft glow over the endless rows of books.

Elias gasped. "This is either heaven, or I've finally lost my mind."

Rafa dusted himself off. "We're not dead. Which means this is another test."

Zayn groaned. "Why can't we get a test where I just punch something?"

A deep chuckle echoed through the air. The group froze.

From the shadows between the bookshelves, a figure stepped forward—tall, robed, and exuding an air of ancient wisdom. Their face was hidden beneath a hood, but their presence alone was enough to send chills through the group.

"Welcome," the figure said, voice smooth and knowing. "You have faced your reflections. Now, you must prove your minds are as sharp as your spirits."

Elias immediately perked up. "Oh, finally! A trial that plays to my strengths!"

Zayn nudged him. "Good. You can do all the work while I take a nap."

The robed figure extended a hand, and in a blink, the books around them began to move—flipping open, rearranging themselves, forming a swirling maze of knowledge.

"Your next trial begins now."

The group exchanged glances.

Lior sighed. "I miss the stupid bridge."