Chapter 2. The Shadow Game

Sleep did not come to Liara that night. Perhaps the body created by the priests had no need for rest, or perhaps too many questions swirled in her consciousness. She spent hours studying her hands, her face, trying to understand the nature of her strange existence. Watching as moonlight gave way to the first rays of dawn, she kept thinking about Kairos's words.

You are not a goddess. You are a mistake, an accident.

Something in these words found resonance deep inside. Like a dark truth that part of her already knew.

When the first rays of sunlight painted the room in golden tones, someone knocked softly on the door. The lock clicked, and a young girl in light blue novice robes crossed the threshold. She carried a tray of food, her gaze fixed on the floor, but Liara noticed how the girl stealthily cast curious glances at her.

"Good morning, Great Liara," the novice placed the tray on a small table by the window. "The High Guardian asked me to inform you that he will be waiting for you in the Hall of Prophecies after your meal."

Liara approached the tray. There were fruits, bread, honey — simple but exquisite food. She took an apple and turned it in her hands, thoughtfully gazing at its shiny red skin.

"May I ask you a question?" Liara asked, and the girl flinched with surprise.

"Of course, Child of the Breath," the novice bowed, still not raising her eyes.

"What is your name?"

This simple question seemed to catch the girl off guard. She finally raised her gaze, and Liara saw warm brown eyes full of surprise.

"My... my name is Nira, Great Liara," the girl's voice trembled. "I apologize, I didn't think... We weren't told that you would be interested in us."

Something warm stirred in Liara's chest. This girl looked at her with reverence, but without the fear she had seen in the eyes of the priests.

"Very well, Nira. Tell me, what do you know about... about me?" Liara sat on the edge of the bed, gesturing for the girl to take the chair opposite.

Nira hesitantly perched on the very edge of the chair, folding her hands in her lap.

"I... I know the legends, like everyone in Alkarion. You are the Child of the Breath, The-One-Who-Maintains-Balance. Once you lived among us and protected the world from Darkness, but then... then the Catastrophe happened. You disappeared, and the world began to change." Her voice gradually became more confident as she recounted what she obviously deeply believed. "They say you promised to return when the world would be in danger again. And now..." she raised her eyes to Liara, "you are here."

"And what danger threatens the world now?"

Nira's face clouded.

"The Darkness is returning. Strange things have been happening in the last few years. Red tides, troubling omens. And three months ago, the Fading began."

"The Fading?"

"People... they began to disappear. Not dying, but literally disappearing — vanishing like smoke in the wind. At first, these were isolated cases on the outskirts, but now..." Nira shuddered. "Now it happens more often. And no one knows the reasons."

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over Liara. She had heard of this before. Not here, not in this life — but somewhere else, deep in those memories she couldn't access.

"And what do you think of me, Nira? Do you believe I truly am a goddess?"

The girl averted her gaze, but then, gathering courage, looked at Liara again.

"I... don't know," she answered honestly. "You look like the ancient depictions. But the High Guardian says that you yourself don't remember who you are. How is that possible?"

Liara smiled, and for a moment, it seemed like she felt how the skin on her face tightened, as if it wasn't accustomed to such movements.

"I would like to know that too, Nira."

"I will escort you to the High Guardian when you're ready," the girl stood and bowed again, but less formally than before.

When the door closed behind Nira, Liara returned to the tray. She took a piece of bread and brought it to her lips but stopped. Did this body need nourishment? She suddenly realized she felt no hunger. Out of curiosity, she still took a bite. The taste was there — sweet, soft — but the sensation was strange, as if food didn't bring the usual satisfaction.

Approaching the large mirror, Liara examined herself carefully. In daylight, her body looked even more inhuman — snow-white skin with a pearly sheen, perfect proportions. She ran her fingers along her neck, wrists, cheeks, feeling the barely noticeable seams. She had been created. Assembled from parts, like a doll. But who was she really? A soul placed in an artificial shell? Or something more?

Or something less.

This troubling thought nagged at her as she changed into clothes prepared for her — a long dress made of material resembling silk, but thicker, dark blue with silver embroidery.

When Liara was ready, she called for Nira. The girl appeared almost instantly, as if waiting outside the door. She led Liara through the long corridors of the temple. Now, in the daylight streaming through tall windows, Liara could better examine this place. The white stone walls were covered with frescoes depicting scenes from some ancient history — wars, great deeds, strange creatures. And in many of these frescoes was she — or someone who looked exactly like her, only in different clothes and surroundings.

They descended a wide staircase and found themselves before massive doors of dark wood with silver patterns. Nira stopped and bowed.

"The Hall of Prophecies, Great Liara. The High Guardian awaits you inside."

"You won't come with me?"

The girl shook her head.

"I am not permitted. This hall is only for the highest priests and... you."

Liara nodded, and Nira, bowing once more, departed. The doors slowly opened by themselves, without a sound.

The Hall of Prophecies was enormous — a circular chamber with a high domed ceiling, on which stars and constellations were depicted, inlaid with something that glimmered with its own light. The walls from floor to ceiling were lined with bookshelves, between which were niches holding statues and artifacts. In the center of the hall stood a round table of dark stone, at which sat five priests, including Sedric.

"Great Liara," Sedric rose and bowed, the others following his example.

"High Guardian," Liara nodded. "You promised me answers."

"Yes, I did," Sedric gestured for her to take the empty chair. "I assume you have many questions. I am prepared to answer everything within my power."

Liara sat in the chair. It was tall, almost like a throne, with a carved back. Strangely, it felt comfortable, as if made specifically for her. Which, probably, it was.

"Who am I?" she asked directly. "And don't tell me again about a goddess. I want to know specifically — who was I before? What happened to me? And why don't I remember anything about my previous life?"

Sedric exchanged glances with the other priests. Among them was one woman — elderly, with gray hair gathered in a tight bun, and piercing dark eyes.

"I will answer all your questions," said Sedric. "But first, allow me to introduce you to the Council of Guardians. You already know me. This is Magister Taella," he pointed to the gray-haired woman, "Guardian of History. Magister Voren," a tall, thin man with sharp features, "Guardian of Artifacts. Magister Donian," a stout middle-aged man with a kindly face, "Guardian of Rituals. And Magister Elric," a young man, compared to the others, with penetrating blue eyes, "Guardian of the Gates."

Each of the priests nodded as Sedric named them. Liara noted that she was most interested in Elric — there was something in his gaze that distinguished him from the others. Not reverence, but rather investigative interest.

"Now about your question," continued Sedric. "According to our scrolls and chronicles, five centuries ago, you lived among the people of Alkarion as an incarnate goddess. You were the guardian of this world, protecting it from threats that came from..." he faltered, "from beyond the Veil."

"What is the Veil?" asked Liara.

"The boundary between worlds," interjected Taella. Her voice was deep, resonant. "Our world is not the only one. Others exist. Most of them are separated from us by impenetrable barriers, but some... some are closer. And sometimes the boundaries between them thin."

"And five centuries ago," Sedric continued, "the Catastrophe occurred. The Veil was torn, and forces we could neither understand nor control poured into our world. To protect Alkarion, you sacrificed yourself, sealing the rift with your own essence."

"Sacrificed myself? You mean I... died?"

"Not exactly," said Voren, his voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "Your essence was divided. The greater part remained beyond the Veil, maintaining its integrity. But a small part — a spark, if you will — continued to exist in this world, passing from incarnation to incarnation."

"We believe," added Donian, "that over these centuries, you have lived many lives, not knowing who you truly were. An ordinary woman, living an ordinary life, but carrying within you a fragment of divine essence."

Liara listened to them with a growing sense of disbelief. The story sounded like a myth, a legend told to children before bedtime. And yet... something in it resonated. A feeling that she had indeed lived many lives, that somewhere inside her was stored the memory of them all.

"If this is true," she said slowly, "why did you decide to bring me back now? And how did you do it?"

"We have monitored signs of your presence in the world for centuries," answered Sedric. "Searched in each generation for a woman with special abilities, with a special luminescence of soul. Sometimes we found her, sometimes not. But we never interfered in her life — there was no need."

"Until now," added Taella. "The Fading is a sign that the Veil has begun to disintegrate again. People are disappearing because they are being drawn into other worlds through forming cracks. And with each day, such cracks become more numerous."

"For the past eighty years, we have been preparing for your return," said Voren. "Seeking ways to reunite the scattered parts of your essence, to create a body worthy of a goddess..." he nodded at Liara, "and to find the right woman. The one in whom the largest part of your soul resided."

"And you found her?" asked Liara, feeling an unclear anxiety.

The priests exchanged glances again.

"Yes," Sedric finally said. "Three months ago. A young woman from a border town, with unusual abilities. She saw dreams of other worlds, could heal with a touch. We... brought her here."

And what became of her? Liara wanted to ask, but didn't get the chance.

"With your permission, High Guardian," Elric spoke up, speaking for the first time since the meeting began, "I believe the Great Liara needs to be shown the Halls of Memory. Perhaps they will help her remember."

Sedric frowned but nodded.

"Yes, perhaps you are right, Magister Elric. Escort the Child of the Breath to the Halls."

Liara noticed worry flicker across Taella's face, but the woman remained silent.

Elric rose from the table and bowed to Liara.

"If you will follow me, Great Liara, I will show you a place that may help you recover some of your memories."

Liara nodded and stood. As they walked toward the exit of the hall, she felt the gaze of the other priests upon her — gazes full of worry and expectation.

Elric led her through a network of corridors, taking her deeper into the temple. They descended staircases, passed through halls filled with artifacts and ancient books, until finally they came before a small, unassuming door.

"The Halls of Memory," said Elric, stopping. He turned to Liara, and she noticed that his eyes had changed color — now they were not blue, but almost violet, glowing with a strange inner light. "Before we enter, I must warn you. What you will see there may be... disturbing. Memories are not always pleasant, especially when they return suddenly."

"I am ready," replied Liara, though anxiety grew within her.

Elric nodded and opened the door. Behind it was a small circular room, illuminated by dim bluish light. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, upon which rested a strange object — something like a crystalline sphere, encased in a silver frame with thin, spider-web-like lines spreading across the floor, walls, and ceiling.

"This is the Eye of Memory," said Elric. "An ancient artifact, created in the times when you lived among us. They say you yourself participated in its creation."

Liara cautiously approached the pedestal. The sphere seemed filled with fog that slowly swirled inside.

"What must I do?"

"Just touch it," replied Elric. "But be prepared. The memories may be... overwhelming."

Liara extended her hand and momentarily hesitated. Something in Elric's voice, in his gaze, made her doubt. But the thirst for truth was stronger.

Her fingers touched the cold surface of the sphere.

The world exploded. Light, sounds, sensations flooded her consciousness in a waterfall, too fast, too bright to discern anything. She saw faces, hundreds of faces, rushing before her inner vision. Heard voices, whispers, screams. Felt the warmth of the sun, the cold of snow, the touch of other people. Lives — dozens, hundreds of lives — flashed like pages of a rapidly flipped book.

And then everything slowed down, and she saw:

...A young woman with dark hair, running through a forest, looking back over her shoulder, fear distorting her face...

...The same woman, now in a rich dress, standing on a palace balcony, looking at the city with an expression of sad determination...

...Her again, but now kneeling before an altar, tears flowing from her eyes, her hands clutching some amulet...

And suddenly — a clear, vivid image:

She stands before a tall man in black, his face hidden in shadow, but his eyes... his eyes glow with green fire. "You cannot change fate, Liara," he says, and there is pain in his voice. "What has occurred in one world will repeat in all others."

"I can try," she answers, and her voice is full of determination. "Even if it means I must pass through death again and again."

He extends his hand and touches her cheek — exactly as Kairos had done last night. "Then I will seek you in every life. Until we find a way out... or until the worlds finally collapse."

The image faded, and Liara pulled her hand from the sphere with a cry. She staggered, her knees buckled, and she would have fallen if Elric hadn't supported her.

"You saw something," it was not a question, but a statement. "Something important."

Liara breathed heavily, trying to make sense of what she had seen. These memories... were they hers? Or did they belong to the woman whose soul the priests had placed in this artificial body?

"I saw... myself," she finally said. "And a man. We were talking about fate, about worlds, about death and rebirth."

She looked at Elric, and in his eyes saw not surprise, but... satisfaction?

"A man," he said slowly. "Describe him."

"Tall, in dark clothes. I couldn't see his face clearly, but his eyes... green, glowing."

Something flashed in Elric's eyes — anxiety? or triumph? — too quickly to tell.

"That is the Black Duke," he said, and his voice became lower, more tense. "Daren Vultar, ruler of the southern lands. He... you knew him in your past life."

"What was he to me?"

Elric averted his gaze.

"The story of the Black Duke would be better told by Taella. She is the Guardian of History and knows more about your... relationship with him."

He stepped back, and Liara noticed that his hands trembled slightly.

"We should return," he said. "The other priests will be concerned. And you need to rest after such an experience."

Liara nodded, though within her grew the certainty that Elric was hiding something. That they all were hiding something.

And what role did the mysterious Kairos play in all this?

When they returned to the hall, the priests surrounded Liara, bombarding her with questions about what she had seen. She told them, omitting only one detail — the phrase about "passing through death again and again." Something told her this information was better kept to herself.

Taella confirmed Elric's words about the Black Duke, though reluctantly. According to her, Daren Vultar was a powerful lord who practiced dark magic. He was obsessed with the idea of breaking through the Veil and finding other worlds. And it was his actions that led to the Catastrophe five centuries ago.

"He was your adversary, Great Liara," said Taella. "Your powers were opposite — you protected the boundaries of worlds, he sought to destroy them."

But even as Taella spoke, Liara felt that the woman was not telling the whole truth. In her memory, there was no enmity between her and the green-eyed man — there was something entirely different, deeper and more complex.

The day passed in conversations and discussions. The priests told Liara about the history of Alkarion, about her previous incarnations they knew of, about the upcoming ceremony of her official presentation to the city. But the more they spoke, the stronger became the feeling that behind all these words lay something else — a secret they did not wish to reveal.

By evening, Liara felt exhausted, though physically her body knew no fatigue. Nira escorted her back to her chambers, and now Liara stood by the window, watching as the sun set beyond the horizon, painting the city in golden and purple hues.

Her thoughts were occupied with everything she had learned today. A goddess, protector of the world, a soul divided into parts and passing from life to life... The story seemed incredible, but what if it was all true? What if she had indeed lived multiple lives, not remembering her true essence?

And what if Kairos was right, and all this was just an artfully woven lie?

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, she felt movement behind her. Without turning, she knew who it was.

"You came," she said.

"I promised," Kairos's voice sounded closer than she expected.

Liara turned. He stood just a few steps away from her, without the cloak that had concealed him last night. Now she could see him better — tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair framing a face with sharp but attractive features. His clothes were simple and dark, without ornaments, but of good material.

But most importantly — his eyes. Not green, like those of the man from her vision, but dark brown, almost black in the twilight of the room. And yet there was something familiar in them, something that echoed in her fragmented memories.

"Did you learn anything useful from our pious friends?" he asked, and there was mockery in his voice.

"They told me... much," Liara answered cautiously. "But I'm not sure what to believe."

"The right decision," Kairos came closer. "Don't believe anything they say. Especially about you and your destiny."

"And should I believe you?"

He smiled, and this smile strangely transformed his face, making him look younger and more vulnerable.

"No. Don't believe me either. Believe only yourself, your intuition." He extended his hand but stopped short of touching her. "You feel it, don't you? Feel that all this is wrong?"

Liara nodded, to her own surprise. She did feel it — the discrepancy between what the priests said and what her inner sense told her.

"I saw... memories," she said. "With the help of an artifact in the temple. I saw myself and a man with green eyes. The priests said it was the Black Duke, Daren Vultar, and that he was my enemy. But in the memory, we weren't enemies. We were..."

"What?" Kairos leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.

Liara shook her head.

"I don't know. But there was something important between us. Something connected to the fate of worlds and rebirths."

Kairos turned away, and Liara thought she caught something familiar in his profile, something reminiscent of the man from her vision.

"Daren Vultar," he said slowly. "Yes, that name has significance. But not the one the priests attribute to it."

He looked at her again.

"You need to leave this place, Liara. Tonight. They aren't telling you the whole truth about what happened to the woman whose soul is now in you. And they certainly aren't telling you the truth about what they plan to do with you."

"What do you mean?"

"The ceremony they speak of," Kairos stepped closer, his voice lowering to a whisper, "is not just a presentation of you to the city. It's a ritual that will completely bind your soul to this body, make you their puppet. And afterward, they will use you for their purposes, which have little to do with protecting the world."

Liara stepped back, stunned by his words. Could this be true? But if so, then who was Kairos really?

"Who are you?" she asked directly. "And why are you helping me?"

Something complex flashed in his eyes — pain, longing, determination.

"Let's just say," his voice became even quieter, "I have my own scores to settle with the Order of Guardians. And I am one of the few who remembers who you were before. Who you truly were, not in their fairy tales about a goddess."

He extended his hand.

"Come with me, Liara. I'll show you the truth. Not the one they created for you, but the real one. About you, about the worlds, about what truly lies beyond the Veil."

Liara looked at his outstretched hand. To leave with him meant to abandon everything she had been told, the role that had been destined for her. But to stay... to stay meant never knowing who she truly was.

Suddenly, there was noise in the corridor — footsteps approaching her chambers. Kairos tensed.

"Decide quickly," he said. "They're coming for you."

Liara took a deep breath. Something inside her screamed that this was a choice she had made many times before — in different lives, in different circumstances. And each time she chose...

"I'm going with you," she said and placed her hand in his.

His fingers closed around her hand, warm, alive, real. And in that moment, she felt that for the first time since awakening, she had made the right choice.

"Hold tight," whispered Kairos, drawing her closer. "And whatever happens, don't let go of my hand."

The footsteps in the corridor grew louder. Someone knocked on the door.

"Great Liara?" Sedric's voice sounded alarmed. "You must come with us immediately. We've discovered a breach in the temple's security."

Kairos smirked and took from his pocket a small silver object — something like a key with an unusual shape.

"They've discovered me, but too late."

He raised the key, and in the air before them appeared a thin silvery line, which began to widen, transforming into a shining oval.

The door to the room shook from a blow.

"Liara!" Sedric's cry was full of panic. "Don't listen to him! He's deceiving you! He's not who he claims to be!"

Liara looked at the glowing portal, then at Kairos. His face in the silvery light looked different — younger, with softer features. And his eyes... for a moment, she thought they had changed color, becoming green.

"Who are you really?" she whispered.

He only smiled — a smile full of sadness and tenderness.

"You'll find out when you're ready to remember. Now come. It's time for us to leave."

The door cracked under a new blow. Liara gripped Kairos's hand tighter, and together they stepped into the glowing portal.

At the last moment, Liara turned and saw the door flung open. Sedric stood on the threshold, his face contorted with horror. Beside him was Elric, and the expression on his face was entirely different — anger, mixed with something resembling triumph.

And then the silvery glow engulfed them, and the world around disappeared.