The Labyrinth’s Lies

Emma's breath caught as the wall sealed behind her, trapping her in a dimly lit corridor. The air felt different here, heavier, almost suffocating. The golden glow that lined the Labyrinth's walls flickered, as if pulsing in time with her racing heartbeat.

"This way…"

The whisper came again. Her mother's voice.

Emma clenched her fists. It's not real. It can't be.

But it sounded real.

Every instinct screamed at her to move forward, to follow the voice, to chase the hope that maybe, just maybe, she hadn't lost everything.

She shook her head. No. This place is trying to trick me.

She reached for the Sapphire Stone, letting its energy ground her. The cool hum of its power steadied her thoughts.

She took a breath and stepped forward—not toward the voice, but toward the opposite direction.

The walls shuddered.

The whisper grew sharper, urgent.

"Emma, don't leave me."

She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to keep moving.

The golden light of the walls dimmed, the corridor narrowing, pressing in on her.

The Labyrinth was fighting back.

_____________________________________________________

Rahi's Descent

On the other side of the Labyrinth, Rahi slammed his fist against the sealed wall. "Emma!"

Silence.

His jaw clenched. He had seen what this place could do—it was no ordinary maze. It didn't just trap people.

It broke them.

He had no intention of letting that happen.

He turned back to the path before him. The corridor stretched forward, but something was off.

The walls weren't shifting anymore.

Instead, the air rippled—like something unseen was watching.

Rahi drew his dagger and took a cautious step forward.

Then—

The world around him changed.

_____________________________________________________

A Memory That Wasn't His

The corridor was gone.

Instead, he stood in the middle of a burning village.

The air was thick with smoke and ash, the ground littered with the bodies of soldiers. A war-torn battlefield.

His breath caught. He had seen this place before.

No—he had lived it.

A sharp pain pierced his chest, and when he looked down—

Blood.

A dagger, embedded deep.

His dagger.

A choked breath left him as he collapsed to his knees. The world spun, the fire roaring louder, drowning his thoughts.

This wasn't real.

It couldn't be real.

And yet, it felt like dying.

"Why do you fight it?"

A voice—low, familiar.

Rahi looked up.

A figure stood over him, cloaked in shadow, their golden eyes burning like embers in the dark.

The Eclipse King.

Or… someone else?

Rahi's body felt weak, his vision blurring. He tried to move, but the pain in his chest was too real.

"This is where your path ends."

No.

No, it wasn't.

With a growl, he forced himself to move.

He grabbed the dagger in his chest—and pulled it free.

The pain was instant, white-hot and blinding, but he didn't let it consume him.

The illusion shattered around him.

And he was back in the Labyrinth.

Alone.

He exhaled sharply, his heart still hammering.

This place wasn't just showing him memories.

It was showing him his fears.

And that meant Emma was in danger.

He clenched his fists. Hold on, Emma. I'm coming.

_____________________________________________________

Emma's Trial

Emma stepped into a vast chamber, its ceiling stretching high into the shadows. The golden glow of the Labyrinth had faded—replaced by a soft, flickering blue light.

At the center of the chamber stood a figure.

Her mother.

Emma's breath caught.

She looked exactly as Emma remembered—kind eyes, flowing robes, a warmth that felt like home.

"Mom…?"

Her mother smiled gently. "You've come so far, my love."

Emma's vision blurred with tears she didn't want to acknowledge.

This wasn't real.

It couldn't be real.

And yet, she wanted it to be.

She took a step forward. "I—"

"You don't have to fight anymore, Emma."

The words were soft, soothing, but something in them felt… wrong.

Emma's fingers brushed against the Sapphire Stone. Its cool energy pulsed, but instead of calming her, it felt like it was… warning her.

Her mother took a step forward, reaching out a hand. "Come with me, my love. I can take away the pain."

Emma's breath hitched.

She wanted to believe.

She wanted to fall into that warmth, to finally feel safe again.

But something in her heart screamed against it.

Her mother—her real mother—would never ask her to give up.

Emma steeled herself.

She clenched the Sapphire Stone, letting its energy flood her senses.

And then—she saw the truth.

The figure before her shuddered, its form flickering like a flame in the wind.

It wasn't her mother.

It was the Labyrinth.

Emma's eyes hardened. "You almost had me."

The illusion snarled, its form twisting into something monstrous.

A being of shifting light and shadow, hollow eyes burning with hunger.

Emma took a steady breath.

Time to fight.