Chapter 160"The City of Starlight"

The silver path beneath their feet shimmered as Fred and Elise ascended, the air around them growing cooler with each step. The oppressive darkness that had once pressed in from all sides began to fade, replaced by an otherworldly glow.

Above them, the city of starlight emerged, bathed in the pale light of a thousand stars that seemed to pulse like the heartbeat of the universe itself. The city was both beautiful and haunting, its architecture a blend of glass and shimmering stone, towering spires reaching toward an endless sky.

Fred's gaze lingered on the towering structures, each one radiating an eerie calm. The air smelled faintly of saltwater and something else — something ancient, like the breath of forgotten gods.

"This is it," Elise murmured, her voice reverberating in the stillness. "The City of Starlight. They say it was built by the first immortals, long before the great wars."

Fred nodded, though his eyes were focused on something deeper, something beyond the city's beauty. He could feel it — the weight of a secret buried beneath the light. This city held answers. But it also held dangers far greater than anything they had faced.

As they walked through the shining streets, Fred couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Every corner seemed to hide shadows that didn't quite belong, moving just outside the edges of his vision.

Elise, sensing his unease, glanced over at him. "Something's wrong, isn't it?"

Fred didn't answer immediately. He could feel the pulse of something darker, something ancient, thrumming beneath the city's beauty. This was no ordinary place. It was a trap, a test.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the shadows, draped in a cloak of starlight that seemed to shift with every movement. The figure's face was hidden, but Fred could feel the weight of its presence. The air around them grew heavier.

"Welcome, travelers," a voice echoed, deep and melodic, like the sound of the ocean crashing against cliffs. "I am Oris, Keeper of the City. You have come seeking answers, but answers come at a cost."

Fred's grip tightened around his sword. "What do you mean by 'a cost'?"

Oris chuckled, the sound like a thousand whispers in the dark. "Every truth you uncover here will demand a sacrifice. And you, Fred, are no stranger to sacrifice."

Elise stepped forward, her expression hardening. "We're not afraid of your games. We came here for a reason, and we'll leave with what we came for."

Oris's eyes gleamed from beneath the cloak, their light flickering like dying stars. "Oh, but you will pay. That, I promise you."

Without warning, Oris raised a hand, and the ground beneath their feet cracked open. A deep chasm appeared, swirling with shadows and lights. From within it, creatures of nightmare began to emerge — tall, skeletal beings wrapped in robes of darkness, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent.

Fred drew his blade, Elise readying her daggers, but the creatures simply stood, watching them.

"They won't attack yet," Oris said softly. "Not until you make your choice."

Fred turned his eyes to the Keeper, his voice steady. "What choice?"

Oris smiled, a slow, chilling curve of the lips. "You can leave now, walking away from all this. The city will forget you, and you will forget the city. Or…" The smile twisted into something darker. "You can choose to stay, to uncover the truth of your past, of the powers you've inherited. But know this — it will change you. Forever."

Elise's voice broke the silence. "What do you mean? How will it change him?"

Oris's gaze flickered to her, his smile never wavering. "Ah, the young one speaks wisely. The truth always does that. You see, Fred, the choices you make here will determine not just your fate but the fate of the world itself. Will you remain the boy who was left behind, or will you become the man who wields power beyond measure?"

Fred's heart raced. This was it. The moment he had feared, the moment that would define everything.

He looked to Elise, her expression full of concern, but there was a spark of understanding in her eyes. She knew this was inevitable. The path ahead would not be easy.

Fred stepped forward, his voice low but unwavering. "I choose to stay."

The Keeper nodded solemnly. "Then you have made your choice. Welcome, Fred, to your true beginning."

The moment he spoke those words, the chasm beneath them surged, and Fred felt the ground shift. The creatures stepped forward, not in hostility but as silent guardians, surrounding him and Elise.

The city was alive with energy now, the lights pulsing, the air vibrating with power. Fred's vision blurred as a strange sensation washed over him — as if his very essence was being pulled apart and reforged.

He stumbled, reaching for Elise, who grabbed his arm with a sharp gasp. "Fred, what's happening?"

He couldn't answer. The world around him seemed to stretch, twist, and bend, the city dissolving into a kaleidoscope of light and shadow. Then everything stopped.

Fred was standing in a vast, endless hall, the walls lined with mirrors that reflected not just his image, but the images of everyone he had ever known — the friends he had lost, the battles he had fought, and the choices he had made.

Oris's voice echoed in the stillness. "This is the trial, Fred. The truth you seek lies within, but first, you must face your past."

The mirrors shimmered, their reflections flickering between moments of triumph and regret. Fred's heart thundered as he stepped forward, his reflection staring back at him with a hollow gaze.

"This is it," he muttered to himself, his breath quickening. "The end... or the beginning."

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