The mirror of thorns

The temple lay deep in the Valley of Hollow Names.

It wasn't a place of worship.

It was a place of unmaking.

The four of them stood before its gates Aure, Lian, Kael, Sylis.

Their bond-sigils shimmered in unison.

Not a warning. A final tether.

Inside was the last piece of Aure's memory the sealed shard that had once been ripped from his soul to keep him sane.

"You don't have to do this," Kael said, voice tight.

"Yes, I do," Aure whispered. "I need to remember who I was… before I chose any of you. To avoid such things happening,so I won't have someone reminding me who I was or who I am."

He stepped into the dark.

The Shard Unsealed

The memory was sealed in a mirror of thorns, floating above a pool of starlit blood.

When Aure stepped close, it pulsed recognizing its host.

A reflection appeared older.

Crueler.

His eyes burned gold and black.

Hair wild, body marked with runes.

And it spoke.

"You gave me up to become someone softer. Now you want me back? Fine. But I will not return alone."

Aure reached forward.

The glass shattered.

And so did he.

The Fracture

Light exploded. Sigils flared. Kael screamed. Lian reached for Aure,But it was already too late.

Aure's body dropped to the floor, but two figures remained.

One, soft-eyed. Gentle. Glowing with love and grief.

The other, sharp, grinning, fire-eyed. Crowned in memory and vengeance.

"Two sides," the darker one murmured. "Finally free."

"No…" the gentler Aure whispered. "We're supposed to be whole."

But they weren't.

Aure had fractured.

One half was everything he'd become love, healing, vulnerability.

The other everything he had cast aside power, wrath, desire.

And both were real.

Who Holds Which Heart?

The gentle Aure turned to Lian, eyes full of tears. "You saved me."

The dark Aure stepped to Kael and Sylis, licking their lips. "You fed me."

Both smiled.

Neither blinked.

And the world?

The world shivered.

But Lian, Kael and Sylis wanted to help Aure become one and know how to balance between shadow and light.

"We still have to choose? Can't we still remain in this polyamorous relationship?"Kael asked

"Whatever comes we just need to help him." Lian and Sylis said in unison.

"Okay. Whatever comes we shall bare it together." They all agreed.