Chapter 4: The Maze of the Mind
As he stood before the third door, Kael felt hesitation for the first time. The door was different; it was not made of stone, but of living tissue. The symbols on it opened and closed like eyes, staring at Kael. The energy emanating from the door weighed heavily on his chest.
He tightened his ring and raised his staff. The moment he touched the door, a profound silence descended. The ground vanished, the sky darkened. Kael found himself in an infinite void. The temple's third test had begun: the Maze of the Mind.
Scenes flashed before him. The village of his childhood… burning houses, people screaming, faces vanishing. Kael's heart began to race. Pains he hadn't remembered for years were appearing before him one by one. This test wasn't a test of strength, but of spirit.
In the center of the village, he saw the silhouette of a small child. The child was Kael himself. He looked at her with frightened eyes, then whispered, "Why did you abandon me? You chose power, yet you destroyed me."
Kael closed his eyes and breathed. "You are not my weakness. You are merely my past," he said. But his words faded into emptiness. The boy suddenly grew larger, transformed into a reflection of Kael. This reflection was himself engulfed in darkness; his eyes were completely black, a wicked smile on his face.
The reflection attacked. Every move was an exact replica of Kael's, but faster, more ruthless. Their wands clashed, dark sparks flying everywhere. Kael tried to wield the ring of shadows, but the reflection possessed the same power. This was more dangerous than a shadow monster: he was fighting his own darkness.
As the battle raged, Kael realized that this test could be won not by strength, but by acceptance. He lowered his wand and closed his eyes. "I am not without you. You are a part of me. You are what commands my power. But I will not swallow you; I will carry you with me."
With these words, the reflection stopped. The evil smile on his face vanished, his body melting into the light, drawn into Kael's chest. The void suddenly shook, the shadows receded, and the door reappeared before him. Kael had passed the test.
But this time, it was different. When the door opened, the shadow figure sitting on the throne within appeared more clearly. This time, it was not just a silhouette, but a red glow in its eyes. The figure rose slowly to its feet, its voice filling the hall:
"So you have transcended your mind. So you can carry your past. Your power is growing… But now begins the true test."
Determination shone in Kael's eyes. The darkness he carried within him was no longer a burden, but a weapon. He reached for the ring; the shadows began to swirl around him.
The shadow of the temple's lord was truly facing him for the first time. And Kael knew: This was not just an encounter, but the first great duel on the path to domination.