The labyrinth had shifted its form. The crystal walkway had transformed into a narrow bridge suspended above a bottomless abyss. Red and blue mist, residue from the previous portals, swirled around her, clouding the path and spawning shifting illusions.
"Here," the boy said, stepping forward at her side, "the ground won't allow you to see clearly. Each illusion will test your perception… and your heart."
Elyra fixed her eyes on the bridge. Reflections of herself flickered across the crystal surface, each one showing a different version of who she could become: one Elyra strong but cold, another selfish and ambitious, and sometimes… an Elyra dependent on him, the mysterious boy.
"What am I… supposed to do?" she asked, her voice trembling but steady.
"Move forward and choose. The bridge will only solidify if you affirm who you truly are. But beware," he added, "your heart will be tempted to cheat."
The moment she set her first step, the illusion of a collapsing bridge appeared before her. The span seemed to shatter, and Elyra felt the void opening beneath her feet. Her body reacted instinctively, but her mind fought against panic.
"Focus," the boy murmured. "Fear is the most dangerous illusion."
Elyra took a deep breath, and her eyes met his. In that gaze, she perceived something unsettling: challenge, curiosity, and… something she could not define. Her heart pounded, not only from vertigo but from this strange closeness.
"I… I have to trust myself," she whispered, clenching her fists.
Every step demanded absolute concentration. The illusions tried to lure her away: visions of her real world begging her to return, echoes of the boy guiding her toward a tempting yet risky path. She had to distinguish reality from illusion, choose her way, and hold firm to her resolve.
Halfway across, an ethereal creature surged from the void, embodying her deepest fears. The boy dodged with ease, but Elyra was struck by a cold light, and pain coursed through her—not only physical, but emotional, dragging her into her doubts.
"Resist, Elyra," the boy said, his voice close but never touching. "Don't let your heart decide for you."
The dilemma struck her with full force: to follow her instinct and move on alone, or to accept subtle guidance from him, at the risk of losing a little of her independence and faith in herself.
She closed her eyes, inhaled, and made a bold choice: to move forward while keeping control, yet drawing on his hints without fully yielding. The bridge then seemed to stabilize beneath her feet, and the creature dissolved in a breath of light.
"Not bad," the boy said, an enigmatic smile crossing his lips. "Few participants manage to keep their independence while still accepting subtle help. You're progressing quickly."
Adrenaline and satisfaction surged through her. Each step on this bridge had tested her courage, perception, and emotional control. And yet, she knew this was only a taste of the true challenges ahead.
At the end of the bridge, a luminous platform awaited them. The boy stopped and looked at her with a troubling intensity.
"You see, Elyra… the real game doesn't just test your body or mind. It tests your heart. And believe me, what you feel for me, for this world… will have consequences."
Elyra swallowed hard. Part of her burned with curiosity and adrenaline, but another part grew wary of what she was beginning to feel. The game had just become personal.
"Very well," she whispered, determination in her voice. "Show me the next trial. I'm ready."
And as they stepped onto the platform, the labyrinth seemed to reconfigure itself once more, promising even more perilous illusions and sharper dilemmas. Elyra understood then that every choice, every emotion, and every step brought her closer to a truth she could not yet imagine.
Veux-tu que je traduise aussi le Chapitre 4 que tu m'avais envoyé un peu plus tôt, pour que la version anglaise reste alignée et continue ?