Welcome to the Astral Prism
As they entered the prism, it was dark—an endless space that stretched in all directions.
"It's... really quiet. And dark too," Tamer said, feeling unsettled.
"Where are you guys?" Kael asked, blinded by the darkness.
Then Ny's voice cut through the void.
"Oh, good! You guys are still here. I can't see anything, so I got a little worried not knowing where you were."
Kael followed the sound of their voices.
"Wait... the cool-headed Kael was actually scared?" Tamer laughed.
As Kael was about to respond, a deep voice echoed throughout the entire space.
"WELCOME TO THE PRISM, CANDIDATES. YOU MAY CALL ME THE VOICE."
"YOU MUST COMPLETE CERTAIN TRIALS IN ORDER TO FREELY UNLOCK YOUR INNER WORLD. EACH TRIAL WILL BE DIFFERENT—TAILORED TO EACH OF YOU, OF COURSE. THERE ARE THREE TRIALS."
"THE FIRST WILL TEST YOUR DESIRES AND EMOTIONS."
"THE SECOND WILL TEST YOUR WILLPOWER."
"THE THIRD WILL JUDGE YOUR CONNECTION TO THE WORLD YOU HAVE CREATED."
"That's weird... there's no test that requires physical strength?" Kael asked, staring into the darkness.
"A PECULIAR QUESTION, CANDIDATE. PHYSICAL STRENGTH IS INDEED NEEDED—BUT WE DO NOT MEASURE YOUR INNER WORLD THROUGH STRENGTH. THAT IS WHY I DID NOT MENTION IT."
"NOW I WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PRISM AND WHAT IT IS MEANT TO ACCOMPLISH."
"So that's the purpose of the Prism..." Tamer muttered, nodding as the concept settled in his mind.
"Wait," Ny interrupted impatiently, "didn't you already explain them?"
"THAT WAS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG," the Voice responded, louder now.
TRIAL ONE: HALL OF ECHOES
Purpose: To test the purity of the climber's heart and emotional stability.
Mechanism: The Prism generates illusions drawn from the challenger's strongest desires, fears, or emotional regrets.
They must confront what they crave most—or what they fear to face.
"ONLY BY DENYING TEMPTATION OR RESOLVING INNER CONFLICT CAN YOU PROCEED."
TRIAL TWO: THE THREE JUDGES
Purpose: To test how far you're willing to go for your goals—your willpower.
Mechanism: The Prism creates a miniature world shaped from what you hate most.
Fragments of memories you wish to forget will come to life.
Confront these memories. If you gain the approval of the Three Judges, you may advance to the third trial.
TRIAL THREE: INNER WORLD CREATION
Purpose: To open the gate to one's true self—the soul's domain. This trial is not passed through strength or defiance, but through understanding and acceptance.
Only those who have confronted their illusions and scars can forge the space where their essence resides.
Mechanism:
After passing the second trial and being judged worthy, each candidate is cast into a vast, empty void—black as ink and still as death.
"THIS IS YOUR FINAL TRIAL: THE SPACE OF NOTHINGNESS. HERE, YOU MUST CREATE SOMETHING."
"IN THIS SILENCE, YOU WILL BEGIN TO SHAPE YOUR INNER WORLD—NOT WITH HANDS, BUT WITH TRUTH."
"YOUR WORLD WILL REFLECT WHO YOU TRULY ARE... NOT WHO YOU WANT TO BE."
To pass this trial, each person must confront:
Their core belief — the truth that defines them, even after being stripped of lies, goals, pain, and dreams.
Their reason to stand, even when everything else is lost.
The anchor that binds them to existence.
Their emotions, memories, and realizations begin to shape the void.
A warrior whose heart still yearns for peace might create a garden of swords buried in soil.
A protector might forge a cathedral where the walls are built from the names of those they saved.
A lonely soul may shape a world of stars—each one representing a person they longed to understand them.
The more authentic they are in creating this space—without fear, lies, or denial—the more complete their inner world becomes.
"FAILURE TO CREATE MEANS YOU HAVE NOT FOUND YOURSELF. YOU SHALL RETURN AND TRY AGAIN WHEN YOU ARE READY."
How It Unlocks the Inner World,
When their personal domain takes full shape, it anchors itself to their soul.
From that point onward, they can summon this Inner World in moments of clarity, conflict, or ascension.
It grants power, insight, and even unique abilities born from the environment they created.
This world becomes the source of their spiritual strength, and it can grow over time.
"THAT IS THE TRUE PURPOSE AND THE MEANING BEHIND THE ASTRAL PRISM," the Voice declared, beginning to fade.
"THERE ARE SPHERE ORBS FOR EACH CANDIDATE PRESENT. TOUCH THE SPHERE WHEN YOU ARE READY TO BEGIN THE FIRST TRIAL."
"I WISH ALL WHO ARE PRESENT GOOD LUCK—AND SUCCESS IN UNLOCKING THEIR INNER WORLD."
"Well, that was uneventful," Kael sighed.
"Let's take a minute and think things through," Kael said, sounding unsure.
"I don't think it's exactly one of those times, dude. Let's just finish these trials and return home," Tamer said, full of confidence.
"Don't be like that. Your overconfidence is what's going to make you fail, Tamer," Kael said, raising his voice.
"Tsk. Alright, what do you want us to do exactly?"
"All of these trials are different depending on the person. No matter what it is, keep a cool head and don't be overconfident.
Tamer—and Ny, you... well, you're level-headed, so you got this."
"Huh? Did everyone else already go?" Ny asked, looking around. "I can't even hear their voices. I'm searching with aura, but I can't sense their presence either."
"Well, it's time for us to go as well," Kael said, approaching the spheres.
"You guys be safe," Kael added, before vanishing.
"You got this, Tamer," Ny smiled—and vanished.
"That sphere is for me, huh...?
What if I don't come back... or something happens to me?"
Tamer paused, then smirked.
"I've never had such thoughts. Let's see what happens—with my own eyes."
Tamer ran toward the sphere.
A shining light blinded him just as he entered.
(Welcome to the First )