Chapter 31: (Part 03)
The stone door loomed before them, etched with glowing runes that pulsed in rhythm with Alok's pendant. Every beat seemed to whisper warnings only he could hear.
Ceya's fingers brushed the surface. "These symbols… they're alive," she murmured. "They're reacting to your pendant."
Alok took a deep breath, feeling the chains inside him hum faintly. "Then let's see what they want to show us."
He pressed his hand against the door. Light flared, and the runes shimmered brighter. The door groaned, slowly sliding open to reveal a narrow corridor lined with mirrors. But these were no ordinary mirrors each reflected not their faces, but flickers of memories and visions, faint whispers echoing in the stone chamber.
"Chains awaken… follow the path… survive…"
Alok swallowed. "These mirrors… they're showing us… something. Maybe a warning, or maybe the truth."
As they moved forward, the corridor twisted unnaturally. Shadows stretched across the walls, forming vague humanoid shapes. Sectreps suddenly erupted from the mirrors themselves, skeletal arms clawing at them.
"Again?!" Rihan shouted, swinging his sword. The creatures dissolved into mist as soon as they were struck, but more kept coming, emerging from every reflective surface.
Alok's chains lashed out, entwining the Sectreps and holding them long enough for his friends to strike. Sparks of blue light shot from the pendant as if it were alive, guiding him toward a hidden path through the mirrored maze.
Finally, they reached a small chamber, walls covered with faint carvings. Ancient words glimmered in a soft, blue light:
"Sedfxsoo Enko…"
Alok crouched, tracing the letters with his fingers. "This… this isn't just a clue. It's a riddle. Something is sealed here, waiting for us to understand it."
A gust of wind blew through the chamber, carrying a whisper:
"Only the chains of courage… and the flame of truth… may pass."
Rihan frowned. "Chains… flame… what does that mean?"
Alok's eyes narrowed. "I don't know yet. But whatever it is, it's linked to my father… and this labyrinth."
From the shadows, the faint sound of movement echoed a soft, scraping noise, like bones brushing the stone. Sectreps, hidden this time, stalked them, waiting for a misstep.
Alok's pendant pulsed violently against his chest. He felt a surge of energy, a strange warmth, as if the labyrinth itself was acknowledging him, guiding them forward… but also warning:
"The deeper you go… the harder it will fight… and the more it will take from you."
The friends exchanged tense glances. Each knew the next steps could mean their lives. But retreat was not an option. Not when the truth of Alok's father, the pendant, and the Extera awaited at the heart of the labyrinth.
With chains wrapped around his arms like living armor, Alok stepped forward, leading the way into the unknown.