“Are you ready for this?” Liam asked, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, though his eyes betrayed the tension bubbling beneath the surface.
Aria shot him a look, equal parts amused and annoyed. “Does it even matter? We’ve faced vines, illusions, creepy creatures, and now an ancient guardian. ‘Ready’ isn’t exactly in the cards.”
Liam chuckled softly, but the lightness quickly faded as the forest around them darkened once more. The protector, shrouded in shadows, stood just ahead, his pale, sharp gaze locked onto them. Aria felt the air shift with tension—the kind that signaled the beginning of something dangerous.
The protector’s voice echoed through the forest like a low rumble of thunder. “To carry the compass, your hearts must be tested. Only those pure of purpose can proceed. You both claim to seek the truth, but intentions can falter under pressure.”
Aria swallowed hard, her heart racing. “What kind of tests?”
The protector’s smile was grim. “Tests of teamwork. Trust. Strength. And truth. The magic within this forest will reveal who you truly are. If you survive, the path forward will become clear. But beware: the final trial may break what you hold most dear.”
Aria’s stomach knotted. She exchanged a glance with Liam, who gave her a reassuring nod. But even with his steady presence beside her, she felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her. The forest around them shifted, the ground trembling slightly as the first trial began.
Suddenly, thick vines shot up from the forest floor, curling and twisting around them to form a towering maze. The path split into two directions, and without warning, a wall of vines separated Liam and Aria, cutting them off from each other.
“Liam!” Aria shouted, panic creeping into her voice.
“I’m here!” Liam’s voice echoed from the other side, but the vines were too thick to see through.
The protector’s voice echoed from somewhere unseen. “This is a trial of trust. Each step forward will test your faith in each other. Only by working as one—though separated—will you find the way.”
Aria took a deep breath, gripping the compass tightly. It glowed faintly, but its magic seemed weaker in this maze, as if the forest was trying to suppress it. She closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself.
“Liam, we have to move forward together.”
From the other side of the wall, Liam called back, “Got it. Just keep talking to me. We’ll find our way through this.”
As they navigated the twisting paths, Aria’s heart pounded with every step. The maze seemed alive, shifting and rearranging itself the moment she felt like she was making progress. But Liam’s voice was always there, steady and constant, guiding her through the dark.
“Turn left!” he called
“Got it!” Aria responded, her breath coming in quick bursts.
They reached dead ends and false paths, but each time, they encouraged each other. And slowly, piece by piece, the maze began to unravel.
By the time they emerged from opposite ends of the maze, the wall of vines between them dissolved. Aria exhaled in relief, running toward Liam.
He grinned, slightly out of breath. “See? Easy. Just a little teamwork.”
Aria shook her head, but she couldn’t help but smile. “Let’s hope the next one is just as easy.”
The forest shifted again, and this time, they found themselves standing in front of a large, smooth pool of water. The surface shimmered with a strange light, reflecting not just their physical forms but something deeper—something unsettling.
The protector appeared beside them, his presence silent but commanding. “This is the Mirror of Truth,” he said. “Look into it, and you will see not just who you are, but who you could become. It will reveal your hidden desires—and your darkest fears.”
Aria hesitated, her heart racing. She had already confronted illusions of her past, but this felt different. More personal.
Liam stood beside her, his expression tense. “Are you ready for this?”
Aria gave a weak laugh. “Not really. But let’s get it over with.”
They stepped forward, peering into the shimmering pool. And as they did, the reflections shifted, revealing images that made their breath catch in their throats.
Aria saw herself standing in a quiet, peaceful life with Mario. No magic, no danger—just love and simplicity. But then, the image twisted, showing her in another life—one filled with magic, adventure, and discovery, standing at the forefront of something greater than herself.
Her heart clenched as the two visions blurred together, and she realized with startling clarity that both versions of herself felt real. Both were pieces of her truth, pulling her in different directions.
Beside her, Liam’s reflection shifted too. He saw himself with Lia, living a simple, peaceful life. But then, the image changed—he saw himself standing beside Aria, not as a mere companion but as someone essential to the magic they were uncovering together.
Liam’s voice was barely above a whisper. “It’s showing me a future where I don’t have to carry this burden. But it’s also showing me… something more.”
Aria glanced at him, her heart pounding. “Liam, what do you want?”
He hesitated, his gaze still locked on the reflection. “I don’t know. I thought I wanted peace. A simple life with Lia. But now…”
He looked at Aria, his expression torn. “I don’t know if I can walk away from this. From you. From everything we’ve built.”
The air between them crackled with unspoken tension. For a moment, they stood there, their futures laid bare before them. And then, the protector’s voice broke the silence.
“Your truths are revealed,” he said, his tone grave. “But there is one final trial you must face.”
The forest shifted one last time, and they found themselves standing in front of the protector once more. His eyes gleamed with something unreadable—pity, perhaps, or maybe a hint of sorrow.
“Only one of you may carry the compass forward,” the protector said quietly. “Only one of you can continue this journey.”
Aria’s heart stopped, her mind reeling. “What? No! We’ve come this far together. We can’t—”
The protector shook his head. “The magic of the compass demands a single bearer. Only one can unlock its full potential. The other must turn back.”
Liam stepped forward, his expression dark. “That’s not fair. We’ve both earned the right to see this through.”
“Fairness has no place in prophecy,” the protector replied. “This is the way it must be.”
Aria felt her chest tighten with panic. She couldn’t do this alone—not without Liam. But the protector’s words rang with finality, and she knew they had no choice.
Liam turned to her, his expression softening. “You should go, Aria. This journey—it’s always been yours.”
Aria shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “No. Not without you.”
Liam smiled sadly. “We both knew this would come down to something like this. You’re stronger than you think. You’ll finish this.”
Aria’s heart shattered at the thought of leaving him behind, but she knew—deep down—that he was right. The compass had chosen her. It had been guiding her all along. But knowing didn’t make the choice any easier.
The protector’s voice was a whisper on the wind. “The decision must be made.”
Aria looked at Liam, her heart breaking. “I don’t know if I can do this without you.”
Liam cupped her face gently, his gaze steady. “You can. And you will.”
The air grew heavy with unspoken words, and as the forest darkened around them, the weight of the decision loomed.
And just as Aria felt her heart crack beneath the pressure, the protector’s voice whispered one last thing.
“Choose.”