"Are you talking to me?" I said, pointing a finger at myself.

"Is there anyone else in the room?" the younger me responded, his face as expressionless as it could be, and started walking. Thinking for a bit, I started following him.

'On a closer look, he does look exactly like me: silver hair, diamond eyes. But why does he look tired?'

Not sure how to talk to him, I just kept following him. We took turns after turns, then some stairs. I wasn't sure where we were anymore. Slowly, we approached a door. He opened it, and stepping forward, I was high up. It was a night sky filled with stars. Under their shine, he slowly moved forward.

There were two chairs and a table there. He sat on one and looked at me, as if he wanted me to sit on the other one. Sitting opposite to him, I looked around. We were at the top of the mansion, an area covered by a glass roof. I never knew a place like this existed in the mansion.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke. "This is one of my favorite spots in the mansion. No one knows about this place except me and the Duchess."

"This is the first time we met. I believe you must have a lot of questions. Though I may know the answer to most of your questions, it is neither the time nor occasion for idle chit-chat," he said, as if knowing what was going through my head, his tone urgent as if he was in a hurry.

"And why is it not a time for idle chit-chat?" I pressed on, finally the chance to have my questions answered before me, but at the same time, it wasn't there.

"Ever since I became aware, there was an inactive part in my soul, our soul, like a hole. It didn't respond to anything. I was betrayed by the one I entrusted with a task, and I was poisoned."

"What? Who? What is happening? Tell me from the beginning."

As if he didn't hear me, he continued. "It was a unique poison, its properties closer to a curse than a poison. It corroded our soul, and just as it was about to touch the inactive part, it was devoured by the same inactive part and it awoke."

"Even though it was devoured, the poison contained an ancient curse and has become a parasite akin to a demon and will try to overtake our body. Our soul is unstable right now. The part that contained me has long been corroded, and you are now me."

Suddenly, the colors started to fade slowly.

"I will give you some parting words as I feel you would need them. Answers to most of your questions are in the place we are now. Seek it out in the mansion."

"Wait, do you know about the system? Where did it come from?"

"I do not know the origin of the system, but it hasn't harmed me when I was awake. Though I would suggest not blindly trusting it. Make your own decisions."

"Say sorry to @#%$ and meet @#$@#!$&&!@# ….."

"!#@$^I*I( !$^#&(&() #@$&()( !@#^$&P(&()_"

"Wait, I can't hear you…!"

Slowly, the colors faded. I couldn't understand his last words, as if something was interfering with it. Just before he faded away, he smiled. That expressionless face of his showed an emotion: he smiled at me as if he was saying, "Take care."

The world became dark. This time, I could sense something moving in the dark. Its presence was a stark contrast to the vibrant memories. It whispered words of doubt and fear, reminding me of every failure, every mistake though honestly I didn't have any at this point..

"Embrace your past, accept your fears," Caldia's voice echoed in my mind. "Only then can you move forward."

I took a deep breath and stepped toward the shadowy figure. As I did, the figure dissipated, and the colors around me brightened. I felt a surge of confidence and clarity, ready to face the next phase. The visions of my past, the small triumphs and significant failures, became clear as I acknowledged them. Each memory was a piece of my puzzle, a fragment of who I was and who I could become.

The vision continued, showing me moments of triumph and despair. I saw myself standing up to bullies, making friends, and discovering my love for magic. I also saw moments of doubt and fear, times when I felt lost and alone. Each memory was vivid, pulling me deeper into my own psyche.

One particularly painful memory resurfaced. I was in a grand hall, likely during a party. I saw a small boy, about two years old, clutching a small pendant. He had a small bruise on his knee and was looking around anxiously, having just escaped from a group of older kids who had tried to steal it. The fear and anger he felt were overwhelming. The shadowy figure reappeared, taunting me with those emotions, trying to drag me back into the darkness.

Stolen story; please report.

"Face it," Caldia's voice urged. "Do not let it control you."

I took a step forward, holding the pendant tightly. The shadowy figure loomed larger, but I forced myself to confront it. The anger and fear were still there, but they no longer had the same power over me , they were not mine. The shadow began to shrink, and the hall faded. I felt a sense of release, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders.

The vision shifted again, showing me the dreams and aspirations of my past self. I saw myself mastering spells, helping others with my magic, and exploring distant lands. These dreams were vibrant and full of life, a stark contrast to the earlier darkness. They filled me with hope and determination, reminding me of the future possibilities I had and guilt.

The final part of the vision showed me my future self. I was standing on a hill, overlooking a vast, beautiful landscape. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over everything. I felt a deep sense of peace and fulfillment, knowing that I had overcome my fears and doubts. This future version of me was strong, confident, and wise, a beacon of hope and inspiration.

Suddenly, the space distorted, and I saw my future self standing on a hill, breathing heavily, covered in injuries. His cold diamond eyes overlooked a vast landscape covered in blood and the remains of numerous creatures. The sky was cracked, and more creatures poured in. I saw, just for a moment, a smile in a crack just behind my future self. A thorn extended from the crack and pierced him from the back.

Back at the altar, Caldia was looking at the axis as his first trial almost came to an end… she was startled by a voice that came from behind.

"Wuu, that's one hell of a measure of destiny. It's almost the size of a boulder, don't you agree?" A playful voice broke the silence, light yet carrying a hint of mischief.

Caldia turned slightly, her expression softening as she saw the speaker. "Alnaria, you almost scared me to death."

Alnaria chuckled, her coal-black eyes twinkling with amusement. Her ashen hair, styled in a high ponytail, swayed as she moved closer. She had an air of grace and confidence, her presence always demanding attention. She was like a Rapier, deadly, and her demeanor was a blend of elegance and lethal efficiency.

Alnaria's smile widened as she leaned against a broken pillar nearby, her eyes scanning the measure of destiny. "Caldia, i have a feeling you should know why i am here" she teased her gaze brimming with irritation.. "Because someone broke the stone gate I was sleeping under ."

Caldia shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I might have, by mistake, stepped on it? You wouldn't have cared normally, Surely, it's not just to comment on measures of destiny."

Alnaria's playful expression shifted slightly, a glint of seriousness creeping into her eyes. "There's a storm brewing, Caldia. The Council's been in disarray ever since the prophecy surfaced. They're terrified of what it means for us, for the entire realm."

Caldia's expression hardened, her gaze turning towards the distant mountains shrouded in mist. "I've felt it too. The winds have been whispering of change, of challenges we're not prepared for."

Alnaria nodded, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "That's why I'm here. We need to prepare, to rally our forces. The prophecy... It speaks of a power that can either save or destroy us. And we're not the only ones seeking it."

Caldia's hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, her resolve hardening. "Do you think he is the one in the prophecy?"

Alnaria stepped closer, her gaze intense. "I do not know. He can be, or he might just be a distraction. But we must be cautious. There are forces at play that we don't fully understand."

Caldia's eyes narrowed, the weight of Alnaria's words settling heavily on her shoulders. "Then we can't afford any mistakes. Every move must be made with caution."

Alnaria placed a reassuring hand on Caldia's shoulder. "Agreed. We'll need allies, and we must decipher the prophecy fully. Only then can we understand who or what we're truly dealing with."

"The Council is rotten to the core, not a shred of what it was in the past, and the worst part is, we are stuck here," Caldia said, her frustration evident.

Alnaria's eyes darkened, a shadow passing over her face. "The Council's corruption runs deep, but we're not powerless. We have resources, and we have each other."

Caldia sighed, her grip on her sword tightening. "True, but it's hard to know who to trust. Every corner of this altar is filled with whispers and secrets."

Alnaria nodded, her expression resolute. "Then we need to be smarter, to outmaneuver them. We must gather our allies discreetly and plan our next steps carefully."

Caldia looked into Alnaria's eyes, finding strength in her friend's unwavering determination. "You're right. We can't let the Council's decay destroy us. We will join the shadow if could get out that will save us most trouble "

A flicker of a smile returned to Alnaria's lips. "Indeed. The shadows have always been our greatest ally."

As the two women turned their attention back to Axis, lying on the altar bathed in the light of the awakening ceremony, Caldia paused, her eyes catching the first rays of moonlight breaking through the storm clouds. "No matter what comes, we'll face it together. For the realm, and for our future."

Alnaria's voice was a soft whisper, but it carried the weight of a promise.

" I will keep my promise."

With that, they focused their minds on the ceremony, their hearts steeled for the trials ahead. The prophecy loomed large, but with resolve and unity, they were determined to steer it towards a future of their own making.

I opened my eyes, finding myself back in the temple. The orb's glow had dimmed, and the air around me felt lighter. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, feeling a profound sense of clarity and purpose. The Vision had shown me the depths of my soul, revealing both my strengths and my vulnerabilities. It was an experience that left me changed, more aware of who I was and who I could become.

More than that, I felt numb. The last vision had a significant impact on me. Never in my wildest thoughts had I imagined such a gruesome scene.

Caldia smiled at me, her eyes filled with pride. "You have done well, little one. The Vision is not an easy trial, but you have faced it with courage and determination. Now, you are ready to face the next challenge."

I nodded, feeling a surge of determination. The Vision had given me a glimpse of my true self and provided pieces of information that I didn't know existed. Whatever lay ahead, I knew I didn't have the power or strength to face it and resolve it yet. I must get stronger, faster.

The path before me was still uncertain. There were so many things I didn't understand, so many things I wished to know, so many things I needed to do..

" just as my consciousness was about to drift I saw someone next to caldia, though didn't have the chance to ask who they were ".