Balthazar turned his head toward the exit and began walking toward it. "Guys, there's an exit."
Elowen had only made it halfway before she stumbled. Pain radiated across her foot where a sharp spike impaled the ground just above her toes. She bit her lip and grimaced. She lifted her foot gingerly, wincing with each step. Blood flowed freely from the gash. It wasn't serious, however, and she soon limped past the trap, which continued to emit faint warnings. Elowen picked up her pace, though not quickly enough to escape notice. They were being followed by a figure who watched in silence as their prey escaped without paying for the trap's cost. It was only when Elowen turned down a darkened hall that the pain became unbearable. With one hand pressed firmly against the wound in her calf, Elowen forced herself to continue onward, ignoring the growing discomfort of her injury.
Those same red glowing eyes that had been following them since the forest now burned through the darkness, closer than before. They could feel them, hot and predatory, watching their every move as Kael stumbled through the underbrush. His breath came in shallow gasps, heart racing against his ribs. They had thought, at first, it was just their imagination—a trick of the shadows, a trick of the mind. But as they turned the corner of the old stone wall and caught a glimpse of them again, they knew it was no longer just a thought.
Something was really following them. Something that didn't belong in this world. They hadn't meant to end up here. The tunnel had seemed like the only option, the only place to escape when the sounds from the forest grew too close, too insistent. They had scrambled down into the darkness, the rough stone walls pressing against them as if trying to trap them inside. Their pulse hammered in their ears as they stumbled deeper, breath shallow and ragged. The cool air smelled of damp earth and old secrets, but it did nothing to soothe the panic that gripped their chest.
"We need to keep moving. This place... it’s wrong. Those eyes... they’re following us," Balthazar's eyes darting around the dark tunnel. His voice was low and strained. He can listen Eamon's breathing was clear in this silence, steady and slow, as if he were savoring the stillness around him. "I know... I can feel them, too. They’re everywhere. Watching. Every time we think we’re getting away, they're still there. Why are we still here? Why haven’t we turned back?"
Kael looked around and brushed his hand against the cold stones, feeling the rough texture beneath his fingertips as the wind whispered through the empty space. "We don’t have a choice, Eamon. We don’t know what’s out there, and we don’t know how far this tunnel stretches. But it’s the only chance we have. We keep going, or we don't make it out at all." He tried to stay calm, taking deep breaths and focusing on the stillness around him to steady his racing thoughts.
The tunnel was long. Too long. No matter how far they ran, no matter how many corners they turned, the eyes remained with them—like a trail of embers following the flicker of their frantic steps. And they weren't just behind them anymore.
Elowen's voice was barely a whisper, almost lost in the shadows, her breath catching as she spoke, her words trembling in the still air. "They’re... not just behind us anymore. They’re all around us. I can feel them. Watching. Waiting."
They swallowed, forcing themselves to stop. Their fingers brushed the cold, jagged stone of the tunnel's walls as they steadied themselves. There was a strange, oppressive stillness in the air—like the whole world had paused to watch them. Balthazar's eyes flickered toward Elowen, a quiet strength in his voice as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone, Elowen. We're here. We'll face this together."
Eamon's eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of movement, his pulse quickening as the silence pressed in on him. He clenched his fists, trying to steady his breath, but his mind raced with thoughts of what might come next. "Together? How do we stay together when we’re being hunted by something that doesn’t belong here? This... this isn’t just a chase. We can’t outrun it. How do we fight it?"
Kael stepped forward, trying to keep the panic at bay, his eyes hard as he scans the darkness ahead. "We don’t stop, Eamon. It’s our only chance. If we don’t push forward, it’ll be over." The red glow pulsed in the dark, rhythmic and slow, almost like a heartbeat. It wasn't just one set of eyes anymore. They were scattered, flickering through the tunnel's vast, unseen spaces, watching from every crevice, every shadow.
"I need to get out, We need to get out of here," she muttered, barely above a whisper. But where? There was no end in sight, no light filtering in from the entrance anymore. Just the suffocating blackness and the ever-present glow. She felt claustrophobic, trapped within the walls of the tunnel. It was a prison, and they were its prisoner.
With trembling hands, Elowen reached forward and pressed her palm flat against the wall. She waited for some sort of response, but there was none.
"Hello?" she whispered. She tried again.
"Someone..." Her voice trailed off.
She had expected to be answered, but there was only silence. They were alone, utterly alone. Even if someone had heard them, there was no one to answer their call. They stood, paralyzed and alone, staring blindly into the depths of the endless corridor until finally their legs gave out beneath them. The blood stopped, and an eerie stillness filled the air. The darkness grew deeper the farther they went, until all traces of light vanished entirely and only the eerie glow of the strange blue crystals lit the way.
They stopped suddenly, peering down the shadowy corridor that stretched before them. Their mind still buzzing from the traps they had narrowly avoided. The heavy air of the chamber seemed to thicken around them, as if the ruins themselves were holding their breath. A new passage lay ahead, and the path beyond was dimly lit by the flickering glow of their lantern. The walls, however, were unsettlingly reflective. They gleamed in the low light, polished stone or glass—they couldn’t tell which—forming a corridor of mirrored surfaces that stretched deep into the darkness.
Those eyes were constantly following them. Hundreds of them, scattered across the tunnel, glowing in the dark like scattered embers but in one slow blink. At first, they tried to ignore them. But with every step, they seemed to multiply, blinking in and out of the darkness, as if the tunnel itself had become alive with them. And that’s when they realized—
The eyes weren't real.
Not all of them, at least.
They were reflections.
[System Warning]
[Warning: Approaching Hall of Mirrors. Illusory pathways detected]
The voice of the system was a cold reminder of the dangers ahead. Elowen had heard of these traps-mirrors designed to confuse and disorient intruders. In the old legends, it was said that many had entered the hall, only to be swallowed by false reflections or driven mad by their own distorted images.
"Stay sharp, guys," Elowen muttered to them, stepping cautiously into the hall. Their footsteps echoed off the hard rock walls, sending a shiver of fear down their spines as they read the warnings written in the same ancient language.
⩷⩤⩛⩘⩧: ⩧⩛⩜⩤ ⩜⩣⩛⩞⩤ ⩝⩧⩤⩞⩙, ⩢⩘ ⩛⩣⩟⩡!
Vigilanti: Auditi Hanc Nuntium, O Viator Inexperti!
[Warning: Heed This Message, O Unwary Traveler!]
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⩐⩡⩙⩛ ⩿⩙⩡⩛⩜⩤, ⩜⩣⩞⩜⩧ ⩣⩤⩟ ⩡⩛⩞⩣⩦ ⩗⩤⩘ ⩷⩛⩣⩡⩤⩝⩧⩛ ⩜⩣⩛⩜⩧!
Per vetustas potestas, nullus transire liceat sine ratione! [By ancient powers, let none pass without cause!]
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⩤⩡⩞⩤ ⩟⩤⩘ ⩟⩤ ⩝⩧⩟⩜⩡⩧⩧⩩ ⩢⩜⩡ ⩩, ⩧⩡⩨ ⩝⩛⩣⩡⩣, ⩜⩧⩛ ⩻⩝ ⩱⩝⩤ ⩜⩣⩛⩧⩜ ⩢⩤ ⩝⩧⩤⩝⩧⩨ ⩡⩨ ⩝⩣⩞⩤⩝⩜⩡⩦. ⩝ ⩱⩝⩤ ⩜⩣⩛⩧⩜ ⩢⩤ ⩝⩧, ⩤⩝⩧⩨ ⩡⩨ ⩝⩣⩞⩤⩝⩜⩡⩦⩤ ⩜⩣⩛⩧⩜ ⩢⩤ ⩝⩧⩤ ⩜⩣⩛⩧⩜ ⩢⩤ ⩝⩧, ⩩ ⩢⩜⩡ ⩩, ⩧⩡⩨ ⩝⩛⩣⩩ ⩢⩜⩡ ⩩.
Viam ante te non solum lapis et lignum est, sed labyrinthus sacratum, a machinis aetatis priscorum alligatus. Intra periculum tuum, nam singuli passus potentias excitare possunt, quae numquam excitae esse debuerunt.
[The path before you is not of mere mirror and timber, but a sanctified labyrinth, bound by mechanisms of a time long lost. Enter at your own risk, for every footfall may stir forces that were never meant to awaken.]
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
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⩷⩤ ⩧⩡⩧⩧⩧⩡ ⩝⩡⩧ ⩷⩛ ⩟⩡⩙⩛⩧⩤:
Pericula sunt magna et implacabilia:
[The dangers are great and unforgiving:]
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⩷⩤ ⩡⩞⩛⩡⩙, ⩯⩡ ⩝⩛⩟⩤⩡⩛: ⩷⩛⩟⩡ ⩩⩧⩜⩡⩧⩧⩙ ⩪⩡⩞ ⩡⩛⩝⩧⩡ ⩛⩡⩧⩜⩧ ⩟⩡⩚⩧⩧⩧⩩ ⩟⩡⩛⩧⩧⩛⩧⩜⩡⩜⩧ ⩿⩙⩡⩛⩧⩡ ⩧⩣⩛⩜⩡⩧⩦⩧⩧⩙ ⩪⩡⩞ ⩡⩛⩝⩧⩡ ⩛⩡⩧⩜⩧ ⩟⩡⩧⩧⩙ ⩪⩡⩞ ⩡⩛⩝⩧⩡.
Grave leviter, aut deleberis: Ipse lapides quibus ambulas te fallere possunt. Dolos absconditos, a laminis acutis ad sagittas veneni, in insidiis latent pro viatoribus inexperti.
[Tread Lightly, or Be Destroyed: The very stones you walk upon may betray you. Hidden traps, from sharp blades to poisoned darts, lie in wait for the unwary.]
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⩟⩛⩡⩜⩡⩧ ⩷⩤ ⩡⩙ ⩧⩣⩞ ⩛⩡⩛ ⩩⩧⩜⩡⩧⩧⩡⩤: ⩷⩛⩟⩡ ⩷⩛⩡⩞⩜⩡⩧⩡⩛ ⩡⩡⩣⩛⩛⩤ ⩛⩡⩛ ⩩⩧⩜⩡⩧⩦. ⩦⩛ ⩟⩡⩙⩛⩡⩛ ⩡⩡⩣⩛⩛⩡⩛ ⩡⩛⩞⩡⩜⩡⩧⩧⩧⩦-⩷⩡⩛, ⩛⩡⩞⩧⩛⩧, ⩟⩛⩡⩛⩜⩡⩜⩧, ⩛ ⩟⩡⩙⩛⩡⩛ ⩡⩡⩣⩛⩛⩡⩛ ⩡⩛⩞⩡⩜⩡.Sacrum perturbare, et Iracundiam Deorum obicere: Reliquiae quae hic quiescunt antiquis sunt aevi ipsa. Eorum turbatio iudicium divinum provocare-celerem, terribilem, et inexorabilem.
[Disrupt the Sacred, and Face the Wrath of the Gods: The relics that slumber here are older than time itself. To disturb them is to invite divine judgment-swift, terrible, and unrelenting.]
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⩩⩧⩡⩜⩡ ⩧⩧ ⩧⩜⩡⩞⩧⩦ ⩡⩙⩣⩡⩛: ⩧⩡⩝⩧ ⩷⩛ ⩷⩡⩙⩡⩛ ⩩⩧⩣⩛⩣⩜⩡⩧⩡⩛⩦ ⩧⩣⩛⩞⩡⩧⩧⩤⩛ ⩦⩡⩧⩧⩦. ⩷⩛⩣⩟ ⩡⩙⩣⩛⩠ ⩡⩣⩟⩧ ⩞⩡⩣⩧⩛ ⩡⩣⩛⩝⩡⩧⩦, ⩡⩧⩛ ⩡⩣⩞⩣⩡⩡⩣ ⩡⩡⩜⩡⩡ ⩞⩡⩣⩧⩛ ⩝⩛⩧⩦.
Fuga est spes stulti: Ubi machinae antiquae in motum sunt positae, nulla regressus est. Via praevisa ad periculum solum ducit, et exitus ab ipsis viribus quas excitas obstrueitur.
[Escape is a Fool's Hope: Once the ancient mechanisms are set into motion, there is no turning back. The path ahead leads only to peril, and the way out will be sealed by the very forces you awaken.]
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⩦⩛⩣⩟ ⩧⩡⩣⩛ ⩝⩛⩧⩦ ⩢⩡⩛... ⩷⩛ ⩡⩞⩡⩧ ⩡⩧, ⩯⩡ ⩝⩛⩟ ⩝⩛⩧⩠ ⩧⩜⩡⩞⩡⩛ ⩟⩡⩣⩛ ⩡⩣⩞⩣⩡⩠ ⩡⩧⩝⩧⩡⩧⩛ ⩝⩡⩧⩛⩜⩡⩧⩤.
Maledictio coepit commovere... Revertere nunc, aut aeternam iram eorum qui olim hos aulæ custodiiverunt obice.
[The curse has begun to stir... Turn back now, or face the eternal fury of those who once guarded these halls.]
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⩿⩛⩣⩟ ⩧⩡⩛⩣ ⩡⩟ ⩧⩡⩝⩧, ⩯⩡ ⩝⩧⩡⩧ ⩝⩛ ⩦⩡⩝⩧ ⩝⩛ ⩧⩜⩡⩜⩧.
Procede tantum si audes, nam nulla misericordia ostendetur.
[Proceed only if you dare, for no mercy will be shown.]
They walked slowly through the maze of mirrors, their eyes darting from side to side. They were completely lost in the dark corridors, relying solely on instinct and intuition. The first few steps were unnervingly quiet, their boots making no sound against the polished surface beneath them. As they moved deeper into the hall, the mirrors began to shift with each step, reflecting their images from different angles—sometimes behind them, sometimes to the side, creating a dizzying effect. It was like walking through a hall of ghosts, every reflection showing a slightly different version of themselves.
Suddenly, one of the mirrors flickered. The image of Elowen in the glass shifted unnaturally—their figure began to move toward them, mimicking their actions with perfect synchronicity. They stopped in their tracks, staring at their reflection, a chill crawling up their spine.
Kael nervously glanced around, his voice tight with fear. "Did you see that? It... moved. It wasn't just a reflection." His hands were shaking, and he couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling creeping up his spine.
Balthazar’s eyes were locked on the mirror, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Stay calm," he said, his voice steady but laced with an edge of caution. "It’s just the mirrors messing with us. Don’t trust anything here." Despite his words, there was a flicker of doubt in his gaze.
Eamon swallowed hard, his throat dry as his voice trembled. "This place... it’s like the walls are alive. What if we’re not alone? What if they’re watching us?" His breath hitched, and he glanced over his shoulder, feeling the weight of unseen eyes pressing in on them.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Illusion detected. Mirage of Golems triggered]
A deep, resonating clang echoed through the hall, followed by the unmistakable sound of stone grinding against stone. Elowen's gaze snapped to one of the mirrored panels ahead. There, looming large in the reflection, stood two massive stone golems-its eyes glowing with a faint, eerie light, and its jagged limbs creaking as if coming to life.
No... No, that's not real, she thought, her heart pounding as she stepped back, her eyes scanning the surrounding mirrors for clues. The golems were only reflections-illusory threats, designed to lure her toward them.
But the reflection of the golems didn't remain static. The mirrored versions seemed to grow larger and closer with every step they took, forcing them to keep moving forward in order to avoid their grasp. Their pulse quickened, the illusion making them feel trapped. They had to keep moving, but which way?
Another reflection flashed-a doorway that wasn't there before.
It was a mirage. They knew it. The doorway was an illusion meant to trap them into running straight toward an actual real trap.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Redirected traps detected. False exit]
Balthazar gritted his teeth, forced to fight the compulsion to run toward it. His eyes flicked back and forth between the reflections. The mirrors seemed to multiply, making it impossible to tell where the true path lay. The walls began to close in on them, the reflections so numerous that the hallway seemed to stretch on forever.
Desperation crept into his mind. He had to rely on something other than sight. His hand slipped to his side, where the rope he had tied to his belt hung loosely.
"A test," he whispered, pulling the rope free and tossing it toward one of the mirrors. The rope sailed through the air and, for a moment, he thought it would hit the mirrored surface. But instead, the rope sank through-passing through the mirror like it was no more solid than air.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Real trap detected. Pitfall hidden by illusion]
He yanked the rope back immediately, heart hammering. He had almost made a fatal mistake. The floor was not solid there-it had been camouflaged by the reflections, made to look like a continuation of the hallway.
"So the mirrors reflect false paths... We have to test each one," Kael muttered, now moving carefully from mirror to mirror, using the rope to test the surfaces. He began to notice subtle differences-tiny shifts in the reflections where the glass panels didn't quite align with reality. When he threw the rope at a particular panel, the object passed cleanly through without resistance.
That was their clue. The path they needed was hidden behind a series of reflections—not the one where the floor appeared solid. That meant that it must lead to another room. Another passageway—a safe room!
Elowen moved with growing confidence, stepping lightly through the hall, using her rope as a guide. The reflections seemed to distort, but she could see now where the illusions ended and the truth began. She didn't trust her eyes alone; she trusted her senses, feeling the faintest vibrations in the air and the subtle shifts in temperature that hinted at hidden dangers.
Her heart raced as she approached a final mirror at the end of the hall. A long, narrow passage stretched beyond, but the mirror before her reflected nothing but her own tired face, her figure standing frozen in the glass. The room felt eerily still. She stepped forward-and heard the whir of hidden mechanisms.
A beam of light suddenly shot from the ceiling, cutting through the air like a razor blade.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Laser beam trap activated. Immediate action required]
"Watch out," Eamon shouted.
Elowen dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the beam. It sliced through the air where she had just been standing, and the sound of it cracking through the air made her blood run cold. She pressed herself flat against the floor as the beam hummed above her.
The danger passed, and she exhaled a shaky breath. The system's alert chimed once more.
[System Notification]
[Warning: Laser trap disabled. Continue with caution]
They were almost there. The path was clear now, their tests having led them to a safe route. But they knew this was only the beginning. The further they ventured into the heart of the ruins, the more deadly the traps would become. Each step was a battle against ancient forces designed to keep out intruders.
They would need more than their wits and their rope to survive what lay ahead.
Elowen took a deep breath and stepped forward into the next chamber.
The next chamber was vast, its high ceiling stretching far above their heads, and the air thick with the smell of ancient stone. As they entered, the flickering light of the Moonveil butterfly revealed the outlines of towering figures along the far walls. Elowen's breath caught in her throats as she recognized the statues—golem guardians, carved from dark stone and polished to a gleam, her faces frozen in silent, eternal scowls.