Alexander felt his heart stop for a moment. He had to fight with his own reflections, each of which was an exact copy of himself.

The battle began instantly. The reflections moved synchronously and precisely, their strikes were fast and inexorable. Alexander tried to fend off every blow, but there were too many of them. He felt his strength drain away with each passing moment and his arms become heavier.

With each blow, his skin was cut, leaving bloody trails. Breathing became more and more difficult, and every movement became painful. Alexander tried to concentrate, but pain and fatigue overcame him.

- Know yourself! - the reflections continuously repeated, advancing closer and closer. Alexander felt his strength draining away and realized that he couldn’t win this way. He needed to find another way, another solution to this puzzle. But he was not given time to think. The reflections dealt too many blows, which the young man missed.

The wounded Alexander fell to the floor, surrounded by his mirror images. They watched him, their faces devoid of any emotion. They are like faceless judges, she looked at him. Blood dripped from their daggers. His blood.

Exhausted, Alexander looked up at the ceiling of the mirrored dome and said with difficulty:

- Just a second, I’ll take a break now, and we’ll continue.

The voice reflected from the mirrors answered:

- You will not pass this test, Alexander. You are not ready. You don't want to know yourself. Open your soul to the fear of knowledge.

Doubt and pain were reflected in Alexander’s eyes as he flared up:

- How do you all know my name?! How do you even know about me?!

The voice continued:

-You are the first of the Rejected. Your rise or your fall is in our interests. Each resident of the Border decides for himself what to do with you. To help you achieve incredible heights or to help you fall painfully to the very bottom. I haven't decided for myself yet. I, just like you, could not accept myself. Come back when you are ready to know yourself.

The words of the voice sounded like a sentence. Seven reflections of Alexander approached and carefully lifted him above them. He lay in their arms, reminiscent of a hero of Russian folklore, who only needed a shield under his back. The reflections carried him through the mirror back to the Fringe, where they laid him in a field of clover. After which they went back through the looking glass.

Alexander lay looking at the sky of Gran, feeling how each of his wounds throbbed with pain. His sister seemed to be looking straight at him. His thoughts were confused, but a new decision was born in his heart. He had to find a path to self-discovery in order to overcome his trials and come back stronger. The opportunity to try something else occupied him, but he didn’t have the strength yet.

Lying on the ground, Alexander felt the approach of the predatory gaze of the Dead. Despite his helpless state, he could still fight. The dagger was still clutched in his hand. There was a feeling of impending battle in the air. He saw them rushing towards him and taking a deep breath, he wanted to exchange his life with the insolent person who would take him away. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, everything changed.

There was a clink of metal, and a woman's voice cut through the silence:

- Well, let's go away, you bastards! - Alexander saw four saviors, each of whom took the attack of the Dead with their daggers.

The first girl, slender and dexterous, held in her hands a long, curved dagger with an inlaid hilt. Her hair was blond, and her gaze was determined and cold.

The second girl, with brown eyes and dark hair, wielded a short but wide blade, which she held with both hands, like a sword.

The first guy, tall with reddish hair, used a thin, almost needle-like dagger, maneuvering it quickly and deftly.

The second guy, with broad shoulders and dark hair, wielded a massive dagger, almost the size of a sword, with a weighted handle and a wide blade.

Their concerted actions were effective. They showed skill and strength with every move, quickly defeating the Departed's attackers and reducing them to ash. The remaining enemies, realizing their defeat, retreated, allowing Alexander's saviors to rest a little.

- Did you feel it? It was like a well of water poured over me when I killed her...” said the guy with red hair. After which he turned to the young man lying on the ground. - Maksim. These are Irina, Oleg and Lena.

“Alexander...” he answered in kind, a little surprised by their openness.

- We are from a special department of the government of the Russian Federation, studying the Edge! - explained Irina, leading the group. - We were very interested in your method of getting into the mirror. We tried to do the same, but without success. It was just a mirror, albeit an indestructible one.

- Yeah, we tried to break it, but there wasn’t even a scratch left.

- You just need to ask your reflection to pass through the mirror. - Alexander explained. - And the mirror itself is the entrance to the Labyrinth of Oblivion.

The group looked at each other and a quiet discussion began. They discussed how this information could be used.

- Thank you, Alexander. This is very valuable to us. - Maxim thanked when they finished the conversation.

Lena, the youngest in the group, walked up to the mirror. After a short pause, during which she stood motionless, she turned around and gave a thumbs up, and then managed to pass through the mirror surface.

- He's acting on his own again. Ira, as the leader of the group, you must stop such a negligent attitude towards our mission. We're on duty.

- We started serving a couple of days ago, or have you forgotten that we are, first of all, scientists who trained at the military department? Fortunately, we know how to fight and use our brains a little, otherwise we would have been replaced by martinets long ago. In general, we keep our eyes open. These repulsed people were very excited about something. - Ira nodded at people in different clothes and different races. They circled like crows, but did not come closer. Only a few had the courage to come closer than others, but they did nothing else.

The trio of guys carefully monitored their surroundings. The deceased, thirsty for easy prey, did not dare to approach, frightened by the presence of three Rejected, guarding Alexander. They clearly wanted to get the young man lying on the ground. The fact that he was Rejected, and even wounded, made him an ideal target.

Half an hour later Lena returned from the mirror. She staggered, barely able to stand, but no wounds were visible on her body. Lena reached her group and said that she had forgotten part of her past. She grabbed her head and moaned that she couldn’t remember her mother’s face. Irina hugged her friend, who was shaking slightly.

-What happened to you there in the Labyrinth? - Irina asked alarmedly.

“I don’t know...” Lena answered, her eyes were full of tears. “I remember walking into the mirror and everything became foggy.” When I returned, some of my memories simply disappeared. Ira, I don’t remember her, do you hear? My head hurts every time I try to remember...

Alexander, watching what was happening, thought about his experience and told the guys:

- My test was different. I had to get to know myself by fighting copies of myself. The maze changes its rules depending on the person. And I think the point here is that I’ve already forgotten everything. There is nothing left about the past, about the family.

Maxim, looking at Lena, remarked gloomily:

- We have to be careful. Why did you go there? Naturally, the tester sucks! We're a group. Squad, we represent the government. Imagine what would happen if you forgot not only your mother, but everything in general. Yes, you would be like those zombies who bathed half of the outskirts of Moscow in blood! Think with your head!

- Calm down. Your words are correct, but spoken at the wrong time. We need to decide what we do next. The mirror is clearly of scientific interest and our task is to study it. - Irina turned to the object three hundred meters away from them.

- We can't leave Alexander here alone. - said Oleg. - Let's try to go in together. He obviously knows more about this place than we do. But first his wounds must be healed. Let's arrange bandages, wait for recovery and go inside. I think in a couple of days he will be able to move on his own, while we collect data from the surrounding area.

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- No need to wait a couple of days. To restore, I only need to kill one Dead One. - said Alexander. - This will restore my soul and body, respectively.

The guys looked at Alexander, perplexed by his words. Understanding their bewilderment, Alexander remembered that they were nothing here and perhaps did not know what the young man took for granted.

- In the Edge, our bodies are projections of our souls. - he began. - Now my soul is wounded, not my body. And to heal it, I need the power of another soul. The deceased are people whose bodies have long since died in the real world. They exist here only as souls. They can't return to reality. But there is a loophole. This is us. If they kill any of us, they can be resurrected in the real world in our bodies.

The group listened attentively to Alexander. Irina frowned, trying to grasp the essence of his words.

- So, if some pervert kills me, he will return to my body and can do whatever he wants with it? - Alexander nodded to the question asked. Laaaaand... And another clarification, if you kill one of the Dead, will your soul be restored? Due to the strength of his soul. And it turns out that any of us, having received a dangerous injury, can do the same? - she clarified.

- Exactly. In general, when you kill the Dead and receive the power of their soul, it settles inside you and you don’t even notice that the herbs are healing quickly. That there is no fatigue. It is like our circulatory system, a kind of spiritual channel that nourishes us. - Alexander confirmed. - You must understand and accept that the rules are different in the Border.

While Lena leaned against Irina, Maxim listened attentively to Alexander.

“Kill to heal...” he repeated thoughtfully.

- Yes. - Alexander nodded. “That’s part of what I learned at Grani.” Each soul of the deceased gives me strength for healing. And not only for this. Soul power can be used to charge gifts, which can be found in the Edge. You can even manipulate the very energy of the soul, creating material from spiritual.

Oleg, who was standing aside, suddenly intervened:

- This sounds like dubious morality. We're here to explore the Fringe, not to participate in... This. I understand when it’s self-defense, but to hunt other people, even if they died in their shaggy years.

Alexander looked at Oleg.

- I understand you. Morality and society hold you back, but the Edge is a place of survival. The rules are different here. Either you or you.

Irina, supporting Lena, added:

- We must be prepared for anything. The Edge is full of dangers, and we must use every possible means to survive and explore this world. Oleg, you are a scientist. Rationality must trump all these rules. If necessary for the sake of enlightenment, we will kill. This is what we were chosen for.

Maxim nodded in agreement.

- The plan is the same then. Let's try to enter the Labyrinth of Oblivion together. But first, Alexander must recover. Can I help you? Maybe hold the deceased?

- No, I can do it myself. Our souls are also not an empty phrase; they constantly generate energy. I am better now. Good rest helps. - Alexander, feeling pain, rose to his feet. He looked around the area and noticed a lone Dead One wandering nearby. - I'll be right back…

Alexander walked heavily towards the Deceased One, who also noticed his approach. The old man's eyes were heavy, his gaze tired. He began his attacking run. The deceased rushed towards Alexander, raising his worn dagger.

Alexander, moving with difficulty, looked straight at the attacker. The deceased threw a blow with a scream, but Alexander, using the last remnants of his strength, dodged and, intercepting the attacker’s hand, knocked him to the ground. With a deft move, Alexander plunged his dagger into the heart of the Dead One, who screamed one last time before dissolving into ashes.

Alexander felt his wounds begin to heal and strength return to his exhausted body. He slowly rose to his feet, feeling the healing restore his soul's strength. This was enough for almost all the injuries, but the reserves were empty again.

The stunned group approached Alexander, studying him with surprise and admiration. Lena was the first to speak:

- Indeed, the wounds have healed... This is incredible!

- A lot is possible in Grani. - Alexander answered, feeling a surge of new strength. - If you continue to explore this place, you will soon realize that anything is possible here!

-You shed light on many things that we still could not understand. - said Maxim, still stunned by what was happening.

Oleg nodded in agreement.

- We must continue to study the Edge. Your knowledge and experience will be extremely useful, Alexander. Will you help us?

Alexandru agreed to go with the group to the mirror, but at the same time thought about how he could gain more soul power. To his disappointment, after he killed one of the Departed, the others around him increased their distance, making it impossible for him to get closer. Realizing that further attempts would be useless, Alexander and the group headed to the mirror.

As they approached, the guys noticed dissonance, since only one person was reflected in the mirror. The copy of Alexander grinned and wordlessly stepped aside, allowing him to pass. The group slowly entered the looking glass. Inside they were again greeted by a hall of mirrors, where there were seven copies of Alexander. Lena noticed that when she entered the mirror for the first time, she had a completely different situation.

- When I entered, I was greeted... Exactly, there was a labyrinth, not a hall of mirrors. - she shared her impressions, clutching her head.

- It seems that the Labyrinth of Oblivion is only for you guys. With me, you will be here. - Alexander suggested, carefully studying his copies. - They cut me up so badly last time...

“Yes, it’s strange...” added Maxim, looking around. - The unpredictability of this place forces you to constantly be on your guard. Listen, Sanya, do you fight well? Are you good with a knife?

- It seems that I was at war, judging by the words of those around me, and the body sometimes acts purely automatically.

Irina, intently watching Alexander’s reflections, said thoughtfully:

- Well, that means we have every chance to lie down here in a crowd.

- We have to be careful. - Oleg warned, stepping forward a little, taking on the role of a tank. - It is unknown what may follow next. Stay behind me, cover your rear.

The group slowly moved towards the center of the hall of mirrors, where Alexander’s reflections also went. The moment they reached the middle, they were startled by a high-pitched voice. It echoed from the walls of the hall of mirrors:

- I couldn’t understand myself, accept myself. You brought help, but they won’t be able to understand you either. You don't understand the very purpose of my test. And instead of seven opponents for you, there will be seven for each of you. You made the wrong choice again, Alexander.

With these words, copies of each member of the group began to emerge from the broken mirrors. A total of thirty-five opponents appeared, each of whom was in full combat readiness. The copies attacked and the battle began.

Alexander took the blow from his copy, but quickly realized the futility of a direct confrontation with his double. He resolutely turned his attention to the copy of Maxim. Using the difference in combat experience, Alexander was able to destabilize the situation. He carried out a series of well-aimed blows - the first blow was delivered to the side, causing the copy of Maxim to lose balance, followed by a knee strike to the stomach, which bent the enemy in half, and, finally, a powerful palm strike to the throat, immobilizing the copy. His dagger hit him right in the eye, after which his comrade’s reflection broke into a thousand fragments that glowed and shimmered in the light.

After destroying the copy of Maxim, Alexander felt a huge influx of energy. She filled him so much that he could barely stand on his feet. This feeling was comparable to the three compressed souls of the Edge. The wounds that were there before had healed, and energy overwhelmed him. He was ready to fight forever without getting tired.

Alexander shouted that they should not fight with themselves, but take on copies of their comrades, so that there would be a chance to win. His words were heard, and the next moment the battle broke out with renewed vigor.