Alexander entered the mirror, and the world around him instantly changed. He found himself in a hall of mirrors, where the walls were strewn with endless rows of reflections. The reflections seemed alive, each moving in sync with his movements. Alexander noticed that seven copies of himself stood before him, each with a dagger in hand, reflecting his own armed state.
- I want to try to know myself! - Alexander shouted, his voice reflected from the mirrors, creating an echo.
- Then start. - answered a voice coming from the depths of the hall, reflected from the mirrors. This voice was similar to his own, but at the same time alien. In general, compared to last time, everything has changed. Voice, reflections. Everything was a little different.
The battle has begun. Alexander moved quickly, attacking his reflections. Each blow was precise and decisive, but his opponents, copies of themselves, reflected his every movement with amazing accuracy. They fought with the same skill as he, wielding daggers with incredible dexterity. Alexander tried to strike one of his reflections, but it dodged as easily as he would have done it himself.
-You can't defeat us. - said one of the reflections, his voice was cold and indifferent.
Alexander took a step back, realizing that his every movement, every blow was predictable for his copies. He realized that physical strength was powerless here. His opponents were exact copies not only of his appearance, but also of his thoughts, skills, even instincts.
- I need to find another way. - he whispered to himself, peering into the eyes of his reflection, looking for an answer in the depths of his own soul. But no one was going to give him a long break.
The battle in the hall of mirrors, like a dance of shadows, continued, but Alexander began to take damage and feel traces of cuts on his body. Every movement, every blow of his spears was an exact copy of his own, and he realized that in this fight with himself he could not win. The speed and skill of his reflections were equal to his own. Alexander, sweating and feeling pain from his wounds, shouted:
- Stop! - He was not ready to once again find himself in the Edge without strength. And everything led to this.
The copies immediately froze, as if they were only his shadows, dependent on his will. Alexander was breathing heavily, his breath echoing throughout the hall.
- I need to know myself! I don't remember anything... I have no past! - he exclaimed with despair in his voice.
The voice reflected from the mirrors answered him:
- You don’t even try to know yourself, Alexander. You just fight, get into trouble. Think with your head!
Alexander froze, his gaze wandering around the hall of mirrors, being reflected in every mirror. He began to realize that this fight was a metaphor for his internal struggle. He sought answers to questions about himself through conflict and aggression, but true self-knowledge required something more.
- Think, Alexander! - the voice repeated. Alexander closed his eyes, trying to isolate himself from the outside world and concentrate on his thoughts. His breathing gradually calmed down, and his mind cleared of useless aggression. But he didn’t discover anything new for himself. He glanced at the nearest copy, realizing there was no point in attacking. It was necessary to understand what to do next.
Alexander did not wait for a reflection, but, as if provoked, attacked first. With a quick movement, she pointed her dagger directly at Alexander. Instead of dodging or parrying the blow, Alexander deliberately took it on his dagger. At this moment, when the metal crossed, his gaze involuntarily caught the reflection in the blade of the dagger.
The blade flashed visions that seemed to open a door to the past. Alexander saw himself in early childhood. He saw himself in the backyard of the house, playing in the sandbox, building castles and roads for his little cars. Next to him was his mother, who watched him play with a smile, from time to time giving ideas for new buildings.
Then the memory gave way to another: Alexander remembered how his father taught him to fish on the river bank not far from their dacha. Those warm summer days spent outdoors were filled with laughter, the joy of the first catch and the pride of my father's praise.
He saw himself playing in the spacious yard of their house, laughing and running after the chickens, and then running away from the rooster that terrified him. He remembered that his dad taught him to make paper airplanes, which he and his father launched on a clear summer day. These moments were filled with joy and carefreeness, where every day was an adventure.
Then the memory gave way to another: Alexander was helping his mother at the dacha. He digs into the soil with enthusiasm, planting flowers and vegetables. His small hands were covered with dirt, but his eyes shone with pleasure. His mother taught him how to care for plants, each time sharing little secrets of gardening with him.
The next memory was of the first day of kindergarten. Alexander felt both excited and a little lost among the new faces. He remembered his mother hugging him goodbye, promising to come back for him at the end of the day. This moment of overcoming the first fear of separation left a deep imprint in his memory.
These moments, captured in the reflection of the dagger, were priceless memories filled with the warmth and love of his family. They reminded Alexander of his roots, the innocence of childhood and what is important in life.
Alexander stumbled back, moving away from the copy, who smiled and nodded at him in recognition. The next moment, she shattered into thousands of fragments, disappearing into the air. Alexander grabbed his head, feeling pains and visions of his early past flood his mind. It suddenly became clear to him that his parents had already left this world, and bitter tears flowed down his cheeks. He couldn’t stop and cried like a child, but no one came to take pity on him.
The next reflection looked at him defiantly and attacked without hesitation. Alexander, still overcoming his pain, met his blow with his dagger. Just like last time, at the moment the blades collided, his gaze caught a reflection that opened a new chapter of his past.
In this reflection he saw himself as a teenager. This was the period of his life when he was just beginning to discover the world around him. He saw himself standing on the bank of the river, where he first felt freedom and independence. His gaze was directed into the distance, towards the horizon, where the sun was setting behind the mountains, painting the sky in bright colors. It was his school holidays.
Then the scene changed and he saw himself at school, among his friends. They laughed and joked, sharing plans for the future. These memories were full of hopes and dreams about a great future, about the opportunities that the world offered to the young and enthusiastic Alexander.
He saw himself on summer vacation, when he went on a trip with friends for the first time. They rode bicycles through picturesque villages, exploring abandoned buildings and ancient bridges. In the evenings, they lit a fire, told stories and looked at the starry sky, sharing dreams about the future.
Next, the memory took him to a school class, where he first tasted success, winning a school history competition. His fascination with history was so strong that he spent hours in the school library, immersed in books and old maps. This success gave him self-confidence and a desire to learn more about the world.
Another memory appeared before his eyes: his first love. He remembered the first time he saw her in the school hallway. Her laughter, her smile, the way she ran her fingers through her hair. He felt shy and hesitant, but at the same time these feelings were new and exciting. He remembered their first date in the park, awkward conversations and the excitement of touching hands for the first time.
These memories permeated him, they were sweet and bitter at the same time. They reminded him of the importance of those moments in his life when every new experience seemed like a huge event shaping his personality.
Alexander recoiled from the reflection. It smiled at him and nodded, as if saying goodbye, and then shattered into fragments. A new flood of memories filled his mind, but this time they were mixed with a feeling of contradiction. He felt as if he had become a completely different person. What seemed important to him in the past has now disappeared, lost its meaning.
- How could this happen? – Alexander whispered to himself. - What is happening to me?
At that moment, his heart was filled with pain. He doubled over, trying to calm his breathing, feeling his memories collide with his present.
“I’ve changed... I’ve changed so much...” he asked himself, breathless. - What did I lose along the way? Why?
Then a new reflection appeared in front of him. This reflection did not attack, it simply stood and looked at him, its eyes full of understanding and compassion. Alexander slowly straightened up and looked at him. In this reflection, he saw himself, but not of any specific period of life, but as the sum of all his experiences, mistakes and achievements.
- I can't run from what I have become. – Alexander said quietly, looking at the reflection. - I have to accept this.
This reflection slowly placed a hand on his shoulder, as if conveying strength and self-confidence to him. At that moment, Alexander felt how internal contradictions began to dissolve, giving way to a new understanding of his personality and his place in the world.
Alexander didn't cry anymore. His heart calmed down, and the actions of the past took their place in his worldview. The reflection that touched his shoulder smiled, and the next moment it shattered into fragments. The pieces of glass hurt his arm, but it didn't feel like pain. It was a reminder that every moment in life leaves its mark.
The next reflection attacked him with unexpected fury and cruelty. In this reflection, Alexander saw one of the most difficult moments in his life. This was a period when he faced a major challenge that questioned his values and principles.
- Do you think you are stronger than me? - the reflection asked menacingly. His voice sounded familiar, but at the same time foreign.
- I'm not going to fight you. - Alexander answered, trying to remain calm. - You are part of me, part of my past.
The reflection seemed unhappy with this answer. It continued to attack, but Alexander did not want to resist. He realized that this struggle with his own demons of the past is an illusion. Instead of fighting, he decided to accept and understand this part of himself. There were significantly more wounds on his body, but the young man did not enter into conflict.
- I accept you as part of my history! - Alexander said firmly, standing in front of his reflection.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
- So know yourself...
The next moment, his mind was filled with a vision of an army. He saw himself in military uniform, surrounded by colleagues. Memories of his military service played before his eyes like a movie. He felt the weight of military clothing on his shoulders, the smell of gunpowder and the sounds of gunfire.
Then images of the war in which he participated appeared before his eyes. These were difficult times, full of fear, uncertainty and constant tension.
He remembered how one day his unit was ambushed. The enemy fire was unexpected and powerful. In the chaos of the battle, Alexander found himself cut off from his comrades. His fear and despair turned to rage. He returned fire without thinking about the consequences, driven by the instinct of self-preservation. This moment was a turning point, in which he lost part of his human innocence.
- I had to survive. - he said to himself bitterly, remembering those moments. “But the price of survival was high.
This was followed by an episode when his unit received an order to conduct an operation in one of the settlements suspected of supporting the enemy. Alexander and his comrades followed the order, but something inside him resisted. He saw the fear in the eyes of the civilians and felt his own moral fiber crumble.
- We were there to protect... But who were we really protecting? - he asked himself, remembering those days.
In one of his memories, he recalled an operation to capture an important strategic facility. During this operation they were ambushed. In the heat of battle, Alexander was forced to make a decision that contradicted all his previous beliefs. He ordered a retreat, leaving his wounded comrade behind to save the rest of the team. This decision saved the lives of many, but the cost of this choice was high. He couldn't forgive himself for leaving his friend. He was disgusted by the stripes on his shoulder straps, because of which he had to give this order. He did not want to take on such responsibility. But what happened cannot be brought back.
Another memory was of a night in the trenches in the pouring rain. Alexander and his comrades spent several hours there, discussing their lives before the army, dreams and hopes. That night was filled with sad stories and homesickness. In those moments, Alexander realized how much he had lost and how much the war had changed his perception of life.
In his next memory, he saw himself returning home after service. His gaze was tired and his face was closed. At home he was greeted by devastation. His parents were killed and the house was burned.
These memories were difficult. They showed him how war changes people, how it forces them to choose between survival and morality. Alexander realized that his experiences in the war had left an indelible mark on his soul, making him more hardened, cautious and perhaps cynical. He went from being a once happy-go-lucky young man to becoming an introverted, cautious and more grounded man who saw the world in a completely different light.
Returning from his memories, Alexander looked at the next reflection. It represented him already changed, with new scars on his soul and a new understanding of the world. He realized that he had not noticed these changes before, but now, standing in front of this reflection, he understood the full weight of his experience.
During this period of his life, a terrible tragedy occurred. Alexander's parents were killed and their house was burned. These events turned his world upside down, leaving deep scars on his heart. He gave in to revenge, and in his anger killed many, bringing chaos and destruction to his hometown.
- I turned into what I always fought against. - he said bitterly, looking at the reflection. - I brought the war home.
The reflection did not even begin to approach him, it simply shattered into pieces, as if emphasizing his internal destruction. Now the last reflection stood before Alexander. It was calm and wise, reflecting his present self, who had survived all the hardships of the past and learned from them.
Alexander approached the last reflection, ready to face himself, with who he had become after all the trials. He saw before him a man who, like a blank slate, had made so many mistakes and again chose the path of revenge. This reflection did not need words; its presence spoke for itself.
- I've been through a lot. - Alexander said softly. “And each of these experiences made me who I am.” I am responsible for my actions, but I can also choose who I want to be next. I can change.
With these words, the last reflection slowly began to dissolve, leaving Alexander alone in the hall of mirrors.
When the last reflection disappeared, the entire hall of mirrors exploded into billions of pieces. However, the fragments did not scatter in chaos, but began to come together, slowly circling in the air around Alexander. Gradually they took on the appearance of a man - tall, slender, with long fingers and bright, piercing eyes. This figure was dressed in an extravagant costume, decorated with unusual patterns that seemed alive, as if they were changing and moving. His hair was the color of flame, and his gaze was piercing and sharp.
Alexander instantly realized who was in front of him - it was the Keeper of Illusions, a mysterious and eccentric person, the owner of this Labyrinth of Oblivion.
The Keeper of Illusions, smiling, began to clap his hands, his voice sounding clear and loud:
- You managed, after all, to know yourself and remember your 'I'. Congratulations.
Alexander, still stunned by the latest memories, answered carefully:
- Thank you. But why was all this necessary?
The Keeper of Illusions stepped forward, his movements graceful and slightly theatrical.
-You had to face the deepest and darkest in your heart to understand who you really are. All these illusions, all reflections were just fragments of your own personality.
Alexander, gathering his will into a fist, answered firmly:
-You didn’t understand why you needed this? You know what I came for, but you didn’t kill me. Why?
The Guardian replied:
- Boring-o-o-o. I already answered you that I have not yet decided whether to overthrow you or exalt you. Have you forgotten? Okay, enough jokes. You came for the Mirror of Shadows. Must destroy it on Sister's orders. But this is boring. Let's make a deal? Let's spoil her, shall we?
- What deal? – Alexander asked, carefully.
The Guardian of Illusions grinned:
“I will create a copy of the Mirror of Shadows, and you will go to the Edge and destroy it before her eyes.” And if in the future you need an artifact of such power for some reason, I will give it to you just like that, but for now it will lie with me.
Alexander thought about it. The offer seemed tempting, but he knew that any deal with the Guardian of Illusions could have unexpected consequences.
- How can I trust your words? – he asked, trying to hide his hesitation.
- Confidence? Oh, it's a rare currency here in the world of Fringe. But you can be sure that I will keep my word. After all, where else can I find entertainment like you? – said the Guardian, his eyes sparkling with cunning and amusement.
Alexander weighed the pros and cons. On the one hand, destroying the Mirror of Shadows was his task. His opportunity to meet with his Sister, on the other hand, a deal with the Keeper of Illusions could lead to unexpected consequences.
Alexander, although with some doubts, agreed to the Guardian's proposal. The Keeper of Illusions set about creating a copy of the Mirror of Shadows. His hands moved in the air as if he were painting with invisible brushes. Sparks began to appear around him, gathering into one form. The mirror he created was not ordinary - its frame was decorated with complex patterns that shimmered in all shades of darkness, as if they were absorbing the light around them. The mirror itself shimmered, creating the illusion of depth into which one could fall. It was slightly larger than a palm in size and more like an earthly mirror.
Having completed his work, the Guardian handed the item to Alexander. However, Alexander doubted the authenticity of the copy.
- Show me the original of the Mirror of Shadows to make sure that the Sister will believe this deception.
The Guardian of Illusions, with visible displeasure, agreed. He waved his hand, and the space around him began to transform. The world around them began to distort, and soon they found themselves in a completely different location. They stood on a suspension bridge hanging over an abyss, surrounded by fog, in which individual islands floated, floating in the air. A dark, starry sky stretched above them, and an unknown energy pulsated below them.
In the center of the bridge, under the influence of light coming from above and below, was the Mirror of Shadows. The light seemed alive, as if it was dancing around the mirror, illuminating its mysterious surface, which reflected shadows and light, creating a mesmerizing effect.
- Here it is, the Mirror of Shadows, in all its dark glory. - said the Guardian, pointing to the mirror.
Alexander approached the mirror, feeling its power and danger. He understood that this was an object capable of much, and its destruction would be an important step. However, looking into its depths, he felt a strange uneasiness, as if the mirror knew about his plans.
The moment Alexander saw the Sister's face in the Mirror of Shadows, he instinctively recoiled, seized by a mixture of amazement and fear.
The Guardian of Illusions laughed, his laughter echoing in this mystical space.
- Well, did you check? And now on the way out. I don't like it when someone is in my abode. - he said with a slight mockery in his voice.
Alexander, having collected his thoughts, nodded and looked at the passage leading to the Edge. Passing through it, he found himself again at a place where the ground was covered with a clover field, and in the sky, occupying most of it, stood the huge figure of the Sister.
Alexander, standing before this majestic vision, raised the Mirror of Shadows with one hand, and struck it with his dagger with the other. At the moment the metal collided with the mirror, a deafening explosion occurred, which threw it several tens of meters back. He felt the rustle of clover beneath him, but his eyes were blinded by the flash.
Feeling pain and disorientation, Alexander tried to get up, but his body refused to obey him. His ears rang from the explosion, and he momentarily lost his orientation in space. He knew he did what he had to do, but the consequences of his actions were much more serious than he expected.
- Sister, I completed your task. - he whispered, trying to restore his vision and gather the strength to stand up. But nothing worked. The explosion severely damaged the very soul of the young man and he had not yet been able to fully understand this.