They had a breakfast of nuts and fruit before setting they left the cave, setting off up the mountain trail. As they ascended, the sun started to rise. From as high as they were, they could look down on the lands below them, lit up by the golden morning sun.

In the distance, there loomed the forbidding white walls of the Walled Garden. To the west, Lili’s hospital. To the east, the Lake of Acid – and, hidden within its fog, Grendel Pack. She’d never seen home like this. It was more beautiful than ever. But she couldn’t come back. She wasn’t safe there anymore, and neither was anyone else around the Benevolent Heart. Even Merryway wasn’t safe. After they reached the Fountain, she would have to leave them behind.

“This is it,” said Merryway, interrupting Thyssa’s gloomy thoughts. “The last trial. The Cavern of Yourself.”

Before them, shining black doors guarded a cave.

“Another of the mountain’s tricks?” asked Thyssa.

“Yes,” said Merryway, “and I’m sorry to say it’s much more…involved…than the first two.”

“We’ll be together,” said Thyssa.

Merryway looked down. “Yeah, about that…”

“Don’t tell me we get split up.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

Thyssa winced. “We get split up!”

“Afraid so. Only one can go in at a time.”

“Who first?”

“I don’t think that matters. The thing is…whoever goes in, you have to face yourself.”

“Is this some kind of metaphor?”

“No, I mean your reflection comes to life and then it will try to fight you.”

“My…reflection? How…”

“No idea. The important thing is, whatever it does, whatever it says, whatever it looks like it’s about to do, don’t fight it. The more you fight it, the more it fights you.”

“So I just…stand still?”

Merryway nodded. “Should work, yeah. It’s a test of inner peace.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Why all these tests, anyway? Does the Fountain run out?”

“No.”

“Then why not just let everyone in? What’s the good in collapsing trails and walls of fire and evil reflections?”

“It’s not evil. It’s part of you. Something you have to make peace with.”

“Sure, but still…”

“Don’t skip it over! That’s an important detail. Do not think it’s evil. As soon as you think it’s evil, it’s your enemy. Do not let it be your enemy.”

Thyssa breathed deeply. “Right. Thanks.”

“Our ancestors had to keep the Goddess Fountain from being abused.”

“What, by making people healthy?”

“Health…can look like a lot of things. And what’s healthy for some could be death for others. The poison that kills the flies saves the crop. The medicine that saves the army lets it march on the village.”

“But what about the people in your clan? They weren’t trying to march on the village. They just wanted to live.”

“It wasn’t the mountain that killed them. It was the malforms.”

Thyssa grit her teeth. “You know that, do you? You looked at their bodies, saw teeth marks?”

“They never came back.”

“Why is it easier to believe malforms did it than the deathtrap mountain?”

“Because if the mountain killed us, then the Goddess abandoned us!” Merryway yelled.

Thyssa swallowed. “You…you want to prove yourself worthy.”

Merryway nodded.

“And you’re afraid you’re not.”

“Yeah.”

“Is that what you’ll see in the cave?”

Merryway stared off into space. “Yes…that’s probably it!” They looked to Thyssa. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For letting me get that off my chest.” They looked down. “I can’t talk about that around the clan.”

“Why not?”

“People would think I’m really not worthy, or I wouldn’t have doubts like this.”

“But what if they feel the same? Then they’d know they could talk about it with you.”

“You really think they’d feel the same way?”

“No idea. You’ll never know unless you talk about it.”

“Maybe someday.” They sighed. “Alright. I’ll go in first, alright?”

“How will I know when you’re through?”

“It won’t open on your side until I’m done my trial.”

Thyssa swallowed. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

Thyssa looked down.

“I’ll be fine,” said Merryway. “I’ve got a lot to say to my reflection.”

And with that, they opened up the doors and walked inside as they slammed shut.

Thyssa waited a little, but she was nervous to be out here in the open alone – and kept from the Fountain. She tried the doors. They wouldn’t budge.

She reminded herself to have faith in Merryway, just as she had before. They were fine. But, apart from them, Thyssa couldn’t help but to worry. She tried the doors. Still stuck. They were still in there. They were fine. They were facing some conjured unnatural thing, something like themselves but an enemy and every bit as strong as they were, but they were fine.

She tried the doors. She tried the doors. She tried the doors. She tried the doors. She tried the doors.

Thyssa tried to compose herself. She sat on a more-or-less flat rock, closed her eyes, breathed deeply. Thought of mom’s face, her terrible kind face. That used to calm her down. Now it just stung. So she looked at the sky instead and thought of peace.

That’s what she needed for the trial. Don’t fight your reflection. Whatever they do, whatever they say, don’t fight your reflection. They’re not evil. Make peace with them and you win.

Thyssa heard a click. It came from the cave. Hopeful, Thyssa approached the doors and tried them one more time.

They opened.