Tides of the Moon

The bridge of light stretched endlessly into the void, each step sending ripples through the translucent surface beneath their feet. Divine's pendant glowed steadily, casting a soft, silvery hue over the path. The silence was oppressive, save for the faint echoes of their footsteps.

"This place is… unsettling," Caelan muttered, his eyes scanning the endless expanse of darkness around them.

Divine didn't respond, her focus locked on the path ahead. Something was pulling her forward, a force she couldn't name but felt deep in her soul.

As they walked, the silence broke with a faint whisper. At first, it was barely audible, like the wind, but soon the whispers grew louder, overlapping into an unintelligible chorus.

Caelan stopped, his hand tightening on his sword. "Do you hear that?"

Divine nodded, her heart pounding. The whispers were familiar—voices from her past, fragments of memories she had buried long ago.

"Divine…" one voice called, soft and sorrowful.

She froze, recognizing it immediately. "Mother?"

The air around them shimmered, and a figure materialized on the bridge ahead. It was a woman, her face illuminated by a soft glow. She had the same silver eyes as Divine, her features etched with both warmth and sadness.

"Divine," the figure said again, stepping closer. "My moonlight."

Divine's breath caught in her throat. "How… how is this possible?"

Caelan moved to her side, his blade raised. "It's another trick. Don't let it get to you."

But the woman's gaze never left Divine. "I am no trick, my child. I am what remains of your mother, a fragment of her love left behind in this place."

Divine's chest tightened. "I don't understand. You… you died. I remember the fire, the screams…"

Tears welled in the woman's eyes. "Yes, I died, but not before I made a choice. A choice to protect you. The city fell because of what I did to shield you from the darkness that sought to consume you."

Divine's knees buckled, and she sank to the ground. "It was my fault. If you hadn't protected me, you might have lived."

Her mother knelt before her, cupping her face in ethereal hands. "No, my love. You were worth every sacrifice. But the burden of what happened is not yours alone to bear. You must forgive yourself if you are to move forward."

Caelan placed a hand on Divine's shoulder. "She's right. Whatever happened, you can't change it. But you can decide what to do with the truth now."

The whispers grew louder, more insistent, as if the bridge itself resisted their presence. Her mother's form began to waver, the light around her dimming.

"Wait!" Divine cried, reaching out.

Her mother smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. "I am proud of you, my moonlight. Keep going. The truth is within your reach."

As her mother's form faded, the whispers ceased, leaving an aching silence in their wake. Divine rose to her feet, her pendant glowing brighter than ever.

Caelan watched her carefully. "Are you okay?"

She wiped her tears, her voice steady. "I will be. But I won't stop until I understand everything."

They continued along the bridge, the path narrowing as they approached a towering archway made of shimmering crystal. Beyond it lay another chamber, this one filled with floating shards of light and shadow.

As they stepped through the archway, a new voice filled the air, cold and commanding. "You have faced the past, Keeper of the Moon. Now, you must confront your future."

The shards began to move, forming a mirrored surface that reflected not their current selves but their potential futures.

In one reflection, Divine stood alone, her face cold and unyielding as the Silent City thrived under her rule. In another, she lay defeated, the city in ruins once more. And in the last, she stood with Caelan, their hands intertwined, the city glowing with renewed life.

"Choose," the voice commanded. "Your actions will shape the path ahead. What future do you seek?"

Divine's hand trembled as she reached toward the mirrors, her heart torn between fear and hope.

"Divine," Caelan said, his voice grounding her. "Whatever you choose, I'm with you."

She glanced at him, drawing strength from his unwavering gaze. Then, with a deep breath, she made her choice, her fingers brushing against the shard that called to her heart.

The chamber erupted in light, the shards shattering and reforming into a single path. As they stepped forward, the voice echoed one last time: "Your choice is made. Now, prove it."

The path ahead plunged into darkness, the final trial waiting for them in the depths of the Abyss.