The Sanctum's marble walls stretched high, their smooth surfaces etched with ancient runes that shimmered faintly in the dim light. Nicolette stepped carefully, the soft echo of her footsteps mingling with the distant whisper of unseen voices. Every breath she took seemed to carry the weight of centuries, the air thick with mystery and history.
Her mind still reeled from the visions—the flashes of war, betrayal, and sacrifice that had invaded her dreams the moment she collapsed in the temple's center. Those images clung to her like a second skin, impossible to shake, and filled her with a strange mixture of dread and resolve.
She paused before an enormous archway carved with twisting symbols of fire and ice. The runes pulsed softly, their glow casting flickering shadows on the polished floor. Beyond the arch lay a chamber bathed in pale blue light, where an ancient mirror stood tall, its surface rippling like water.
Nicolette approached slowly, heart pounding with anticipation. Her reflection shimmered, then began to distort. Instead of her own face, she saw a sprawling battlefield engulfed in flame and shadow. Armored warriors clashed beneath a blood-red sky, their cries lost in the roar of magic and steel. Amid the chaos stood a regal woman, crowned with fire and sorrow—an image strikingly familiar, yet impossible to place.
Before Nicolette could turn away, a voice echoed from the shadows behind her.
"To save two worlds, you must face the darkness inside yourself."
She spun around, her breath catching in her throat. The elder, his silver eyes glowing faintly, stepped forward from the gloom. His presence was both calming and commanding.
"You saw the Healer Queen," he said softly. "Her legacy is intertwined with yours, but her path ended in tragedy."
Nicolette swallowed hard, trying to process the weight of his words. "Why me? Why now?"
The elder's gaze softened. "Because you carry her spirit—not just her power. The prophecy speaks of a 'Heart Listener' who can heal beast and man alike, but also confront the shadows within. Your journey is more than healing wounds—it's healing the very fabric between worlds."
Kael stepped beside her, his face grave. "The kingdoms are on the brink. If the veil tears, chaos will spill over. We need the Healer Queen's return."
Nicolette clenched her fists. "But what darkness? What must I face?"
The elder pointed to the mirror. "Your past lives, your fears, your choices. The war is not just out there, but within you. Only by accepting the whole of yourself can you prevent the destruction looming ahead."
As the chamber grew colder, Nicolette felt a resolve harden inside her. The path would be perilous, but turning away was no longer an option.
She looked at Kael, then the elder, and finally back to the mirror—ready to face whatever truth lay waiting.