The spiral staircase seemed endless, winding upward through the tower like a ribbon of black stone threaded with silver veins. Each step resonated faintly, almost like it was alive, as if the tower itself was aware of my progress. The pearl pulsed in my hand, casting a warm golden glow that pushed back the shadows around me. With every step, I felt a strange energy building inside, a connection not just to the pearl, but to the tower and to EG.
At last, the staircase opened into a vast chamber—an impossibly tall hall that stretched upward beyond what my eyes could see. The walls were mirrors, but unlike any mirrors I had seen before. They reflected not only my image, but fragments of other times, other realities, and countless versions of myself. The light of the pearl shimmered against the glass, fracturing into thousands of golden threads that danced across the floor like a living constellation.
I stepped carefully, feeling the marble floor cool beneath my feet. The air was thick, almost alive with a low hum, as if every reflection, every echo in this hall, had a voice waiting to be heard. I could feel the weight of all my fears, my doubts, and my questions pressing in from every side.
A sudden sound made me freeze—a soft, deliberate clapping. I spun around, my eyes scanning the mirrored walls. And then I saw him. EG.
He emerged from the shadows at the far end of the hall, walking slowly toward me. His presence was commanding, yet oddly calm. The golden light of the pearl seemed to resonate with his own aura, and I realized he was not just a man, but a part of the same force that had guided me through the tower. His gaze met mine, sharp and intelligent, and yet there was something unreadable beneath it, like a riddle I had yet to solve.
"Impressive," he said, his voice low and measured, carrying a weight that made my heart skip a beat. "You've come far. Most would have faltered long before reaching this hall."
"I… I don't understand," I said, gripping the pearl tighter. "Who are you? Why am I here? And what is the pearl?"
He smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I am a guardian of what lies beyond the reflection. EG is not a name, but a title…a responsibility. And the pearl chose you, as it has chosen those before you. It saw something in you—something strong, something willing to face fear without losing yourself."
I swallowed hard. "But why me? Why now? And why all these…trials?"
"The trials were never meant to harm you," he said, walking closer. "They were meant to prepare you. The tower, the mirrors, the storms, the snow—they are tests of courage, clarity, and will. And now, here in the Hall of Echoes, you face the truth. Not of me, but of yourself."
I looked at the mirrors. My reflection multiplied endlessly, each version of me frozen in fear, confusion, or doubt. I realized then that the Hall of Echoes was not just a place—it was a crucible. A place where one's soul is measured, where every hesitation is mirrored and magnified.
EG stopped a few feet away, his golden eyes locking on mine. "To proceed, you must confront the echoes that bind you. The pearl will help, but only you can face them. Are you ready?"
I took a deep breath, feeling the pearl pulse warmly against my palm. My journey had led me through rain, shadows, snow, and doubt—but nothing had broken me. "I'm ready," I said firmly, my voice steady. "I will face everything. I will not run."
He nodded slightly, a shadow of a smile on his lips. "Then let the echoes speak… and let your courage answer."
The mirrors around me began to ripple, the reflections moving independently now, forming shadows that stepped from the glass, each a fragment of my past, fears, and regrets. I braced myself, realizing this was the true test—the one that would either break me or unlock the first secret of the pearl.
And as the first echo lunged toward me, I felt the warmth of the pearl surge, as if urging me forward.