AURA OF THE SEVEN 🌪️
Chapter 28: The Mirror of the Soul — Ryun vs. Ryun 🪞🔥🍿
As Ryun reached the center of the labyrinth, the walls of white flame suddenly froze. Before him appeared a massive, glowing 'Mirror of the Soul.'
🪞 Facing the True Fear
As Ryun stepped toward the mirror, his reflection stepped out into the real world. But it didn't look like the Ryun he knew. This version had two abyssal black eyes and a terrifying, twisted grin.
Shadow Ryun: "You fear the Gods, you fear Gojung, you even fear your own shadow. You aren't fit to be a Guardian. You're just a coward who got lucky."
Ryun: (Trembling) "Yeah... I am scared. But at least my face doesn't look as ugly as yours!"
Ryun pulled out his sword and swung, but his reflection countered every move instantly. It knew his every thought before he even had them.
🧺 Outside: 'Picnics and Prop Bets'
Outside the labyrinth, Gojung had conjured a magical floating screen so the team could watch the progress inside.
Gojung (🌑): "Look at that. Ryun tried to kick his own shadow... and tripped over his own feet. Classic Ryun."
Kael (⚡): (Stuffing a sandwich into his mouth) "Mei-Lin, this sauce is amazing! By the way, what's the bet? Does your brother break the mirror, or does he have a mental breakdown first?"
Mei-Lin (✨): (Caught between worry and laughter) "He'll do it. He just... takes a bit longer than most people."
Akira (🍃): "Let's make it interesting! If Ryun comes out in 10 minutes, Gojung buys everyone dinner. If not, Kael gets to give everyone a tiny electric shock."
Kael: "Deal! I hope he stays in there for an hour!"
⚔️ Victory Over the Reflection
Inside, Shadow Ryun had Ryun pinned against a wall of fire. "You will never control the Void. It will consume you from the inside out."
Ryun had tears in his eyes, but suddenly, he remembered Gojung's kick to his backside. He thought to himself: 'If I die here, Gojung is going to sit on my grave and make fun of me for eternity.'
Ryun: "Maybe you're right. I am a coward. I am terrified of the Gods. But I'd rather fight a God than live through another one of Gojung's lectures!"
Suddenly, a new aura erupted from Ryun's blade—a perfect swirl of white and black flames. Instead of stabbing his shadow, he drove his sword directly into the center of the mirror.
"CRACK...!" The mirror shattered into a million pieces. Shadow Ryun dissolved into smoke and was absorbed into Ryun's chest. His fear was no longer a weakness; it had become his fuel.
🚪 The Heroic Return (Sort of)
The labyrinth doors creaked open. Ryun stumbled out, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, expecting everyone to rush over and hug him like a hero.
Instead, he found Gojung and the others playing a card game and finishing off several boxes of pizza.
Gojung: "Oh, you're back? Kael, you lose. Ryun took 12 minutes. Pay up five coins."
Ryun: "I... I was in there fighting for my soul! And you guys are eating pizza?!"
Mei-Lin: "Hey brother, calm down. We saved a slice for you... well, some ants got to it, but you can just scrape them off."
🌪️ Final Narration
"Ryun has conquered his fear, but he clearly hasn't conquered his team's nonsense.
The Gods have witnessed his power, and they are now even more cautious.
Will this hard-earned peace last?