Altered Memory

-Leegna stood in the heart of the labyrinth, its endless mirrored walls reflecting a broken version of himself. He wasn't sure where the real Leegna began and the distorted reflections ended. Each step forward sent a ripple through his mind—fragments of memories he couldn't fully grasp. He felt like a puppet dancing on the strings of someone else's design, his every memory, every thought shaped by forces beyond his control.

Suddenly, one reflection flickered, shifting to a scene from his past. It wasn't just any memory; it was his first encounter with Yuj. But unlike the fleeting, fragmented memories Gestrong's illusions often played, this one had weight—it felt real, vivid, as if Leegna was living through it again.

Leegna watched as his younger self stood across from Yuj, who appeared far more mysterious than he had ever remembered. The memory played out in eerie silence, but the tension between them was palpable. Yuj's cold, calculating eyes gleamed as he extended his hand toward Leegna, forming the pact that would change everything.

"This power... it's beyond anything you've imagined, Leegna," Yuj's voice echoed in the labyrinth, though Leegna wasn't sure if it was from the memory or something deeper. "But you'll need to know the truth—about the Twelve Guardians, about Gestrong. They're the ones who will stand in your way. And together, we can bring them down."

-As the memory unfolded, Leegna realized this moment was different than how he had remembered it. Yuj had been preparing him from the start, feeding him bits of information about the Guardians. He wasn't just an ally in Leegna's quest—he had been pulling the strings all along, grooming him for a purpose Leegna had never fully understood.

The image flickered again, and this time it shattered like glass. The labyrinth around him twisted and morphed, a cold gust of wind pulling Leegna into another memory—this one even more disorienting.

He stood in a dimly lit room, facing Enzok. His master's face was unreadable as he handed Leegna a strange weapon, its shape unfamiliar but somehow comforting in his hands. Enzok's voice sounded distant, as if it were coming from the far reaches of his mind. "You're not ready yet, but one day, this will be your key. Don't forget, Leegna. This weapon was forged for you."

Leegna blinked, his mind reeling. He had no memory of this moment ever happening. Had Gestrong altered this memory too, or had it always been hidden beneath layers of manipulation?

-Before he could fully process the weapon in his hands, the scene shifted again. This time, the shift was softer—quieter. He saw a flash of Stina, her bright smile cutting through the haze of his memories. She reached out to him, offering not just support, but something deeper—a connection he had long forgotten. Leegna's heart ached as he remembered Stina, how she had been a part of his life before everything fell apart. Her voice whispered softly in his mind, "I was supposed to be there for you, Leegna, but..."

The memory flickered away before he could hold onto it, leaving only an echo of her presence. Leegna clenched his fists, feeling the weight of emotions he had buried for so long rise to the surface. Stina's death, the strange weapon from Enzok, Yuj's hidden agenda—none of it felt real, yet it all held undeniable truth.

As the labyrinth twisted and warped again, Leegna took a deep breath. He was done being played with. His mind, his memories—Gestrong had manipulated them, but the cracks were starting to show. Leegna's sharp intelligence began to piece together the broken fragments of his past. This maze, this twisted mirror of falsehoods and truths—it would not break him.

-He stared into the nearest mirror and saw not just himself, but a shadowed silhouette—one that looked eerily familiar. It was him, but not him. A version of Leegna from another time, another path, one he couldn't fully comprehend. Was this his future self? Or another illusion?

Leegna felt something stir inside him, a power that had been dormant for too long. The Veil of the Shadow Hunter. He had heard whispers of this power, but now he knew—it was his to awaken. His destiny wasn't just to fight the Guardians or to escape this prison of shadows. It was to become something more, something forgotten over eons.

-The reflections in the mirrors shifted again, showing lesser shadows and creatures emerging from the corners, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. They wanted to keep him trapped here, to prevent him from escaping. But Leegna's despair had turned into determination. His cold logic and clarity of mind pushed away the fog of uncertainty.

With renewed strength, he raised his hand, feeling the power of the ring and cloak surge through him. The creatures lunged at him, but he was ready.

And as he fought back, his mind was racing, each strike bringing him closer to the truth. He didn't know how much of his past had been altered or erased, but one thing was clear: he was going to break free. He was going to reclaim his memories, his power, and his destiny.

The final blow scattered the last of the shadow creatures, and as the dust settled, Leegna turned to face the mirror once more. The shadowed silhouette had vanished, but in its place was a lingering image—one that would haunt him. A figure, like him, but not quite. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the Shadow Hunter had awakened.

The labyrinth had not broken him. It had made him stronger.