The Seven Corridors

The sanctuary of Inverso opened in stages.
They stepped into a tunnel of glass.Seven doors stood before them, each sealed by a glowing rune.
— Seven corridors, explained Saya.Each one is a trial. A memory. A facet.


First door: the Corridor of Doubt.
A living labyrinth, where the walls whispered their darkest thoughts:
— You’re not strong enough.— You’re holding everyone back.— You’re a burden to them.
They could only escape by ignoring the voices…or facing them out loud.


Second door: the Corridor of the Past.
Memories floated in suspended bubbles.The day Mira ran from her father.The moment Theo abandoned his brother.Akaru’s betrayal atop Mount Doran.Lyana fleeing, leaving a friend to die.
To move on, they had to accept.Not run.Not deny.


Third door: the Corridor of Exchange.
A dilemma.Each had to sacrifice something deeply personal.
Mira gave up a crystal that let her see her mother in dreams.Theo sacrificed a recording of his brother’s voice.Lyana lost the gem of her people.And Akaru… severed his connection to his father’s memory.
The ground split open.Revealing the fourth door.


Fourth door: the Corridor of the Double.
They faced twisted versions of themselves.Stronger. Colder. Crueler.Reflections that mocked them and weaponized their weaknesses.
It was the longest battle.But not the hardest.
The hardest came next.


Fifth door: the Corridor of Choice.
A room. Two buttons.One opened the sixth door.The other sent them all home—now. Safe. But with no memories.
Akaru placed his hand on the first.
— We move forward.
Without hesitation, they crossed through.


The sixth and seventh doors were shorter:
A spectral arena —A fierce battle against a guardian of pure shadow.
Then a vertical ascent through nothingness —An emotional climb where their negative thoughts took shape and tried to drag them back down.


At the end of the final corridor, Saya awaited them.
Still calm. Still barefoot. Still smiling.
— You are ready… to face the truth.