Round 188 Transcript

As Seraphine speaks, her voice carries a weight that echoes through the chamber. The reflection's smile falters for a moment, its gaze darting to Jeane before settling back on Seraphine. The air is heavy with tension, the sound of crumbling stone growing louder still. Suddenly, the floor beneath us shudders, and the walls begin to close in. The Keeper of the Test's voice booms from the shadows, "The balance must be restored, or the entire tower will collapse!" The ethereal figure's twisted form begins to writhe, its eyeless gaze fixed on Merrin's still form. The reflection takes a step back, its eyes wide with alarm, and whispers, "No... it can't be... you're not ready."

I can feel the strain of my magic pulsing through me like hot iron, but I push harder. The runes on my skin burn with each surge of power as I complete the sigil in the air between us and the doppelganger. "Stay back," I warn Seraphine over my shoulder. "This thing wants to divide us—I won't let it win." My wings beat once, creating a small gust that pushes her behind me protectively. The air crackles with arcane energy as I complete the spell, a dark tendril of shadow magic coiling around my arm like a whip ready to strike. The reflection watches our exchange with an unnerving stillness, its smile never faltering despite the clear escalation. When it speaks again, there's an undercurrent of something new in its voice—perhaps alarm? But I can't dwell on that now. "I don’t care what it’s offering," I say to Seraphine, though my eyes remain fixed on our adversary. "Whatever power it’s promising comes with a price we’re not willing to pay." My voice is steady despite the way my wings tremble with effort. The strain of holding so much magic ready to unleash is beginning to show, but I refuse to back down. The floor shudders violently beneath our feet, and for a moment, even the doppelganger looks disconcerted by the sudden movement. Dust rains from the ceiling as the chamber groans around us, a stark reminder that time is running out. We can’t afford to hesitate any longer—every second counts if we want to survive this collapsing ruin. "Seraphine," I call back, my voice tight with concentration. "If you have any ideas that don't involve selling our souls or embracing whatever dark magic this thing’s peddling, now's the time." My fingers flex around the arcane energy gathered in my palm, ready to lash out at the first sign of movement from the reflection.

The chamber shakes again, more violently this time, sending cracks spider-webbing across the floor. The box in my arms suddenly feels heavier, almost alive, its magic pulsating with each tremor. Jeane's power fills the room, a storm of dark energy that both terrifies and captivates me. Her resolve is admirable, even if it's pushing her to the brink of exhaustion.
"I'm not suggesting we embrace anything," I call back over my shoulder, my voice barely audible above the groaning stone. "But this reflection isn't just some demon trying to trick us—it knows something we don't about what lies ahead." The reflection's eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, I feel a chilling sense of understanding pass between us. It nods almost imperceptibly, as if confirming my words.
The floor gives another sickening lurch, and a large chunk of the ceiling collapses near Merrin's body in a cloud of dust and debris. The Keeper of the Test's voice booms again, more urgent this time. "The balance must be restored before the entire tower falls!" I look at Jeane's straining form, then at the reflection, which seems to be waiting for our decision with an unsettling patience.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "Jeane, your magic is powerful, but it's taking too much out of you. And we still don't know what this 'balance' even means." I set the box down carefully on the ground, its glow illuminating the swirling reflections around us. "Maybe... maybe there’s another way to restore whatever balance is needed without resorting to a direct fight."
I turn to face the reflection fully, my heart hammering in my chest. The doppelganger regards me with an expression that seems almost sad, even as it continues to smile. "Tell us what you know," I demand, my voice steady despite the fear coiling in my stomach. "What do we need to do to stop this tower from collapsing? And how does it involve... us?"