Round 215 Transcript

As Seraphine's fingers brush against the mirror's surface, the image within shimmers, revealing an intricate pattern of corridors and doors. The air around them crackles with ancient power, and the ground beneath their feet trembles slightly. The reflection watches impassively, its smile never wavering. Suddenly, the mirrors surrounding the Labyrinth of Reflections begin to glow with a soft blue light, casting an ethereal radiance over the chamber. A low, mournful melody drifts through the air, seeming to come from all directions at once. The Keeper of the Test's voice booms from the shadows, "The trials have begun."

Jeane's grip on Seraphine's hand tightens, her crimson eyes fixed on the duplicate Consort now lunging towards them. "You absolute fool!" she snarls, yanking their joined hands back as the twin monstrosities approach with terrifying speed. The sorceress's wings beat instinctively, ready to take flight even though the chamber's ceiling offers little space for maneuverability. "Your precious book didn't mention anything about creating a goddamn monster menagerie!" Jeane gestures wildly at the two arachnids blocking their escape route. "We need a new plan, and fast! Before these things decide we make excellent appetizers!"

Her sharp demonic features twist into a scowl as she turns back to Seraphine. "And you—what the hell did that chant actually do? Because I'm pretty sure it was supposed to activate the heart, not summon us a pair of overgrown spiders with a god complex!"

I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment at Jeane's accusation, but there's no time for defensiveness now. The duplicate Consorts are nearly upon us, their many eyes blazing with an unholy hunger.
My mind races, trying to piece together what could have gone wrong with the ritual. The book said a union of souls was required, not a splitting of our adversary! "I... I don't know," I stammer, my grip on her hand tightening in panic. "The book didn't say anything about this!"
I glance back at the altar, where the pulsating organ seems to pulse faster now, casting an eerie red glow over everything. It's almost as if it's laughing at us. "But maybe... maybe we can still finish what we started! If we can just get past these things and reach the heart—"
My words are cut off by a sudden, blinding flash of light from one of the many mirrors lining the chamber walls. The image within shimmers, revealing an intricate pattern of corridors and doors. Without thinking, I release Jeane's hand and lunge forward, pressing my palm against the mirror's cool surface.
As my fingers brush against the glass, the world seems to tilt on its axis. The air around us crackles with ancient power, and the ground beneath our feet trembles slightly. The reflection watches impassively, its smile never wavering. But something is different now—there’s a new path, a way out.
"I think... I think this is it," I breathe, my voice filled with a mixture of hope and terror. "The reflection shows us the way!"
I turn back to Jeane, my expression urgent.* "We have to go through the mirror. It's our only chance!"