As the light from the door slowly dimmed and they stepped out of the Forest Labyrinth, Fitran and Rinoa found themselves in a vast open field bathed in the warm golden light of dusk. Before them lay a breathtaking view that left them in awe—the ancient city of Stones, its majestic ruins standing silent yet full of mystery. Every corner seemed to hold stories long forgotten.
The towering walls, made from large stones worn by time, were draped in old green vines, symbolizing age and eternity. Despite their great antiquity, the stones emanated a lingering aura of magic, as if echoing the grandeur of a civilization now buried in silence. In the midst of this magnificent city stood a large black monolith, adorned with intricately carved ancient symbols that glimmered faintly in the fading dusk light.
Fitran gazed at the black monolith with a deep sense of reverence and caution, as if intuitively grasping that they stood before a heritage of immense value. Beside him, Rinoa observed with wide, scrutinizing eyes, conveying her profound awe, though a hint of anxiety flickered across her face. Her movements seemed influenced by the powerful magical energy surrounding them, creating a thrilling atmosphere ripe for discovery.
"Stones…" Fitran whispered softly, his voice nearly swallowed by the evening stillness, more as though he were speaking to himself than to Rinoa. "A city forgotten by history, yet harboring great secrets."
Rinoa stepped slowly, her feet touching the ground that vibrated with deep magical energy, flowing like a river from the earth's core. She shivered for a moment, feeling an ancient tremor pierce her soul, older than anything she had ever experienced.
"They say Stones is the gateway to Gamma," she said softly, her voice barely brushing past the evening breeze.
Fitran nodded slowly, filled with conviction. "Yes, but to reach Gamma, we must face the final trial of Stones. A trial that no one has succeeded in overcoming, not even Lord Esgal Mercury."
Rinoa turned to him, her gaze filled with questions and a fiery curiosity. "What makes Stones so difficult to penetrate?"
"Stones is guarded," Fitran replied, his voice filled with reverence, his eyes shining with a profound wisdom as if holding millennia of knowledge. "Ancient beings bound to that black monolith. They will test anyone who dares to cross this threshold. They are not merely physical creatures, but manifestations of everything we have left behind in our lives—our regrets, fears, and lost hopes."
Rinoa fell silent, her gaze fixed on the towering black monolith before her, a blend of awe and fear washing over her. She understood that this trial would be unlike anything they had faced before. It was a test of the soul, a profound existential challenge demanding more than mere physical courage.
They stepped closer to the grand gateway of Stones, a majestic entrance made of ancient copper gleaming under the dim light. The faded carvings of the Tree of Life appeared to hold a thousand stories, now reduced to mere shadows of memories. Just as Fitran's hand was about to touch the gate, a deep voice suddenly shattered the silence, its resonance vibrating the air around them.
"You who have traversed the labyrinth of life, this final trial is not merely a challenge, but a reflection of every life choice you have ever made," the voice proclaimed, as if emanating from another dimension, carrying a weighty and profound aura.
The voice emanated from the towering black monolith in the center of the Stones, shimmering in a soft purple light that created a mystical atmosphere. Gradually, shadows began to emerge from the ground, taking the shape of human figures with faces that were all too familiar, yet now felt foreign.
Fitran and Rinoa witnessed the people from their past—friends, foes, and even reflections of their former selves—expressions filled with regret and sorrow. They stood frozen in that moment, realizing that this was the place where every action they ever took would be called into question, as if time had stopped to allow for deep reflection.
Rinoa gazed at the faces with a whirlwind of emotions, her lips quivering slightly. "This is a test of accepting our past, isn't it?" she asked, her voice barely trembling with tension and hope.
Fitran nodded slowly, tightening his grip on her hand as a sign of support. "We can't move forward until we confront them all," he said confidently. "Everything we've ever avoided, buried deep, will resurface here like shadows we can't forget."
With a determination rooted in their hearts, they both stepped forward. The figures began to draw closer, each staring at them with piercing gazes filled with unspoken questions, as if demanding acknowledgment of every past mistake.
One by one, Fitran faced the shadows of his past. Before him appeared the victims of the Voidwright magic he had once wielded, Iris's face etched with an unbearable pain, and the ghost of himself, lost and trapped in torturous errors. With each gaze he confronted, Fitran acknowledged every regret weighing on his soul, accepting that all of it was part of him, a part of the choices he had made.
On the other hand, Rinoa was equally confronted by her own shadows. She saw the faces of her family whom she had once disappointed, people filled with hopes that had now faded. The cries and laughter of her childhood gathered in her memories, while the heavy responsibility as the Avatar of Harmony weighed on her shoulders. She gazed at each face with deep honesty, fully accepting that happiness and suffering always walked hand in hand, inseparable.
Finally, they stood before the final shadow— their own faces, filled with profound doubt and fear. The uncertainty of the future was evident in their eyes. Fitran and Rinoa exchanged glances, their eyes silently communicating with one another. They realized that this last shadow represented the purest reflection of their fears regarding the future, particularly the possibility of losing each other, which lay at the heart of their journey.
"You are capable of accepting all your past, but are you prepared to embrace a future filled with uncertainty?" that voice echoed again, shaking their souls to their very core.
Fitran gazed deeply into Rinoa's eyes, feeling warmth as he tightly held her hands, as if to assure himself of her presence. "I'm ready, as long as you're by my side," he said with unwavering confidence.
Rinoa smiled softly, her eyes now radiating courage, no longer fearful of whatever lay ahead. "I am too. As long as we're together, I'm not afraid anymore." Her voice trembled gently yet firmly, embodying the strength that had blossomed between them.
As they spoke those words, the last shadow slowly smiled and then faded into a soft light that merged back with the towering black monolith. The copper gate that had long remained closed began to creak open, revealing the path to the true core of the Stones—a narrow corridor leading downwards, exploring the center of the earth, toward a secret passage believed to connect their world with Gamma.
With lighter hearts and steps full of determination, they advanced toward the open door, leaving all their fears and regrets behind.
As Fitran prepared to step further, he paused for a moment, turning to gaze softly yet deeply at Rinoa. In an atmosphere filled with hope, he slowly pulled Rinoa into his embrace, bringing his lips closer to the ear of the woman he loved most.
"No matter what awaits us out there," he whispered gently, his voice flowing like a soothing river, "I will never let go of your hand."
Rinoa offered a faint smile, her gaze warm and meaningful, before she tenderly kissed Fitran's lips; a promise understood between them without words. Their love and courage flowed through the silence as the world around them began to tremble with new energy.
Without speaking further, they stepped forward, entering the secret passage to Gamma, ready to face the next challenge—together, without doubt, and without fear.
Behind them, Stones stood firm, holding their story as yet another tale of courage, love, and enduring acceptance, among all the stories that had passed through the gates of that ancient city.
But their footsteps came to an abrupt halt. Silence. Too silent.
The ancient cityscape of Stones lay vividly before them, slowly rippling like the surface of still water, trembling and shifting as if influenced by hidden energies. In an instant, that beautiful reality shattered like glass, cracking and collapsing in a heartbeat, revealing a dark truth concealed beneath—a sinister secret waiting to be uncovered.
They found themselves in a completely different place, surrounded by ominous shadows. The heart of the Forest Labyrinth—a location that should never have been reached, except by those whose souls had touched the brink of despair. Fitran felt a heaviness constricting his chest, as if a lead weight was pressing down, as he realized that what they had just traversed—Stones, the black monolith, even the final trial—had all been a vile illusion, a deception dancing between light and darkness.
Rinoa stood rigid beside him, her breath shallow, her face as pale as a flicker of hope extinguished. She felt trapped in the most painful lie, a victory that turned out to be nothing but a mirage before them.
And before them, looming with a terrifying aura, was the figure of Arboreus Nihil—the root of all despair, exuding an unparalleled dread, as if their entire world was collapsing under the weight of its existence.
The creature was a colossal tree that seemed to stretch infinitely towards the dark sky, shrouded in thick fog. Its trunk, a deep black with pulsating veins resembling the blood vessels of a living being, gave the impression that it was alive. The branches hung down like inverted human arms, swaying gently as if signaling the presence of soulless corpses trapped in darkness. Its somber leaves emitted a pale green light, providing a chilling yet burning sensation upon contact with the skin. Acidic liquid dripped from the tips of the leaves, pooling on the ground and causing the surface to release steam, as if it were trying to resist the touch of this terrifying being.
The roots of Arboreus Nihil slithered like great writhing worms, moving slowly but harboring an inevitable threat. It was more than just a tree; it embodied deep sorrow, palpable fear, and the despair endured by every explorer trapped within this zone for thousands of years.
The heavy voice of Arboreus echoed in both their minds, a soft whisper resembling the voices of long-lost loved ones, trying to deceive their hearts with promises of comfort:
"Stay here... with me. Why venture any further? Are you not tired? Here, there will be no more pain, no more loss. Let it all end."
Fitran clenched his fists, struggling to resist the alluring call of that captivating voice. Yet, the more he fought, the softer and more familiar the voice became, tempting his mind to surrender and embrace the false peace it offered.
"Fitran," the voice whispered gently, reminiscent of Iris, brimming with fiery love and loss. "You have fought for far too long. It is time for you to rest. Aren't you weary of hurting those you love?"
Fitran trembled as tears slowly fell down his cheeks, rolling like morning dew. However, he bit his lip, refusing to succumb to the horrific psychological trap of Arboreus. He turned to Rinoa, seeing his beloved, equally wounded, frozen in place. Rinoa clutched his chest, his expression revealing that he too heard a different voice echoing in the darkness of his mind.
"Rinoa," the voice now soft like the whisper of his deceased mother, warm and comforting. "Here, you will not lose anyone again. There will be no fear. There will be no sorrow. You do not have to lose Fitran if you choose to stay."
With a burning determination, Fitran drew Excalibur, the blade shining brilliantly with light. "Don't listen, Rinoa! It's all a deception!"
But before they could act, the roots of Arboreus suddenly surged with astonishing speed, gripping their bodies in a powerful embrace that shackled every movement. They gasped as if a wild beast was crushing them, their bodies suspended in the air in a tight clasp that rendered them helpless.
Slowly, the fearsome black flowers began to grow from the roots—Despair Bloom. Each parasitic petal clung to their skin like thirsty leeches, sapping their fighting spirit and accelerating the emotional exhaustion that felt nearly unbearable. Fitran felt himself slowly giving in, almost drowning in the dark sea of despair.
But he couldn't allow himself to fall into that darkness. With the remnants of his awareness, he shouted with the last of his spirit:
"Rinoa! Remember who you are! Don't give up!"
Rinoa, trapped in the fog of despair, heard Fitran's voice—faint yet resonant, like a beacon shining through a dark storm. She slowly opened her eyes, fighting against the pain, seeing Fitran's face, filled with anguish but also radiating a strong, unwavering love.
"I... I won't give up, Fitran," she said softly yet firmly, her voice defiant against the urgency that surrounded them.
With the last of her strength, Rinoa unleashed a deafening blast of wind and ice, freezing the roots of Arboreus for just a moment, enough time for them to free themselves together. They crashed back onto the ground, exhausted but their hearts still burning with an unyielding determination.
Arboreus Nihil roared with a fury that shook the entire forest, the sound of thunder reverberating through the earth. Its colossal body suddenly cracked, branches splitting with a deafening noise, releasing the upper part of its form. From the fissure emerged a blinding figure of green and white light, a creature whose terrifying beauty was a seductive yet terrifying transgression.
The final manifestation of Arboreus took the shape of a towering luminescent being, its crown made of sharp thorns symbolizing anger and sorrow. Its attacks were now far more brutal—delving into the deepest memories, guilt, and traumas they had tried to conceal throughout their colorful and scarred lives.
In the midst of the chaos, Fitran's gaze swept over every victim's face, the magic of Voidwright he had once harmed haunting his mind. Meanwhile, Rinoa beheld the shadow of herself, trapped in the failure to protect those she loved. The painful guilt hit them both like an old wound reopened, crashing over them in a brutal psychic wave.
Yet this time, they held on tightly to each other, extending their strength in a beautiful and hopeful connection.
"I will not succumb to this guilt," Fitran shouted, his voice trembling yet filled with unwavering determination.
"I won't give in to this guilt," Fitran exclaimed, his voice trembling yet filled with unwavering resolve.
"I won't either," Rinoa replied, her gaze filled with certainty. "I choose to embrace everything, even the most painful parts."
Together, they rose, confronting their deepest traumas with a new attitude—not by fighting back, but by accepting that all their pain was a part of their true selves. As they allowed themselves to feel all the suffering and mistakes without regret, the illusion of Arboreus began to crack, like glass heated by fire.
The creature of light screamed, its voice echoing among the trees, its glow gradually dimming, and its thorned crown shattered, scattering like lost fragments of hope. Their consciousness, filled with acceptance, had shattered the psychic bonds of Arboreus Nihil that had haunted them for centuries.
Gathering the remnants of their strength, Fitran raised Excalibur high, shimmering in the faint light. Rinoa, equally brave, reinforced her powers of wind and ice, united in a final surge of strength inspired by self-acceptance, ready to change everything.
The stunning explosion struck Arboreus Nihil, not to kill—because the creature could not be physically killed—but to liberate the souls trapped within its pain for thousands of years. Its long wail echoed through the forest, creating a symphony of sorrow. Gradually, the giant being shrank, some branches and roots sinking into the ground, returning to a silent, ordinary tree, now finally experiencing the tranquility it had long lost.
The forest, once shrouded in darkness and sadness, was now enveloped in a haunting silence. It was utterly still.
Fitran and Rinoa stood side by side, embracing each other tightly, as if to warm one another with their courage. They needed no words to say "we succeeded," for this victory was more than just overcoming an enemy—it was a profound acceptance of all they had endured, every wound and love that had shaped them into whole beings.
"Now we are truly free," Rinoa whispered, her voice soft as the wind rustling through the leaves.
Fitran nodded, gently kissing her forehead, feeling the warmth of their spirits intertwined. "And we have found our way back to ourselves," he replied, his eyes shining with hope.
They stepped away from the center of the labyrinth, their movements light and filled with confidence, no longer afraid of what lay ahead. They had conquered despair, not by attempting to forget it, but by embracing every aspect of the experience, turning it into a new strength that flowed within them.