Forbidden Mate Legacy

The darkness of the Obsidian Labyrinth felt alive, breathing and shifting as if it had its own consciousness. Amelia forced herself to steady her breathing as she moved forward, her steps cautious on the cold, uneven ground. She clung to the memory of her team, their faces etched into her mind. She had to find them, no matter what illusions the labyrinth conjured.

A faint, flickering light danced ahead, drawing her attention. It wasn't the steady glow of a torch but something more ethereal, like the shimmer of moonlight on water. Amelia approached cautiously, her instincts screaming to stay alert. As she neared, the light coalesced into a familiar form.

"Lia," the figure whispered. Her breath hitched. It was her father. He stood tall and regal, his golden armor gleaming in the pale light. His face, usually stern, was softening by a smile that tugged at her heartstrings.

"Father?" she breathed, her voice trembling. 

"My brave daughter," he said, stepping closer. His voice was warm, comforting, exactly as she remembered. "I knew you would find your way."

Amelia's chest tightened, tears welling in her beautiful blue eyes. She had longed for this moment, to see him again, to hear his voice. But a small voice in the corners of her brain whispered warning. 

"This isn't real," she said to herself, she wasn't able to see her family until the six month of the trial ended. Just because I miss my father doesn't mean it's real. Come on, snap out of it Amelia. You can do this, you have seen worse. She chanted.

Her father's expression did not change. "Why do you doubt me, little Lia? Have I ever led you astray?" she clenched her fists, grounding herself in the cold reality of the labyrinth.

 "You're not real." she muttered.

 the figure's smile twisted into something sinister. "Is that what you tell yourself to feel better about leaving him behind?".

The figure lunged at her, its form shifting into a shadowy, monstrous version of her father. Amelia reacted instinctively, dodging to the side as the creature's claws slashed through the air where she had just been.

She scrambled backward, her mind racing, "It's an illusion," she whispered to herself. "It can't hurt me."

But the creature was relentless, its movement fluid and predatory. Amelia gritted her teeth, summoning the courage to stand her ground. She reached for the dagger at her side, its cool weight reassuring her.

As the creature lunged again, Amelia slashed upward, her sword cutting through its form. The creature let out guttural shrieks before dissipating.

Amelia staggered, her chest heaving. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of her own breathing. She gripped the sword tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"This is worse than my nightmares, but it won't break me." she muttered.

Elsewhere in the labyrinth, Kael moved with purpose, his grey eyes cutting through the darkness. Unlike Amelia, he wasn't alone. A second figure walked beside him, matching his pace.

"You always were the strong one," the figure said, its voice smooth and familiar. Kael did not respond, his jaw tightening.

"You don't have to ignore me, brother," the figure continued, its tone laced with mockery. "I'm here to help you."

Kael stopped abruptly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "You're not real," he said coldly. The figure laughed, a low, chilling sound. "Real or not, the truth I speak still holds weight, doesn't it? You've always carried the burden of our family, Kael. but tell me, how long can you keep pretending you're strong enough to bear it?.

Kael's grip tightened on his sword, but he didn't draw it. "You're wasting your time," he said. "I've faced worse than you."

The figure smirked, stepping closer. "Perhaps. But can you face yourself?"

Before Kael could respond, the figure dissolved, leaving him alone once more. He exhaled sharply, his composure unshaken, and continued forward.

The labyrinth's magic continued to wave its illusions, pulling at the vulnerability of each student trapped within.

Serah found herself standing in a forest, the scent of pine and earth feeling her lungs. She blinked in confusion, her torch flickering weekly in her hand.

"Serah," a voice called, soft and pleading. She turned, her heart clenching at the sight of a young boy with bright green eyes and mischievous grin.

"Nate? She whispered, her voice breaking. The boy ran towards her, his arms outstretched. "You came back for me!"

Serah dropped her torch, falling to her knees as she caught him in a desperate embrace. "I'm so sorry," she choked out, tears streaming down her face. "I never wanted to leave you."

Nate pulled back slightly, his expression filled with warmth. "It's okay, Serah. You can make it right."

"How?" she asked, her voice trembling.

 "Stay here," he said. "Stay with me."

The forest around them darkened, the shadows creeping closer. Serah's grip on the boy tightened as she realized something was wrong. "This isn't real," she whispered.

Nate's smile faltered, his eyes turning cold. "Why would you leave me again, Serah? Don't you love me?"

"I do," she said, her voice firm despite the tears. "But you're not him. Nate is gone, and I have to move forward."

The boy's form twisted, becoming a grotesque mockery of the child she had loved. Serah forced herself to stand, drawing her blade. "I won't let you break me? She said.

The creature lunged, and Serah met it head–on.

Hours felt like days in the labyrinth, but one by one, the members of team twelve pushed through the trials.

Amelia finally stumbled into a clearing where a faint light shone from a pedestal at the center. Her team was already there, each of them looking worn but alive.

"You made it," Eryk said, in relief evident. Amelia nodded, her legs shaking as she joined them. Kael stood beside the pedestal, his hand hovering over the glowing fragment of truth.

"This is it," he said, his voice calm. "The fragment Headmistress spoke of."

"What are we waiting for?" Marcus asked.

Kael hesitated, his eyes meeting Amelia's. "The labyrinth doesn't let go so easily. When we take this, it might fight back."

Amelia stepped forward, her resolve solidified by everything she endured. "Then we face it together."

Kael nodded, a flicker of admiration crossing his handsome face.

As his hand closed around the fragment, the labyrinth roared to life, the walls twisted and shifting as shadows rose around them.