Warning: Major character entry.

The Darkling was correct as I was forced to enter the labyrinth. It was full of crystallised water, almost like ice, I even touched it, it felt like water running through my fingers, slipping like sand as if a paused waterfall was frozen. Genya, Nikolai, Tamar and I, all stood at different entrances to the labyrinth. The maze was full of intricate patterns and passages that opened when I touched them.

Even before hand, I touched the crystal door, only for the Darkling to pull my hand down and say, "Don't try anything to clever Alina, you don't want to be stuck in this labyrinth for the rest of your eternal life." The sadistic comment made me quiver, but I brushed past it.

When I saw Nikolai I literally ran up to him, not bothering the Darkling or Ivan was around to stop us. I cupped his face, "You came back to me." I whispered. His clever eyes spoke back to me, "I will always come back to you love." We made to kiss again till the Darkling pulled me back from our embrace. "Okay that's enough, Ivan take the Sobachka to the west entrance." Our fingers lingered before we were pulled away as the Darkling set me in place before my entrance. The shimmering of the crystal walls were creepy. Not the gushing sound of water but the ominous wind surrounding this crystal cove.

Rusalye had to be in the middle right? But first I had to journey on into the middle, seeing what intention I have to prove. Taking a deep breath and looking behind me to see the Darkling with an intense glare. I took my first step. Immediately the door shut right behind me. I jolted behind. "Aleksander!" I pounded the door, screaming at the top of my lungs, petrified. "It's okay Alina, just keep going. You'll find your way out at the end." The Darkling said behind the door. I calmed my racing heart and continued to walk.

More and more crystal walls appeared besides me as I looked down to see I was walking on a very thin glass path. I was worried of my feet falling through the glass, launching me into the sea. Sharp glass made–not risking it.

Taking every twist and turn that came up, I kept reaching dead ends. I had to go back and find a different way around. But nothing, frustrated I stamped my foot on the ground. I wondered how my friends were doing.

***
Genya P.O.V

The labyrinth was incredibly intricate indeed. I kept losing my path and my kefta occasionally got caught in broken glass of the labyrinth that lay at my feet. I had earlier witnessed Alina's attachment with Nikolai earlier. It was heart breaking to watch, whenever they would find each other, fate tares them apart. Or rather the Darkling does. That selfish bastard doesn't deserve to be around Alina. I was very lucky earlier to leave with both eyes when I rose my voice to the Darkling. He responded by threatening me and reminding me of his powers. He was once my general and I one of his soldiers but now I am only loyal to Alina.

Soon enough I found a large gate of water, waiting for me at the end of my path. Since no other crystal walls appeared, I assumed I've proven myself worthy. Suddenly, the surrounding crystal walls broke into tiny crystals of ice and melted to water. "Wait, what is happening?" I asked as water travelled in streams and formed, from what I think looked like, a fountain.

Till it took the form of a shape. The head appeared, a feminine like figure was built up. Maybe a water nymph, could be Rusalye or one of its guardians?

The water dialled down as a beautiful woman appeared. Well, not as beautiful as me. Then again I've always been beautiful.

The woman had long black hair, just like Alina's. She had beautiful brown, almost grey stone eyes. She wore a beautiful black dress. I observed it was cleavage and parts of her dress were cut out from under her arms. She wore a thin head piece over the twists of her curly hair. "Who are you?" I asked, curious like Alina. She strutted herself nearby to where a long mirror appeared. Then she walked over to the other side where she summoned another mirror. "This is your test." She said in a very sophisticated tone. It reminded me of the Darkling's, except I loved to hear more from her.

"Behind this mirror." She drew my gaze to her hand on the left. "Is the beauty you have cherished dearly." I walked up to it and saw my reflection appear. "I still look good." I complemented seeing my lose red hair and my perfect skin tone. "Obviously could use some shape on my eye brows but otherwise okay."

I looked back at the mysterious woman, as she signalled to the mirror on the right. "And behind this mirror, is the opposite of beauty."

Walking over, I saw my beautiful face turn into an ugly orange colour, with a giant black sash covering my left eye. It was like the Darkling's markings. Which i had to cover up when he returned from the fold. Before Alina returned.

"What happened here? Where's my lovely face?" I pointed at the mirror, taking a step back. "That is what you must sacrifice to get to Rusalye."

"I have to sacrifice my beauty." I whispered, summarising her take. "It is the only way for Princess Alina to gain the second amplifier."

"Alina is the paragon of hope and light  and you are will and beauty. She needs your sacrifice to become stronger, enter the mirror."  I thought it over, Alina's power will grow stronger and will be good for all of us. "I guess I don't really have much of a choice."

Sighing deeply I walked through the transparent mirror and with a bright gold flash behind my being.

***
Tamar P.O.V

I was wary of this place from the beginning, I once read about the crystal labyrinth in one of my books on the Captain's ship. Sturmhond, Nikolai right now had drifted from Alina. She was scared the night before she had the amplifier again. I resisted the urge to lunge at the Darkling and slit his throat. Perhaps if Alina's amplifiers don't work out, she would let me finish of the Darkling instead. Once we mutiny on the ship, that's when the Darkling dies. Patience was never my strong suit.

I appeared between two mirror like crystals at the end of the crystal road, where a black haired woman appeared. She was rather beautiful. I read on about Rusalye's guardians and followers from the seas. She must be one of them.

"This mirror here Tamar, is the mirror with your courage in it." I looked into the mirror to see the reflection of myself, turn into an image where I had my axes and knives. Where me and my brother were trained, when I first met Nikolai. When I fought against Shu assassins or Fjerdans. When I trained with Alina. Or when I helped Nadia with establishing respectful places for women in the Palace. Everything that represented fighting or my courage.

"And in this mirror." The woman grabbed my attention to the crystals on the right. "Is a life without your bravery."

I saw in to see me lose my weapons, my powers to see a very timid and shy version of myself. I was wrapped in a balaclava, shivering in hot weather? My false reflection showed me of someone who was me and at the same time wasn't. She was afraid of fighting, no spirit in her eyes. Not like what Botkin told me. 'Made for war.' She was not made for battle. Not fighting, no will too.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Your sacrifice. If you want to get to Rusalye you must first give up your courage." She stated in a very bland tone.

"What has my courage have to do with anything?"

"That is for you to discover if you step in."

My eyes darted between the mirrors, would it truly be so terrible to give up my courage in battle. "If this is the only way." I sighed, stepping through the mirror, sacrificing my bravery.

***
Nikolai P.O.V

I took every turn in the crystal maze and eventually found the ending where a beautiful woman was apparently waiting for me. I couldn't even come up with a simple comment or flirt for some reason.

"Nikolai these two mirrors represent your sacrifice in life. Behind the left mirror, you have lived a life with pirating and rebellion. A life where you have charmed the hearts of everyone around you." She started to speak. "I can't disagree with you there." I commented smiling.

"And behind this other door is a life that you have envisioned with Alina. The one where you two are freely able to love each other and live a fairy tale life with your friends." Looking into the funny crystal mirror, I saw me and Alina kissing in the snow. Her delightful smile, her sunshine eyes, her gorgeous hair.

Then we appeared kissing near the fire place. We were in bed together as we slept under the sun. I saw that she even threw paint on me and I on her then I kissed her painted lips. One moment was when I appeared kissing down her back, undoing her corset or kissing her neck. Picking her up and taking her to bed where she appeared laughing so lovingly. With that contagious laugh of hers. It was repeated sessions of making out. One on her throne where I was between her legs. One where I shoved her against a wall and thrusted into her from behind. Once kissing on a horse. Another where she wrapped her gorgeous legs around my torso and bounced on top of me.

Then we appeared in the forest where I held her hand and kneeled down before her, she must have accepted my proposal as I picked her up and spun her around, then flipped when she came running down the stairs in a blood stained dress as she ran into my arms. From the corner behind her head, Bash stood observing us.

And soon at an altar where she wore a lacey white wedding dress. We then appeared in the throne room of the Grand Palace where she had a crown on her head. She then appeared in a different throne room and was dressed in a red and gold off shoulder, ball gown. The priest rested the golden crown on her head. She swore to show mercy and be fair to all her subjects.

"Is this our future?" I asked, finding it unbelievable.

"This is the future that is to be if you chose so, however to get to Rusalye you have to give up Alina."

"What?" I turned to the woman. "She needs to get to Rusalye, for that I have to let this future go."

"Yes, if you step through it." She explained. "No. Nothing is more important than Alina." I stated, she was my friend and my fiancé. More or less, I guess I would propose to her again. Perhaps she'll say yes.

"Every event that has occurred recently, is connected with Alina's rise to power, instead of your future with her–imagine the life of her as Queen." She explained, raising a brow.

The woman had a valid point, Alina was more of a Queen than a wife or sister. And she shouldn't be anything less, however I wanted to be with her. If not at her side then as a her friend.
"I'll step through the mirror." I declared, tracing the smooth crystals of the mirror. It was the right thing to do but I guess my heart desired something else.

"You are a good man Nikolai. I can see why Alina would die for you." She stated. "What?" I glanced back confused, before she could reply the mirror caught the hem of my shirt and pulled me in. All I could see was a bright flash.

***
Alina P.O.V

The black haired woman showed me two doors and the heart stopping image in one of them nearly made me cry. "Mal." I saw into the mirror, covering my mouth with both of my hands. It was him alright, his beautiful eyes, his tanned skin his well built body. My Mal had been there. "How? How is he–?" I stopped when she didn't reply to my questions.

"Hi Alina." I saw Mal walk up to the mirror and rest a hand behind the pane. I was about to rest my hand on his to. Till another mirror appeared right beside him. Glancing at it, it was a regular door way. "What is this?" I asked, walking towards the other mirror. Nothing appeared in that one, no reflection either. It was as if there was only a crystal frame without any pane in the middle. "This is your test. In order to get to Rusalye you have to sacrifice your love to Malyen."

I turned in horror to the woman. Give up my love? He was killed. I wanted to scream it at her face, but it wasn't her fault. I almost chocked on what she said, I made my way back to the Mal mirror where I rested my hand. A vague reflection of him did the same. "Am I–Am I allowed to have a moment with him?" I asked, my voice laced with melancholy. "Yes you may." The woman agreed, waving her hand over the mirror. It turned a pale golden.

"Take a step closer." She instructed, hesitating I took that step and disappeared in a world of gold.

Reaching the other side, I felt a wave of joy reach every fibre in my being. Looking around, I saw I was in a giant meadow full of pink flowers. The sky's were clear blue, not a cloud in the mist and the sun shone so brightly I feared it would melt me.

More gardens and flowers sprawled over the gardens as I took a step forward, many more colours that i have never seen before had appeared in the sky. It was a magical place full of floating sun particles, almost like fireflies. Farther and farther from the beauty of the place that surrounded me, the impatience to see him again was slowly chewing me up from the inside. I felt a tap on my shoulder and as i turned around, I saw Mal, in a white cloak, smiling at me.

***

Published: 15:41pm 17/06/2022