CASSIE'S POV
I saw Arceus's face as he lay unconscious on the passageway floor. Reinhardt and I leaned over him, worried, while the dim light revealed the exhaustion on our faces. The three of us had faced our own illusions, and although the relief of seeing Arceus wake up was undeniable, the signs of wear were evident in our expressions.
—How long...?
Asked Arceus with a hoarse voice as he opened his eyes.
—You were the last to wake up.
Replied Reinhardt, maintaining a calm tone that contrasted with the visible tension in his shoulders.
—Cassie woke up first, I did a few minutes later.
I extended my hand to help him up, feeling deep concern while observing his condition.
—Are you alright?
I asked, unable to hide the worry in my voice.
—You seemed... to be fighting against something really difficult.
I watched as Arceus took my hand and stood up, noticing the trembling in his legs that he tried to conceal. An ironic smile appeared on his lips, though I could tell it didn't reach his eyes.
—I'm fine. It was just an unsolicited reminder that the past always finds ways to catch up with us. What about you two?
—That was... intense.
I responded, unable to prevent my voice from trembling as I remembered what I had experienced. I saw Reinhardt nod silently, his usual calmness visibly disturbed.
—The runes.
Said Reinhardt after a moment, pointing at the walls. After becoming a mage, Reinhardt's magical perception had increased. Although as an F-grade mage, there was little to nothing he could do.
—They're similar to the previous ones. These seem to control the illusions. The base pattern is the same, but the sequence...
I observed the new runes that glowed faintly on the walls. The pattern was similar but different from those we had seen before. This time, however, we were better prepared. With the experience from our first encounter and the urgency to avoid more illusions, the three of us immediately got to work.
—If they're similar, we can use what we learned before. Look at this group here.
I pointed to a particular set of symbols, my mind working quickly to decipher the pattern.
—The arrangement is almost identical, but the symbols are inverted.
Reinhardt nodded at my observation.
—It's like a mirror... or rather, like a photographic negative. If the previous sequence went from left to right...
—This one must go in the opposite direction.
Concluded Arceus.
—But not just that. Each individual symbol is also inverted. It's a double inversion system.
—It's like a three-dimensional puzzle.
Muttered Reinhardt after several failed attempts.
—Each symbol not only has to be in the correct position in the sequence, but must also be oriented correctly.
We worked as a team, each contributing our strengths. I focused on identifying the base patterns, while Reinhardt calculated possible sequences and Arceus tested the most promising combinations. The solution came faster this time, thanks to our coordination.
I watched as the runes glowed intensely for a moment, as if acknowledging their defeat, before turning off completely. The mist that had been present began to dissipate gradually, though it didn't disappear entirely.
—Well done, team.
Said Arceus, allowing himself a small smile of satisfaction.
—Now we can...
His words were interrupted by a sudden change in the environment that froze my blood. I felt how the air became heavy, as if the atmosphere itself had turned to lead.
The temperature dropped several degrees in a matter of seconds, and a sensation of primordial terror began to infiltrate my bones. I watched in horror as a dark and evil presence began to manifest in the hallway, an aberration that seemed to absorb the light and heat around us.
Arceus was the first to notice it. I saw how his eyes turned to the walls, where the runes we had just deactivated began to change color, turning an intense blood red.
—Close your eyes! Don't look into its eyes!
Whispered Arceus urgently, his voice trembling.
—Listen... Whatever happens, don't look into its eyes! If you look at it directly, you're dead! Stay still, don't move, and don't make any noise!
Sweat ran down my forehead as I felt the presence slowly approaching. Each step resonated like a heartbeat in my ears, and the terror it emanated was almost tangible, a force threatening to crush my soul.
I felt pale with fear, my knees were shaking and seemed about to collapse at any moment. Tears sprang from my eyes without being able to help it, but I knew that to survive I had to endure the fear that threatened to consume my heart. I pressed my hands against my mouth to stifle any sound that might escape.