After leaving the palace, Lucas and Dalin walked on the lake surface. The water beneath their feet rippled in layers, like a dream. However, both of them felt an indescribable sense of heaviness. It seemed as if someone was spying on them from behind. With every step they took, faint whispering sounds reached their ears.
"Lucas, do you hear that?" Dalin moved closer to him and asked in a low voice. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
Lucas scanned the surroundings warily. "Yes, someone's watching us."
The reflections on the lake surface were slightly distorted. The reflections of the two no longer moved in perfect synchronization. With each step, their shadows seemed to lag behind, and even began to split slowly, gradually forming two overlapping outlines.
Dalin stopped. But the "herself" in the reflection was still moving forward, walking slowly into the mist in the distance. The figure became increasingly blurred and finally transformed into the appearance of another woman.
It was Dalin's deceased sister—Daisy.
"Impossible!" Dalin's face turned deathly pale in an instant. She stared at the lake, her eyes filled with shock and fear.
Daisy on the lake surface slowly turned her head. A cold smile curled up at the corner of her lips. Her eyes were fixed on Dalin. Her lips moved slightly, silently uttering a sentence—
"You betrayed me."
Dalin trembled all over and took a step back, but Lucas grabbed her. "Calm down, Dalin. That's not real."
"But... but I saw her!" Dalin's voice trembled slightly. Pain and unease flickered in her eyes.
Lucas looked at the lake and frowned. "The illusions in the lake are trying to disrupt your mind.
They're preying on your obsessions."
Dalin closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, the reflection had returned to calm. The lake once again reflected the figures of her and Lucas, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
But the unease in her heart coiled like a vine, making it hard for her to breathe.
"Let's go. Get out of here." Lucas said in a low voice and quickened his pace.
Dalin followed closely behind him. However, as they got closer to the edge of the lake, the palace reappeared in front of them—no matter how far they walked, it seemed as if they were spinning in circles.
"We seem to be trapped here." Lucas stopped, his gaze solemn. "This is the reincarnation magic of the illusion realm."
Dalin looked at the mist in the distance and gritted her teeth. "Why don't we do the opposite and walk towards the center of the lake?"
Lucas thought for a moment and nodded. "Let's give it a try."
The two turned around and walked towards the center of the lake. However, after walking for a while, the water beneath their feet suddenly became heavy. With each step, it was as if they were sinking into an invisible quagmire and couldn't extricate themselves.
The lake gradually dried up. Beneath the water, a black forest emerged. The trees were twisted, and their shadows criss - crossed, like ghostly hands pointing towards the sky. A thick smell of decay filled the air.
"Where are we?" Dalin frowned. The cold around her was bone - chilling.
Lucas's eyes narrowed. "This doesn't seem like the mirror realm. It's more like..."
Before he could finish speaking, the clear sound of bells suddenly rang out all around. A familiar and strange female voice slowly came from the depths of the forest—
"Lucas, have you come back to find me again?"
Dalin suddenly looked up and followed the sound. Among the black tree shadows ahead, a woman in a black dress walked out slowly. It was—Sophia.
Her eyes were as deep as the lake. A familiar and indifferent smile hung on her lips, like a
returning soul.
"Sophia?" Dalin's face changed suddenly. She warily stood in front of Lucas. "Weren't you already..."
Sophia gently raised her hand. Her slender fingers pointed at Dalin. Her gaze was as calm as water.
"You're no longer important."
Lucas frowned, and his voice turned serious. "Sophia, what do you want?"
Sophia blinked, and a hint of playfulness appeared on her face. "I'm not Sophia."
She walked slowly closer. Her figure was slightly distorted under the reflection of the lake light.
After a moment, her face changed. Her features gradually blurred, and finally, she took on Dalin's appearance!
Dalin gasped, her eyes filled with shock and anger.
"Don't be afraid." The fake Dalin smiled. "I'm your true shadow."
"Only one of us can survive."
The next moment, the fake Dalin suddenly raised her hand. A silver - glinting dagger stabbed straight at Dalin!
Dalin quickly dodged. The dagger grazed the side of her ear and landed on the ground, splashing cold water.
Lucas quickly drew his sword and stood in front of Dalin. The tip of the sword pointed directly at the fake Dalin. His eyes were cold and fierce. "You won't hurt her."
The fake Dalin tilted her head. The smile on her lips became even more intense. "But she's already killed me many times in her heart. Do you believe it?"
Dalin bit her lip. Her fingers trembled slightly with anger. "Shut up!"
The fake Dalin walked slowly towards Lucas. Her eyes flitted around. "Lucas, haven't you ever thought that the real Dalin has already died in your heart?"
A cold glint flashed in Lucas's eyes. He gripped the sword even more tightly. "I won't believe a single word you say."
The fake Dalin didn't answer. She just slowly reached out and caressed Lucas's face. Her gaze was gentle yet strange. "In the end, you'll choose me."
As soon as the words fell, her figure slowly dissipated in the air, leaving only a wisp of black smoke drifting in the wind.
The lake returned to calm again. The reflections of Lucas and Dalin were intertwined in the water, indistinguishable from each other.
"Lucas..." Dalin said in a low voice. There was a hint of doubt and unease in her eyes as she looked at Lucas.
Lucas didn't turn around. He just tightened his grip on the sword in his hand. His gaze was deep.
"Keep going. We must leave here as soon as possible."
The mist gradually thickened. On the lake surface, the two figures intersected in the water light.
From a distance, it seemed as if there was only one person.