Page 61 of Favored By the Stars

The mirror stood against the far wall, its ornate frame etched with constellations I'd never seen before. As we approached, magic surged from its surface in waves of shimmering energy, reminding us all why we had come to this forgotten place.

"The Starforged Mirror," Wyn breathed, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

Something pulled me forward, the Crescent Diadem on my head growing warm as I approached the mirror. My reflection wavered and shifted, showing not just my face but glimpses of other versions of myself, some radiant with hope, others shrouded in darkness.

"I think... I think I need to activate it," I said, reaching out with trembling fingers.

Thorn stepped forward. "Senara, wait,"

But my hand had already touched the cool surface. The mirror flared to life, brilliant light erupting from its depths. The silver surface rippled violently before shadows coalesced around us, stretching across the walls of the cavern.

"What's happening?" Volker gasped as darkness wrapped around us.

The shadows formed images, terrible, vivid visions that filled the entire chamber. We stood frozen as the mirror revealed the Empress's rise to power, her ancient form awakening from slumber deep within the Void. I watched in horror as she tore through the barriers between realms, merging worlds in chaos and destruction.

The shadows swirled around us, solidifying into a vision so real I could almost touch it. The Void Dragon Empress rose before us, her familiar form both beautiful and terrifying, a creature of ancient malevolence with scales that absorbed light rather than reflected it. Her eyes blazed with icy fire as she surveyed a landscape of merged realms, worlds bleeding into one another in chaotic disharmony.

"What is this?" Thorn whispered, his voice tight with horror.

I couldn't answer. My attention was fixed on something far more disturbing, myself, standing at the Empress's side. But it wasn't truly me. This version wore my face like an ill fitting mask, my moon mark twisted and corrupted, shadowy vine like tendrils crawling across my skin. Where my mark normally glowed with silvery gold light, these markings pulsed with void energy, drinking in the surrounding light.

"A vessel," the vision Empress purred, her voice somehow audible, though we were merely watching shadows. She stroked a talon down my doppelgänger's face. "The perfect vessel for my power."

My stomach churned as I watched this twisted version of myself smile with vacant eyes.

"She plans to use you," Wyn gasped, her face ashen as she stared at the vision surrounding us.

The shadows shifted, showing the Empress standing at a massive ritual circle, worlds colliding above her as she channeled power through my corrupted form. The pain on my doppelgänger's face was clear, but the vacant smile never faltered.

"The Eclipse Child bridges worlds," the Empress's voice echoed. "Born of sun and moon, she can hold the power of the void between them. Through her, I will merge all realms into one domain of endless night."

Volker stumbled back, his eyes wide. "She's not just destroying our world, she's consuming all of them."

I felt my knees weaken as I watched the vision unfold. The shadowy tendrils on my double's skin grew thicker, spreading until they covered her entirely. Her eyes turned black, empty pools that reflected nothing.

"No," I whispered, my hand instinctively reaching for Thorn's. "That's not me. That will never be me."

But even as I spoke, doubt crept in. The Crescent Diadem felt heavy on my brow, and for a moment, I swore I felt something crawling beneath my skin.

I felt the heat of Thorn's grip on my hand, grounding me as the vision swirled in front of us. I could see the horror reflected in his eyes, a mixture of fear and disbelief that mirrored my own. The shadows danced around us, each flicker revealing another terrifying glimpse of what I could become.

"No," I gasped again, shaking my head as if that would somehow dispel the vision. "That isn't me! I won't let it be!"

Thorn squeezed my hand tighter, his presence a steady anchor against the chaos unfolding before us. "Senara, listen to me." His voice was low but urgent, filled with a determination that pushed back against the dark magic swirling around us. "You're stronger than this. You're not just some vessel for her power."

Wyn stood beside us, her face pale and wide eyed as she took in the horrific spectacle. "Senara," she breathed, fear gripping her voice. "We have to do something before it consumes you."

I could feel their worry pressing against me like a tangible weight, and though part of me wanted to retreat into despair, another part surged with defiance. "I won't be her pawn," I insisted, drawing on every ounce of resolve within me.

The mirror shifted again, showing not just the Empress's influence over my shadow self but also a glimmering image deep within the Blighted Lands, a new artifact hidden among the desolation and corruption. It shimmered with an ethereal glow amidst a backdrop of darkness; its presence offered a beacon of hope amid despair.

"Look!" Wyn pointed toward the mirror's surface as clarity cut through the chaos surrounding us. "The pendant… it's there!"

The sight pulled me from my inner turmoil; an artifact hidden in a land tainted by darkness could be our key to fighting back against the Empress's hold on me, and perhaps even reclaiming my destiny.

"Senara," Thorn urged softly as he met my gaze. "If we get that pendant, it might strengthen you against her influence."

I nodded slowly, feeling a flicker of hope amidst dread and uncertainty. The vision still loomed over us, my corrupted self lingering like an ominous cloud, but this was our chance.

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