Intricate
The passageways are intricately intertwined, like a maze. The ancient characters carved into the walls glow faintly, as if they were alive. Clutching the jewel tightly, I proceed cautiously, guided by that light. The old hunter walks close beside me, keeping a watchful eye on our surroundings. From time to time, he touches the walls or taps the floor, seemingly checking for hidden traps. After walking for a while, the passageway opens into a vast hall. In the center of the hall stands a gigantic mirror, its surface rippling like water. “What is this…?” I stare at the mirror, my breath catching in my throat. My own reflection is visible within the mirror, yet something about it seems different. My face bears a complex expression—a mixture of deep sorrow and strong resolve. “This mirror reflects the past,” the voice of the ruin’s guardian echoes in my head. “Your own past, and the past of these ruins.” I step closer to the mirror and stare intently at it. Then, various scenes begin to appear within it: myself as a child, my first meeting with the librarian, events at the Adventurers’ Guild, and memories of the people I’ve met so far... These scenes race past my eyes like a kaleidoscope. As I retrace these memories, I come face to face with my own past. Then, a scene I’ve never seen before appears in the mirror. It is a view of this ruin from the time when an ancient civilization flourished. People use magic, fly through the sky, and lead prosperous lives. However, the scene gradually begins to distort and is eventually engulfed in darkness. Then, a woman appears in the mirror. She looks exactly like the guardian of the ruins, but her expression is filled with sorrow. “I am the last guardian of these ruins,” the woman says to me from within the mirror. “I must tell you the truth about these ruins.” She begins to speak about the cause of the ancient civilization’s downfall and the dangers of the power of the “Words of Creation.” The people of the ancient civilization attempted to bend the laws of the universe and reshape the world to suit their own purposes by harnessing the power of the “Words of Creation.” However, their actions disrupted the balance of the universe and eventually led to their downfall. “I don’t want you to repeat the same mistake,” the woman says, looking intently at me. “If misused, the power of the ‘Words of Creation’ could destroy the world. I want you to swear that you will use that power correctly.” Her words strike a deep chord within me. The mistakes of the ancient civilization and the dangers of the power of the “Words of Creation”—perhaps all of these are connected to my own actions. I make a solemn vow to the woman in the mirror. “I swear to use the power of the ‘Words of Creation’ correctly. I will never repeat the same mistakes as the ancient civilization.” The moment my oath ended, a dazzling light burst forth from the mirror. And before I knew it, I had returned to the original hall. The mirror had reverted to being just a mirror, reflecting only my own image. Yet, a firm resolve now dwelled within my heart. I will use the power of the “Words of Creation” rightly and guide the world toward a better future. To do so, I must first unravel all the mysteries hidden within these ruins. I turned to the old hunter and told him we would venture together into the depths of the ruins. Without a word, he nodded and followed me. Clutching the jewel tightly and with renewed resolve in my heart, I pressed onward into the depths of the ruins.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
