Rael stood at the edge of the clearing, the remnants of the mindscape still clinging to his senses. The world around him felt both familiar and alien, as if reality had shifted subtly during his journey through the reflections.
Maerin observed him with a mix of concern and curiosity. "The mind can be a treacherous place," he said. "What did you see?"
Rael hesitated, the images from the mindscape vivid in his memory. "Versions of myself," he replied. "Some I recognized, others… not so much."
Maerin nodded. "The Saerin's mirror reveals truths we often hide from ourselves. It's not just a test of strength, but of self-awareness."
Rael looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if to reassure himself of his own solidity. "I need to understand what this means," he said. "Why show me these versions? What am I supposed to learn?"
"The mirror doesn't provide answers," Maerin said. "It offers questions. It's up to you to find the meaning."
They began walking again, the forest path winding ahead of them. The trees whispered secrets in the wind, their leaves rustling like hushed voices.
As they walked, Rael's thoughts turned inward. The reflections had shown him possibilities paths he might take, choices he might make. But they had also shown him the consequences of those choices.
He wondered which path he was on now, and where it would lead.