As they passed through the archway, an unnatural chill enveloped them, cutting through Alina's cloak like a blade. The air was thick, humming with an energy that felt alive, oppressive. The inside of the Tower was vast and dimly lit, the walls covered in glowing, pulsing runes that seemed to whisper inaudibly as they moved.
Geralt's hand moved to the hilt of his steel sword, his senses on high alert. Yennefer's fingers crackled with faint traces of purple energy, ready to unleash magic at a moment's notice. Alina, despite her training, felt the weight of her inadequacy. Every instinct told her she didn't belong here, and yet she pressed forward, her borrowed dagger trembling in her grip.
The first chamber they entered was circular, the floor carved with intricate symbols that swirled and shifted as if alive. At its center was an enormous pedestal made of black stone. Hovering above it was a crystal orb, spinning lazily and radiating a dim, ghostly light. The whispers intensified as they stepped closer, and Alina felt a tug deep within her chest, as if the orb was calling to her.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Focus crystal." Yennefer replied, her tone laced with caution. "It's attuned to the Tower. It gathers the magic that seeps through the veil."
"Don't touch it." Geralt warned, his golden eyes darting around the room. "This place is crawling with traps. Magical ones."
Alina nodded, stepping back, but the pull from the crystal was almost unbearable. It was as if it recognized her, reaching out with invisible tendrils to draw her closer. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to resist.
Before they could investigate further, a low rumble echoed through the chamber, followed by the sound of grinding stone. The pedestal began to lower into the ground, revealing a spiral staircase that descended into darkness.
"Looks like we're going down." Geralt said grimly.
They descended in silence, the steps slick with condensation and worn smooth from centuries of use. The deeper they went, the stronger the oppressive energy became. Alina could feel it pressing against her skin, seeping into her bones. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced—both terrifying and strangely familiar.
The staircase ended abruptly, opening into a massive cavern lit by an otherworldly glow. In the center of the cavern stood a towering figure cloaked in shadows. Its form was vaguely humanoid, but its proportions were wrong—its limbs too long, its movements unnervingly fluid. Its face was a swirling void, and its voice resonated like a thousand echoes layered on top of each other.
"We've been expecting you." the figure said, its tone a mix of amusement and malice.
Alina froze, her heart hammering in her chest. "Who... what are you?"
The figure tilted its head, as if studying her. "We are the guardians of this place. The echoes of fate, woven into existence to ensure balance. And you, little thread, are a disturbance."
"She's no threat." Geralt said, stepping forward. His voice was calm, but his hand was on the hilt of his sword. "We're here for answers. Nothing more."
The figure's head swiveled toward Geralt, its void-like face unreadable. "Answers come at a price, witcher. And the girl's presence here... it carries a heavy cost."
Yennefer stepped forward, her hands glowing with magic. "If you have something to say, say it. We're not here to play games."
The figure laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Alina's spine. "Very well. The girl does not belong in this world. Her presence disrupts the weave, fraying the threads of reality. If she stays, the unraveling will spread. Monsters will pour from the cracks, and this world will fall to chaos."
Alina's stomach churned. "I didn't choose this." she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't ask to come here."
"No." The figure said, its tone almost pitying. "But you were chosen. Something pulled you here—something powerful and ancient. And now, the choice is yours: stay and fight the inevitable, or leave and repair the damage."
"Leave?" Alina echoed. "You mean I can go back? To my world?"
The figure nodded slowly. "But know this: the threads you leave behind will be severed. Your presence has already left its mark. Choices have consequences."
Alina glanced at Geralt and Yennefer. The thought of leaving them, of abandoning the bonds she'd formed, tore at her heart. But the thought of staying—of causing irreparable harm to this world—was unbearable.
"How do I fix this?" she asked, her voice shaking. "How do I make it right?"
The figure extended a long, shadowy arm, pointing to a glowing rift that had appeared on the far side of the cavern. "Step through, and the weave will begin to heal. But once you leave, there is no return."
The silence that followed was deafening. Alina felt Geralt's hand on her shoulder, grounding her. "This is your choice," he said quietly. "No one can make it for you."
Tears blurred her vision as she looked at him, then at Yennefer, who gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Do what you think is right." Yennefer said, her voice softer than Alina had ever heard it.
Alina turned back to the figure. "And if I stay?"
"Then you doom this world." it said simply. "And yourself."
She closed her eyes, the weight of the decision crushing her. She thought of her life back home—the monotony, the loneliness. And then she thought of this world—the danger, the beauty, the connections she'd made.
Finally, she opened her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll go." she said, her voice barely audible.
The figure stepped aside, revealing the rift in full. Its light was blinding, pulsating with raw energy. Alina turned to Geralt and Yennefer one last time. "Thank you." she said, her voice breaking. "For everything."
Geralt nodded, his expression unreadable. Yennefer gave her a small smile, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Without another word, Alina stepped toward the rift. The light enveloped her, and the world dissolved around her. She felt weightless, as if she were being pulled through the fabric of reality itself.
When she opened her eyes, she was back in her apartment. The glow of her laptop screen illuminated the room, and the faint sound of her playlist played in the background. Everything was exactly as she'd left it.
But Alina knew she wasn't the same. She would carry the memories of her journey—and the people she'd left behind—with her forever.