After days of sailing based on Antigone's map, a strange island appeared on the horizon. It was unlike any other island they had passed. It was shrouded in thick fog, and its shores were covered with gleaming rocks that reflected the sunlight like natural mirrors.
"Look!" Darius exclaimed in amazement. "The rocks shine as if polished by a craftsman."
Old Nikos answered, staring: "This is the Island of Mirrors. I've heard about it in sailors' stories. They say that whoever enters it sees themselves as they have never seen them before."
The men exchanged anxious glances, but Linus said firmly: "We have passed through shadows, we have faced storms, and we are not afraid of an island. We will go down and see."
They landed on the shore, and as soon as their feet touched the sand, they felt something strange. Every rock they passed reflected their images, but not as they were now, as if revealing something deeper.
Callias stood before a large rock and saw his reflection not as a strong sailor, but as a crying little child. He froze, then whispered, "This... This is me when I lost my family at sea."
Linus approached and placed his hand on his shoulder:
"The past doesn't weaken you, Callias. It's what made you strong today."
Darius stood before another rock and saw himself surrounded by gold, but his eyes were empty. He trembled and said, "I've always dreamed of riches... but I never thought I'd sell myself for them."
Romulus replied, "Ambition isn't wrong, but if you lose your soul along the way, you have nothing left."
Even Linus himself stood before a huge rock and saw his reflection not as a brave leader, but as a lonely man, standing in the middle of an endless sea. Feeling the weight of solitude, he whispered, "Is this my destiny? To be alone in the end?"
Romulus approached and said, "A leader is always alone, but the truth is, he is not alone. His men are his mirror, and they give him strength."
The crew all sat on the shore, silent, each one pondering what they had seen. The island hadn't threatened them with swords or storms, but it had shaken their hearts.
Old Nikos said in a deep voice, "This island showed us neither ghosts nor illusions... it showed us who we really are. He who knows himself knows how to face the sea."
Linus stood, his eyes shining with new determination:
"We have seen what we hide in our hearts. But we will not let fear, greed, or loneliness break us. We are one crew, and we will reach it together."
The men's voices rose in cheers, feeling that this experience had brought them closer together. The island was no longer just a stopover, but an eternal lesson.
As they left the island, the mist was melting behind them, as if the sea itself was smiling at them.