The Hall of Ten Thousand Reflections
Seraphina's wings of shattered crystal spread wide, casting prismatic knives of light that carved the intruders' secrets into the walls. The Blue Diamond in her chest pulsed weakly—its glow dimmed not by weakness, but by calculation.
"You came for these," she hissed.
Ten diamond sigils ignited in the air, each burning with the essence of their power:
Brown Diamond's rune made the floor quake like a living beast.Light Blue's symbol bled seawater that floated upward.Crimson's mark wept blood that aged backward.
Kai's gaze locked onto the Black Diamond's sigil—its shadowy tendrils licking at his ankles like hungry dogs.
The Trial of the Ten
Seraphina's voice was a glacier cracking: "Choose one. Claim it. And pay its price."
Blue Diamond (Dragon's Heart) Temptation: "Invincibility for an hour," Seraphina offered, as cracks spiderwebbed across her own crystal flesh. Price: "A year of your soul."Black Diamond (Dark King's Power) Veyra reached—and her phantom limbs became real, then rottedas shadow warriors peeled from her skin. Price: "Your name. Forever."Yellow Diamond (Time Guardian) The Silent Apostle touched it—and his severed tongue regrew, but his eyes aged 50 years. Price: "One memory you love. Gone."Crimson Diamond (Soul Forger) Rook grabbed it, his petrified arm regrowing flesh… as his youngest son collapsed lifelessin a faraway village.
Kai hesitated. Then he lunged for the Violet Diamond (Mind's Mastery)— Kai hesitated. Then he lunged for the Violet Diamond (Mind's Mastery)—
Kai hesitated. Then he lunged for the Violet Diamond (Mind's Mastery)—
Seraphina let him take it.
The Trap in the Gift
The moment Kai's fingers closed around the Violet Diamond's sigil:
His mind shattered into ten copies, each screaming in a different timeline.The real Violet Diamond materialized in his skull, growing inward.Seraphina whispered: "Teleport now. Leave your bones behind."
The Empty Prophet finally spoke—through Rook's mouth:
"She's not testing us. She's feeding the diamonds."
Above them, the Resurgence Star pulsed.