Chapter 10: The Shaper’s Game

Entering The Shaper's Game, the notorious dungeon that few survivors have ventured into and none have come out of, Arin and Cassiel brace themselves. The whole basement seems to be holding its breath, waiting to trap them, and the air is heavy with an unearthly hush. The floor appears to expand and contract, the walls ripple like water, and the stairs twist in all directions until vanishing into a sky full of twisted stars and whirling hues.

Arin's Time Fragments start to beat as they go along, connecting with something far down in the dungeon. Arin is engrossed in intense, overpowering thoughts of themselves—other Arins—living through the same perverted prison, with some crying in despair and others screaming in fear, as each step sets off a fragment all crushed beneath the ruthless traps of The Shaper.

In a particularly startling vision, Arin sees a past self tricked into going through a false exit only to be sucked in by walls that suddenly close in, the stone compressing until even their breath is taken; in another, Arin falls into an endless abyss, their cries echoing across the emptiness before vanishing into thin air; and in a third, Arin stumbles as the images get more intense, unable to tell the difference between their own thoughts and the spectral memories of these departed forms.

Seeing that Arin is upset, Cassiel reaches out and puts a comforting hand on their shoulder. They whisper, "This place is made to break you." "Avoid it. Never forget who you are—our struggle, our aim. The cycle is going to be broken by you.

Arin gathers their power and nods. A new determination takes shape with Cassiel at their side. They are the Arin who will put a stop to this evil, not just one of innumerable Arins. They continue walking together, each step becoming more difficult as the dungeon's traps grow more subtle.

As they learn more, it becomes evident that The Shaper's Game is a perverse mirror of their deepest anxieties and fears. In one chamber, they find themselves surrounded by mirrors that show viciously warped images of themselves and Cassiel. With whispers of sneaky doubts like "you'll fail like the rest," "you're not strong enough," and "why bother when the world is doomed anyway," each mirror mocks them. While Cassiel slams each mirror with resolute power, breaking the glass, Arin clenches their hands, fighting to remain composed voices.

As they go, the dungeon's traps change, and The Shaper's plan becomes more apparent: it's researching them and modifying its tricks to get through their defenses. Flashes of information are revealed as the Time Fragments progress. Arin gets a glimpse of other survivors—skilled, intelligent, desperate people who all approached but were unable to flee. The Shaper had gained knowledge from each vision, with every setback serving as a foundation for the subsequent trap.

An especially horrible recollection then comes to mind: a picture of another Arin, bruised and wounded, surrendering as the walls closed in. This image, however, persists rather than fades, as though it is calling them to comprehend something more. With terrifying clarity, Arin understands that The Shaper isn't only laying traps; it's also learning from each a failing version of them. With each subsequent effort, the dungeon's evil memory is preserved, fortifying its defenses, modifying its approach, and creating a perverted image of hopelessness with every victim it seizes.

As the severity of their undertaking dawns on Arin, his heart begins to beat. This power, which has refined itself across innumerable realities, is more than just a predator; its objective is crystal clear: to devour and destroy all hope. Arin, however, also perceives a contradiction—a blind hole that The Shaper is unable to foresee. Arin gets a glimpse of a little but important feature with every time fragment: their passion for Cassiel. It's a recurring theme in all of their unsuccessful incarnations—a ray of hope even in the most gloomy recollections. Arin understands that this relationship, this sensation, is out of The Shaper's grasp. It's the one thing that it can't control, absorb, or maybe even predict.

Arin gathers their confidence and tells Cassiel about this finding. Feeling the constant warmth that grounds them in this changing nightmare, they grab Cassiel's hand. With a little smile of recognition pulling at their lips, Arin says, "The Shaper doesn't understand love." We are unpredictable because of that. This is useful to us.

They proceed with a fresh strategy, but this time they take more caution and take advantage of every weakness in the dungeon's defenses. Knowing that their link is their most potent weapon, they start to anticipate The Shaper's traps and work together to demolish each one with faith.

When they get to the center, they are flooded with memories of other Arins who have made it thus far but have failed in the dungeon, Arin's Time Fragments. But rather than feeling hopeless, Arin experiences a peculiar sense of kinship and comprehension of all the incarnations of themselves that have struggled and failed. Arin promises to respect each of their sacrifices with Cassiel by their side.

They see The Shaper's actual form in the last room, a hideous, fluctuating mass of warped realities and dashed hopes, a hideous creature that appears to represent the hopelessness of each lost life it has devoured. With a deep, rumbling chuckle that reverberates across the room, it sneers at them.

However, Arin and Cassiel remain steadfast and face The Shaper with all of their love and might, ready to refuse to accept a fate that has befallen so many people. They fight for all the versions of themselves who have dared to aspire for a better world, not simply for survival. Arin has a rush of strength at that precise time, a sense of oneness with all the lives that have brought them thus far. As it tries to adjust to a force it cannot comprehend, the shaper's grip weakens and its shape flickers.

As the chapter ends, Arin and Cassiel stand side by side with their hands firmly grasped, looking down into the very center of grief, motivated by a love that surpasses even the most terrible situations.