8 A mirror of the soul

The river sparkled as the form of a small child rested next to it. I smiled and ran over to the small child.

"Hello child, where's your mother?"

The child did not turn his face to look at me. He answered in a sad voice.

"She's not here. I can't find her for some reason. I've already looked every where but she isn't here."

I reached over to pat the kid's back when he started chuckling evilly. My eyes widened as I backed away. The child then turned to look at me. His eyes were exactly like that of a snake. Instead of a mouth he had a long line with stitches. His nose was a circle in his pale face. The child then said in a deep voice.

"You stupid human. Did you actually fall for my trap? No matter, you're as good as dead now that you have fallen for it."

Suddenly the bright and calm world around me flicked with the snap of the monster's fingers. It smirked as the hill filled with grass oozed lava. The ground split open as fire came out. The river of water turned into that of crimson blood.

The child then grew as his body became into that of a snake's. His head lengthened as did his height. At the end of the transformation the snake was as tall as a castle. I looked up with trembling knees. The fire below started to kick the soles of my shoes.

I must not be afraid. I instinctively reached for my swords but remembered that I don't have them. The snake cackled as I ran forward. My lungs burned along with my thighs. I ducked multiple times to avoid the snake's venomous spittle. The ground burning where he spit.

OH MY FUCKING GOD I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO DIE IN MY DREAM AND FROM A SNAKE NONETHELESS.

I needed to calm the fuck down. I breathed in and out. My heart beat started to slow down as I looked around me for a weapon. I seem to have calmed down.

AS FUCKING IF! MY WHOLE BODY IS TREMBLING LIKE A NEWBORN'S! I CANT FUCKING CALM DOWN WHEN A BIG ASS WEIRD ASS SNAKE IS CHASING MY ASS.

"Oh, human you seem to be skilled enough to dodge my venomous spittle. How brazen. This is not my only form though."

Suddenly the sound of someone snapping their fingers filled my ears. I blinked only to see the fiery world around me disappear. I was now in the middle of a castle. My breathing calmed down as I inspected the place. Red carpets lined the golden walls and floor. Crimson dropped from the walls on to the ground below. A dark corner at the end of the room had a chair or throne of some sorts. It was as if I was in the inside of a Tyrant's castle.

I looked around me with caution. I must find a weapon now. There wasn't a sword or rock in sight. Suddenly a light shine over the throne. A handsome man with dark hair and sparkling green eyes looked at me. He was sitting on the throne with a crown on his head. His smirk glistened as he stood up and stood in front of me. The man easily towered over my short stature.

"Oh, human you are quite entertaining. None of the nobles told me that I would be receiving an amusing prey such as yourself."

I could tell that this man was a demon. My mind swam with possibilities. Was I still in the third part of the exam? Didn't they say that it would be a mental test? The only thing that I've been exhausting so far is my physical strength.

All that matters is the fact that I end this dream quickly. I need to figure out how to do so. The smell of metal filled my nose. I turned and widened my eyes. In the corner of the room was a figure raising an axe and repeatedly bringing it down on two screaming individuals. I felt the bike rise in my throat but I kept it at bay. I can not break down now. I want to be a Royal Knight after all.

As I turned to look at the demon, confusion filled me. He was smirking like usual but tears fell down his cheeks. I backed away and fell to the ground as blood leaked down his cheeks and out of his nose. I looked over to see the person that was swinging the axe was me and I was hitting two versions of myself.

What the actual fuck is this shit? My mind started to turn into mush as the room suddenly filled with clones of myself. Each and every version of myself screamed as it bled from somewhere. I covered my ears as I sat on the ground. I felt my sanity slip away as I started counting to calm down. No matter what I did, the screams kept penetrating my ears and entering my soul.

Was I really going to give up now?

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Thank you so much for reading my luvs! Stay safe and be careful😷😍