Chapter 11: The Mirror Corridor

Alex returned to his apartment from the rooftop garden, his mind still echoing with the magical night he had spent with Kai. He lay in bed, unable to sleep, his heart filled with anticipation and a touch of unease about the unknown. Just as he was about to drift off, a strange humming sound caught his attention.

He opened his eyes, surprised to find the walls of his room glowing faintly. Alex carefully got out of bed and gently touched the luminous wall. Suddenly, his hand passed through the wall as if it were just a thin mist.

"What's going on?" Alex muttered to himself. After a moment's hesitation, he mustered the courage to step through the wall.

As he passed through the misty barrier, Alex found himself in a long corridor. Both sides of the corridor were lined with mirrors, but these were clearly no ordinary mirrors. Each mirror reflected a different scene, some familiar to Alex, others completely foreign.

Alex cautiously walked forward, his reflection in the mirrors distorting and changing, sometimes younger, sometimes older, sometimes even transforming into completely different people.

"Welcome to the Mirror Corridor, young Traveler," a familiar voice came from behind. Alex turned to see Edward's ghost floating there.

"Edward! What is this place?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with surprise and a hint of fear.

Edward smiled and explained, "This is one of the most mysterious places in Silver Moon Apartments. The Mirror Corridor connects countless parallel realities. Each mirror is a portal to a different world."

Alex approached one of the mirrors, which reflected a bustling futuristic city. "Can I enter these worlds?" he asked.

"Theoretically, yes," Edward said, "but be careful. Once you enter, you might get lost in the countless possibilities. Some Travelers have disappeared this way."

Just then, Alex noticed one mirror showing Kai's figure. He instinctively reached out to touch it, but Edward stopped him just in time.

"Wait, Alex! That's not the real Kai. The Mirror Corridor reflects your deepest desires and fears. Don't be fooled by them."

Alex withdrew his hand, feeling a pang in his heart. He continued along the corridor, each step bringing new wonders and confusion. Some mirrors showed his past, others possible futures. He saw himself becoming a successful architect, reuniting with his family, and also some dark, unsettling scenes.

"Edward, how can I distinguish between reality and illusion here?" Alex asked, feeling increasingly lost.

Edward sighed, "That's the test of the Mirror Corridor. As a Traveler, you must learn to discern between reality and illusion, or you'll easily lose yourself."

As they went deeper, the corridor became increasingly distorted. The mirrors began to move, some even speaking, tempting Alex to enter their worlds. Alex felt dizzy, unable to discern directions.

Suddenly, he saw Zack's figure appear in one of the mirrors. Zack grinned maliciously at him, reaching out as if to grab him. Alex instinctively stepped back, bumping into the mirror behind him.

"Be careful!" Edward shouted, but it was too late.

Alex felt himself falling, the scenery around him spinning rapidly. When he finally stopped, he found himself in a strange world. The sky here was purple, two moons hung in the sky, and the surrounding buildings had strange geometric shapes.

"Edward?" Alex called out, but received no response. He realized he had truly entered a parallel world.

Panic began to set in, but Alex forced himself to calm down. He recalled Kai's teachings: "Focus, feel your connection to Silver Moon Apartments."

Alex closed his eyes, trying to picture Silver Moon Apartments in his mind. Slowly, he felt a familiar energy. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find a door appearing before him.

Without hesitation, Alex pushed open the door and re-entered the Mirror Corridor. But this time, the corridor looked different. The mirrors no longer moved, and the images became stable.

"Well done, Alex," Edward's voice sounded again, "You've passed your first test."

Alex breathed a sigh of relief, but he knew this was just the beginning. "Edward, how do I get out of here?" he asked.

"Follow your intuition," Edward said, "The true exit is in your heart."

Alex took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and concentrated. He imagined his apartment, that safe, familiar place. When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in front of his apartment door.

He pushed open the door and entered the room. The familiar surroundings and scent finally made him feel safe. Alex collapsed onto the bed, exhausted but filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Just then, his phone lit up. It was a message from Kai:

"I heard you explored the Mirror Corridor. Well done, Alex. Remember tonight's experience, it will be an important lesson for your future journey. See you tomorrow, we have more training to do. - K"

Alex smiled as he put down his phone. Despite his fatigue, he felt more excited than ever. The experience in the Mirror Corridor made him realize that being a Traveler wasn't just about abilities, but about maintaining one's sense of self amidst countless possibilities.

He closed his eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep. In his dreams, countless mirrors and realities intertwined, but this time, Alex no longer felt lost. He knew that no matter what challenges he faced, he could always find his way home.

And in some corner of Silver Moon Apartments, the Mirror Corridor still existed, waiting for the next brave explorer. Alex's adventure was just beginning, with more wonders and challenges waiting to be discovered and conquered.