The shattered doorway

The journey to the Mirror Nexus was long and grueling. For days, Maya and Leon trekked through dense forests, rocky hills, and desolate landscapes. The further they went, the more isolated the world became. The noises of civilization faded into the distance, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of animals.At first, the trek was mostly silent, save for the crunch of their boots on the ground. Maya found herself lost in her thoughts, constantly wondering if every tree, every rock, and every shadow was a reflection of some other world. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched—not by anyone from this reality, but by other versions of herself, peering through the thin veil that separated them.At night, as they made camp under the stars, Maya's dreams were filled with more visions. Faces of people she didn't recognize but felt intimately familiar. A version of herself standing in a bustling city, another on the deck of a ship, and one more, cold and lost in a world covered in snow. Each time she woke, she felt a piece of herself slipping away, like the multiverse was chipping away at her sense of identity.Leon noticed the toll it was taking on her. He'd often find her sitting by the fire, staring into the flames, her eyes distant. "We're almost there," he would say, but the uncertainty in his voice was hard to miss. He was trying to reassure her, but Maya could feel his own fear growing. The Mirror Nexus wasn't just a legend anymore—it was a real, tangible place, and they were walking right into its grasp.Chapter Fourteen: The Shattered DoorwayBy the time they reached the coordinates Dex had given them, Maya felt like she was on the verge of collapse. Her body was exhausted, her mind frayed from the constant bombardment of memories and images that weren't hers.The Nexus, if that's what it truly was, appeared as a vast stone structure, hidden deep within the forest. It stood tall and ancient, covered in vines and moss, as though it had been forgotten by time itself. But as they approached, Maya could feel the energy emanating from it. It was subtle, a hum that vibrated through her bones, but there was no mistaking its power."This is it," Leon whispered, his voice barely audible.Maya took a deep breath and stepped forward. The entrance to the structure was a large, cracked stone door, etched with strange symbols that seemed to shimmer and shift before her eyes. She reached out to touch it, and the moment her fingers made contact with the cold stone, the world around her rippled.Suddenly, she was somewhere else.She stood in the same place, but the forest was gone, replaced by an endless field of mirrors. Each mirror reflected a different version of herself, each one standing in a different reality. Some looked almost identical, while others were so different it made her stomach lurch. She saw herself as a warrior, a scientist, a queen, a prisoner. The possibilities stretched on forever.Maya gasped, her mind struggling to comprehend the sheer scope of what she was seeing. The multiverse wasn't just theoretical anymore—it was real, and it was infinite.And then, one of the reflections moved.

By the time they reached the coordinates Dex had given them, Maya felt like she was on the verge of collapse. Her body was exhausted, her mind frayed from the constant bombardment of memories and images that weren't hers.The Nexus, if that's what it truly was, appeared as a vast stone structure, hidden deep within the forest. It stood tall and ancient, covered in vines and moss, as though it had been forgotten by time itself. But as they approached, Maya could feel the energy emanating from it. It was subtle, a hum that vibrated through her bones, but there was no mistaking its power."This is it," Leon whispered, his voice barely audible.Maya took a deep breath and stepped forward. The entrance to the structure was a large, cracked stone door, etched with strange symbols that seemed to shimmer and shift before her eyes. She reached out to touch it, and the moment her fingers made contact with the cold stone, the world around her rippled.Suddenly, she was somewhere else.She stood in the same place, but the forest was gone, replaced by an endless field of mirrors. Each mirror reflected a different version of herself, each one standing in a different reality. Some looked almost identical, while others were so different it made her stomach lurch. She saw herself as a warrior, a scientist, a queen, a prisoner. The possibilities stretched on forever.Maya gasped, her mind struggling to comprehend the sheer scope of what she was seeing. The multiverse wasn't just theoretical anymore—it was real, and it was infinite.And then, one of the reflections moved.