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墨書 Inktalez
Alice's footsteps echoed against the damp stone walls of the cave, the air heavy and cold, as if each step amplified the voice within her heart in this encroaching darkness. She walked alongside the Fox, closely following the small figure ahead—Shadow Girl. Her presence was like a ghost of the night, elusive and fleeting, as if she could vanish into the thick darkness at any moment.
“Fox, I have a bad feeling about this,” Alice's voice was low, tinged with unease, her eyes never leaving the silhouette of the little girl ahead.
The Fox did not respond immediately; his gaze scanned their surroundings, clearly more alert than Alice. He understood that this cave was filled with uncertainty, and that the figure of the little girl seemed to be the key to the truth, but it could also be a trap.
“We must keep moving forward,” the Fox finally spoke, his tone steady as always. “Whoever she is, she is guiding us.” He paused, turning to look at Alice, a glint of determination in his eyes. “Remember, no matter what happens, do not lose yourself.”
Alice nodded and took a deep breath; she knew there was no turning back now. The Shadow Girl glanced back slightly, as if waiting for them. Her gaze was clear yet held an indescribable emptiness.
“You're finally here,” Shadow Girl's voice was soft, echoing in the vast cave. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Who are you?” Alice stepped forward, her voice laced with confusion and caution. “How did you know we would come?”
A smile played on Shadow Girl's lips, as if she were not in a hurry to answer Alice's questions. She gently waved her hand, beckoning them to follow her. “You’ve come a long way; the truth is just ahead.” She paused, her gaze drifting into the distant darkness. “What you seek is not only the whereabouts of your parents but also your own hearts.”
The Fox furrowed his brow. “What do you mean? We just want to find our missing parents; how does that relate to our hearts?”
Shadow Girl's expression deepened. “Your hearts are the deepest labyrinths, the hardest paths to traverse. You think all clues point to external fears and pain while neglecting the fears within yourselves. Each person has a shadow in their heart that hides truths they cannot face and memories they fear to touch.”
“Shadow?” Alice murmured softly to herself, her heart racing. She realized that what she had been avoiding was not just her parents' disappearance but also that long-buried past and those fears she had never truly confronted.
Shadow Girl turned and walked deeper into the darkness, her steps light as if blending seamlessly with her surroundings. “Come along, Alice. What you have been running from is precisely what you need to face.”
Alice clenched her fists tightly, her gaze resolute. She knew that at this moment, she could no longer retreat. If the truth lay before her, she had to bravely uncover it, no matter what she might face.
“Fox, let’s go,” Alice said, her voice firm.
The Fox looked at her, then glanced at the Shadow Girl. Finally, he nodded and silently followed. Although he didn’t fully trust the Shadow Girl before him, they had no choice but to move forward.
They entered a deeper chamber, its walls etched with ancient runes. The light here grew dimmer, as if the air was thick with an indescribable sense of oppression. Suddenly, Alice stopped in her tracks, stunned by the sight before her.
A massive mirror stood in the center of the chamber, its surface smooth as water, reflecting the figures of herself and the Fox. However, the Alice in the mirror was not entirely herself; she appeared pale, her eyes hollow, as if she were a different person from the one in reality.
“What… is this?” Alice’s voice trembled as she reached out toward the mirror, only to encounter a cold force.
“This is your shadow, Alice,” the Shadow Girl's voice came from behind her, softly explaining. “You have always tried to escape it, to ignore it, but it has never left you. It embodies your deepest fears and the memories you are most unwilling to face.”
Alice's breath quickened as her gaze remained fixed on her reflection. The Alice in the mirror lowered her head as if meeting her eyes directly, filled with endless sorrow and pain. In that moment, a strong impulse surged within Alice—a desire to flee, to escape this heavy burden.
“I don’t want to see this.” Alice suddenly turned away, trying to avoid the unfamiliar face in the mirror; however, an invisible force held her footsteps captive. The image in the mirror began to blur, like a shattered canvas twisting and distorting.
“You cannot escape,” the Shadow Girl's voice rang out again, filled with cold determination. “Face it, Alice. Only by confronting your inner self can you find true freedom.”
Alice clutched the Fox’s arm tightly, fear flickering in her eyes. “Fox, I… I can’t face all of this. Why are there so many things in my heart? I’ve been running from them and ignoring them all along, and now they’ve all come back.”
The Fox looked down at her and spoke gently. “Alice, we all have a past filled with pain and suffering. Avoidance never solves problems; it only makes them stronger. What you need to do now is confront it, accept it, and then let it go.”
Alice's gaze grew increasingly resolute as she took a deep breath and turned toward the mirror. The reflection staring back at her silently held an indescribable emptiness and loss in its eyes. Standing before the mirror, Alice suddenly understood something. What she had been avoiding was not the painful memories, but the regret she could not let go of, the questions that remained unanswered.
"The disappearance of your parents and the past you cannot release are shadows in your heart," the voice of Shadow Girl echoed in her ears. "Only by letting go can you truly find yourself."
A flicker of determination crossed Alice's eyes as she closed them, inhaling deeply, trying to gradually release the fear and pain within her. Her hand slowly reached out to the mirror, touching its cold surface. As she made contact, the image on the mirror began to shift, gradually becoming clearer. She saw her parents' faces, glimpses of long-buried memories.
In an instant, all fear seemed to vanish, leaving behind an unprecedented tranquility.
"I understand now," Alice whispered, a hint of relief shining in her eyes. "What I've been searching for is… myself."
The figure of Shadow Girl gradually faded away, like a breeze dissolving into darkness. Alice turned around, her gaze unwavering as she walked toward the fox. "Let's go, Fox. The truth has already found its place in my heart."
The fox looked at her with a slight smile. "You finally did it, Alice."
They stepped out of the cave, embarking on an even more uncertain journey ahead.
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