The lake surface remained calm, yet an inescapable chill seemed to pervade the air. It was as if invisible undercurrents lurked beneath the water, ready to drag people into the abyss at any moment.
Lucas and Dalin walked through the mist - shrouded area. Their field of vision was swallowed up by the white lake mist, and even each other's figures became hazy. Dalin unconsciously tightened her grip on Lucas's hand. Her fingertips were so cold that they seemed to have lost all warmth.
"Lucas..." She called out softly, but couldn't hear her own voice. It was as if the area was cut off by some invisible force, and even echoes were swallowed up.
Lucas sensed something was wrong. He stopped and looked around with a cold gaze. "This isn't natural fog. It's a formation."
Dalin looked up. The fog on the lake began to condense slowly, transforming into an ancient stone bridge in the air. The bridge was broken, spanning across the center of the lake, as if connecting reality and illusion.
Lucas's eyes narrowed slightly. "This bridge... I've seen it in my dreams."
Dalin looked at Lucas in surprise. "In a dream?"
Lucas nodded slightly, his eyes filled with complexity. "In the dream, I walked alone to the end of this bridge... There was someone there."
"Who?"
Lucas was silent for a moment and then slowly uttered a name -
"Myself."
Dalin froze in place, seemingly unable to understand the meaning of this sentence.
"This bridge will lead me to a certain memory from the past." Lucas looked at the bridge surface gradually emerging in the fog, a cold glint appearing in his eyes. "But it's not something I'm willing to recall."
"Are you sure you want to go over there?" Dalin grabbed Lucas's arm, her tone hesitant.
Lucas didn't answer. He just stepped onto the bridge. His footsteps tapped on the bluestone slabs, echoing in the endless fog, as if he was stepping into a nightmare.
Dalin followed closely behind. However, an inexplicable sense of foreboding welled up in her heart.
At the end of the bridge, a dilapidated courtyard emerged in the fog.
The courtyard gate was half - closed. A rust - stained copper ring hung on the door, as if it hadn't been touched for a long time.
Lucas stopped in front of the door. His hand slowly rose. But just as he was about to push the door open, a suppressed chuckle suddenly came from inside.
"You've finally come."
Dalin's heart jolted. She tightened her grip on her sword and looked warily inside the door.
However, the door slowly opened, and a familiar yet strange figure slowly walked out of the shadows -
It was another Lucas.
The Lucas standing inside the door had a cold expression. There was a hint of disdain and irony in his eyes, as if he knew everything.
"Dalin, do you think staying by his side will make you feel at ease?" Lucas in the shadow said indifferently. His gaze lingered on Dalin for a moment, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
"Why not stay with me?"
Dalin's hand holding Lucas's suddenly tightened. She turned to look at the Lucas beside her and
found a look of surprise and anger on his face as well.
"What the hell is this?" Lucas slowly drew his sword and stared coldly at his "clone."
Lucas in the shadow smiled slightly and walked closer slowly. "Do you think you're innocent?"
... Lucas remained silent. With a flash of the sword in his hand, he stabbed at the other without hesitation!
However, just as the sword tip was about to touch the "shadow," the shadow suddenly turned into a wisp of black fog. It quickly coiled around Lucas's sword and climbed up his arm.
Lucas quickly stepped back, but the black fog tightly coiled around his arm, forming a black chain.
The end of the chain was connected to something deep in the courtyard.
Dalin looked up. In the courtyard, a tall black shadow slowly emerged. It was wearing a black robe and a hood. Its face was hidden in the shadows, and countless snake - like black chains trailed behind it.
"This courtyard doesn't belong to the living." The black - robed man said slowly. His voice was low and hoarse, as if coming from the depths of the earth.
Dalin took a step forward and stood in front of Lucas. She said sharply, "Who on earth are you?"
The black - robed man slowly raised his head, revealing half of his blurred face. It was Lucas's aged appearance!
Dalin's eyes widened. Her voice trembled slightly. "Impossible..."
Lucas held the sword hilt and stared at the black - robed man. A cold glint flickered in his eyes. "What on earth are you?"
The black - robed man slowly raised his hand and pointed at Lucas. "I'm the shadow in your heart. The more you resist, the stronger I become."
Dalin looked at the two completely different Lucases in front of her, her mind in a daze, as if she was trapped in an endless nightmare.
She began to doubt whether the Lucas beside her was really the person she truly knew.
-
The night grew darker. The fog covered the courtyard. Chains criss - crossed, as if invisible shackles were pulling Lucas step by step towards the abyss.
Dalin's heart ached faintly. She tightly held Lucas's hand and said in a low voice, "No matter who you are, I won't let go of you."
Lucas was slightly startled. A touch of warmth flashed in his eyes. He held Dalin's hand tightly in return.
"Neither will I."
However, just as they were about to leave the courtyard, the black - robed man's final whisper drifted in the wind: "You can't escape each other's fate after all."