The world was not what she was used to, but she regained her bearings quite easily.

She exhaled once, steady and controlled, letting her eyes adjust as she scanned her surroundings. Her stance settled into that familiar grounded stillness as her heartbeat slowed to its normal rhythm.

Glancing around, her heart was clear. This was the Trial of Truth.

Ediolon was a strange place for a prison, but then again, this was where the rebellious god Lazarak was held.

She doubted Lazarak had ever told the entire truth about his rebellion. If he was not dangerous, there was no way he would be imprisoned here. He was the main prisoner, and everyone else was merely an extra piece added to his confinement.

Her footsteps echoed a few seconds after she stepped. Each delayed footfall rang behind her, completely out of sync with her actual movement, the sound stretching unnaturally across the space. She slowed her pace for a moment, listening, then kept walking.

She remembered the rules Lazarak had told them. She was not worried about herself in this trial. She was worried about her lord.

Damon was not a very honest person. He was something close to a pathological liar and a cheat. For him, lying was almost second nature. Matia's jaw tightened. She needed to find him quickly.

Lazarak had said he would deal with the trial himself, and frankly speaking, Matia was not going to search for him.

If the god wished to wander, he could wander.

Suddenly she stopped in front of a reflective wall outside the cathedral. Her eyes remained calm as she stared into it. Instead of her stalwart form, all she saw was a weak, trembling, androgynous young fairy. Her reflection hunched slightly, its wings shivering as though cold.

Matia did not react. In the distance, she could hear her father's voice.

"Why... why did you have to be born a woman... why did you kill your brother."

Her expression flickered for only a moment. She did not humor her weak-looking reflection.

She stepped forward instead, her armor shifting softly with the motion. The reflection followed her across every surface she passed, its fragile image shaking with each movement.

It was like giving herself the silent treatment. Matia disliked speaking unless absolutely necessary.

And this was not one of those times.

"Are you ashamed of yourself, you disgraceful, weak woman? Shameless. You disappoint your own father."

Matia lifted her gaze toward the reflection. Her thoughts did not echo outward. She was not thinking of anything. She was a woman of action, not unnecessary thoughts. In the heat of battle, overanalyzing small things could lead to death.

She continued walking toward the cathedral, hoping Damon would be there. He had a habit of going wherever the action was.

Tired of being ignored, her reflection rose from the ground.

A soft crack appeared across its form even though Matia had not said a single word. The trial was meant to damage her, yet it seemed she was the one damaging it by simply existing.

Her reflection shifted. This time it took the shape of a faceless armored version of her. A tall woman made of black ice, pale skinned, with no face at all, as if she lacked her own identity.

"You do not care about your father or your brother."

Matia stopped. Her voice was calm, steady, and cold. She did not mean to speak, but this world forced the words from her.

"I love my brother. I despise my father."

The reflection followed her as she walked, unmoved by the truth.

This time it changed tactics.

"...Who are you right now..."

"I am Ruined Fairy," Matia replied. "I am a shadow."

The faceless reflection tilted slightly. Its icy armor glowed faintly, as cold and stalwart as she was.

"Are you not Matia Faldren? Matia was her own person with her own dreams, not an obedient tool of a madman."

Matia paused. Her figure remained stiff just before she reached the cathedral.

"You are a tool. Ruined Fairy is not a name."

The reflection seemed to glance at her, though it had no eyes.

"I am a shadow," Matia replied coldly.

The reflection tilted its head with a soft laugh, a sound Matia would never have made.

"You are a tool that will be discarded. When you break, he will throw you away with all his other broken tools."

"Poor shadow, abandoned by her master," it mocked.

Matia kept her gaze fixed on it.

"He is already trying to die. Did he even bother asking you how you felt about his death? No, he did not. You will be a masterless shadow soon. All alone."

It danced over the glass like a drifting snowflake.

"Loyalty will be rewarded with abandonment. It is like you are the problem. If you were good enough, he would stay. Just like your brother. Your very dead brother."

Matia did not speak. A bitter feeling rose in her chest. She hated it. She hated this thing.

She slowly formed a sword of ice in her hand. Frost spiraled up her wrist, gathering shape as she stepped toward the reflection. It watched her approach as though amused.

Matia raised her sword. The reflection did not move, certain she could not touch it. She swung down with a sharp sound, like glass breaking.

The reflection exploded into pieces. Its head spun across the reflective ground, staring up at her with fear and confusion.

"How."

Matia opened her hand. The sword melted into snowflakes that drifted to the floor.

"You talk too much."

"You are correct. That is true. My truth is that I fear being abandoned by my master. However, that is not all of it. What I fear more than not being enough…"

"I fear that I will not be there for him."

"I want to be the one who is always at his side, even if he chooses oblivion. I may not like it, but I remain loyal to my goal and my nature as a knight and a shadow."

She looked down at the shattered reflection with disdain.

"I am not my father, and I will never be like him. I will be a shadow like no other, because I am Ruined Fairy, shadow of the Unknown Ruler. Do not forget it."

The Trial of Truth had been destroyed by her. It had not even been a challenge. At first she ignored it, but more than anything, Matia's truth was not her fear.

Her truth was loyalty.

Looking around, she noticed something in the distance. Narrowing her eyes, she saw the familiar black silhouette. Her eyes widened and she removed her helm, lifting it with a sharp motion.

Without hesitation, she charged toward him.

It was a shadow's duty to protect her lord, and hers needed her.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.