Eleanor did not say another word as she walked through the now-empty room, devoid of any emotion on her face.
The door that she had noticed earlier during the trial now hung open, with a spiral staircase leading deeper into the catacombs.
Before taking the first step, she took one final look at the room that had manifested the souls; her breathing ever-so-slightly quickened.
Then, she spun around and vanished from the large mausoleum-esque room, whatever awaited below calling upon her to continue.
…
VWOOSH!
Mist filled the dim cavern at the bottom of the stairs, the sound of a large waterfall in the distance echoing throughout the chamber.
The blonde girl attempted to use her magic once more, only to find it still snuffed out, the only light offered being that of a green light in the middle of the room, exactly the same as the previous trial.
Another one…
Steeling her nerves, she walked towards it, feeling the sharp, rocky ground beneath her feet shift with every step.
As she moved through the darkness, her gray eyes darted back and forth, searching for something similar to the earlier podiums.
Yet her gaze fell on nothing but pure blackness, her thoughts left alone to dwell on the previous trial.
If Aaron's spirit was here, then that would mean…
Her breath hitched, a pain not too dissimilar to the wound on her stomach emerging in her chest, albeit not from any physical ailment.
Once I reach the Chamber of Eternal Rest, I'll know for certain. Whether his name is there or not will determine if… If I ever return…
Noticing the light in the distance begin to glow brighter, she tensed in preparation for what the underground of the graveyard had in store for her this time.
The last trial assessed my ability to understand loss, so if someone were to attempt it without experiencing such a thing, then….
As if on cue, her foot caught on something strangely hard, not too dissimilar to that of a ball or a large rock.
Yet when even the slightest force was applied, a gut-wrenching crunch erupted even over the roaring of the waterfall.
Eleanor froze, feeling a chilling cold rush through her body as it filled in the blanks as to what she had stepped on.
Not even daring to look down, she raised her right foot and continued on, reaching the green glow not too long after.
Wasting no time, she stuck her hand into its majestic sheen.
Once more, a gust of wind thrust itself upon her; this time, she remained fully upright, the information spewed out by the flicker of light entering her mind fast.
"The Trial of Surrender will force thee to accept thyself at the utmost cost. One foe. One self. One choice. Defeat thy shade, and safe passage shalt be provided unto the final trial. Trust in thyself is essential, but if thou failest to converge, then thy shade shall continue in thy stead."
Her head spun, but she recovered quickly and grasped her newly changed surroundings in seconds.
Light shone down from green crystals jutting from the ceiling, and a waterfall was tucked at the farthest wall with beautifully clear water that betrayed the presence of another door behind it.
Not only that, but the ground within five meters of the podium was a lush moss embedded with freshly grown herbs and flowers.
It was an underground paradise with only one flaw that shook Eleanor to her fractured mana core, which twitched as it sensed the scene before it.
Kneeling on the opposite side of the stone pillar where the blonde-haired girl had activated the trial, an identical twin of the priestess gently stroked a butterfly that had landed on her finger.
"You're…!"
Eleanor felt the seal around her mana vanish in a flash, prompting her to activate a barrier around her body instantly, preparing for a fight.
However, contrary to her belief, the clone only looked up with an identical set of gray eyes laced with an unexplainable sense of sadness.
"Do you fear me?"
She leaned over and allowed the small insect to float onto a blade of grass, where it would be safe as she stood up.
The real Eleanor had no idea how to answer; the sight before her was so absurd that she couldn't quantify it in words.
Yet before she could even muster an answer, the false child laughed in a voice that could only be described as serene.
"You should be."
The identical version of herself began to walk around the altar, and the action that the real self copied, forcing them into a never-ending circle.
Eleanor addressed the copy with an unfamiliar sternness, her guard completely raised against the imposter.
"Who are you?"
The clone scoffed.
"Why, I'm you, of course!"
As if proving a point, the false version moved her hand towards her collar, where she pulled back the fabric to reveal something that shouldn't exist.
"See? Only one can exist, and yet, we both have it."
The Emblem of Circe on both girls' necks shone brightly as if in competition with one another to see which was the better emblem.
An illusion…?
The false Eleanor shook her head, reading the true version's thoughts with ease.
"There is no such illusion in the world that can replicate emblems. Only Divine Authority itself can even come close to creating a true copy, as you can see now."
Suddenly stopping in her tracks, she took a step forward towards the previously left-alone podium that had housed the original green flicker.
Eleanor's true self ceased her movement as well, taking multiple steps backwards as she watched her twin approach the center of the cavern.
"What is it that you want? How am I supposed to clear this trial?"
To the real girl, it was only common sense that the conjured clone formed by the trial would know how to complete it, the only problem being whether she would tell her.
Placing her pale finger at her lips, the fake thought for a moment before replying.
"Not telling!"
A smirk fell onto her face, making the original girl wish to throw the nearest rock at her head, or more accurately, her own head.
Watching from the center of the chamber, the duplicates' smiles began to fade only to be replaced with a weak frown.
"We can make a deal, though."
The real blonde-haired girl placed her own finger at her lips for a moment before coming to an uneasy realization.
I'm subconsciously copying her mannerisms… Or… My own mannerisms are being manipulated by her…
She ground her teeth against each other, growling out a reply.
"What kind of deal?"
The fake jumped up and down with glee, a clear euphoria that the real version lacked, evident as the seconds ticked on.
"It's simple! You can skip this trial and head straight to the next one!"
She stopped speaking, watching as the true version processed the information and then responded.
"At what cost?"
The clone grinned and explained what she already knew would be asked.
"In exchange, the Eleanor who leaves this room will be me! You'll die, of course, but we'll merge into one being again, and in theory, you'll technically pass the trial!"
Clapping her hands like a passionate audience member who had just seen a performance of a lifetime, she waited for a response.
"W-what? What kind of exchange is that!? It's not equal at all!"
The original girl shouted with anger and annoyance, forcing a pouty expression onto the fake's face.
"Eh? What's wrong? This is the only way for us to beat the trial, and you're refusing? Face it, girlie, you aren't better than me, and you'll stand no chance against that final trial. Your only hope of at least semi-survival is allowing your better half to take the reins and bring home the gold!"
The copy was speaking with language that Eleanor had never dared use in her life, the undignified manner of speech making her cheek twitch.
"What would happen after the trials are done? Would you give me my body back?"
She could already vaguely sense the answer; however, it was worth a shot to ask the question anyway.
The identical copy cackled.
"Our body."
Correcting the true body's words, the clone continued.
"No, you wouldn't get our body back afterward. After all, I could get used to all this beauty that you've provided me!"
A devilish grin unbefitting of a priestess appeared on her face as she jumped over the altar with ease, approaching the real self quickly.
"Just think! I could return to the city and progress towards becoming a more powerful Angel so that when I return to reality, I could woo Aaron and marry such a powerful man whose potential could rival even the Sea Kings themselves! Oh, the dream!"
Eleanor trembled as she took a step backwards, the sound of the waterfall in the distance only growing louder.
"C'mon, Eleanor. Just accept the contract."
The fake's cheek twitched in the exact same way hers would whenever she was annoyed, her personality only becoming more deranged by the minute.
"Let's see…"
Coming closer and closer, the other Eleanor grinned even wider.
"How does it feel to know that even with that Emblem of Circe embedded into your neck, you're still a pathetic wretch who can't manifest even a single wing?"
She continued.
"What's even the point of continuing? You've seen for yourself that Aaron Grimstall is likely already dead, and your hope of return is impossible, so why not just give up? Even if you can't get back yourself doesn't mean I couldn't…"
The true version paled, a reply dying in her throat as she was pushed further and further back towards the pit that the waterfall fell into.
"Has anyone actually seen any worth in you besides your body and powers? Godrick took you in because you were a prodigy, not because he saw you as anything but a tool to his own success. The traffickers were soon to sell you off in the Svall markets where you'd become some wealthy noble's personal plaything."
The distance between the two girls was closing fast, and each word struck the real girl harder and harder.
"Y-you're wrong…"
She could barely speak up, and even as she did, the fake simply laughed.
"Maybe Aaron just wants to save you to have eye-candy on his ship. Hell, I'd do the same thing! Can't you see how beautiful we are?"
Pointing at her own face, the clone raised her leg and then kicked out, striking the real version's chest hard and sending her spiraling backwards.
The mana shield did nothing as her head narrowly missed a rock that bordered the pit into an endless darkness in which water flowed.
Slowly, the other self walked over and stood above her.
"Take my deal, and this can all be over. One handshake and all this pain, stress, and guilt can fade behind you."
This time, the fake altered her strategy, appearing genuine and pleading.
Yet, even if the true girl could see her manipulation from a kilometer away, she hesitated.
While her price was extraordinary, the doubts she posed were undeniable from where she saw it.
If I just shake her hand… It'll all be over…
Her body shook, and her eyes welled with tears, every emotion that had been amplified by the Emblem of Circe only driving her further and further towards the darkness.
Eleanor's self-worth was at its lowest, and her will was crushed, the fake above her offering at least a chance to return to life with a competent self at the reins.
Yes… She'd do far better than I could…
She braced to reach out her hand; however, something stopped her.
"..."
The fake furrowed her brow, leaning in close.
"What did you say?"
There was genuine confusion on her face, as if for the first time, she couldn't read the thoughts of the other.
"S-so what…"
The identical clone frowned.
"So what? SO WHAT?!"
She shouted at the top of her lungs, sending a shockwave through the cavern, an almost insane chuckle escaping her lips.
"You're pathetic! Every ounce of your being screams weakness, and the only thing that matters is your body. You're afraid of cats. You can't stand the sounds of crying babies. You hate it when believers cough during Mass. You'll cry if you watch a sad play. A full meal will make you remember the people you've lost. You'd sacrifice yourself for your friends in the blink of an eye! What is it that you think isn't there to hate and detest about you?"
Raising her foot again, she drove it downward onto the true form's stomach, right where the wound from the ceremonial dagger had pierced.
A scream nearly escaped Eleanor's mouth, but she held it back, blood oozing from her lips as she spat back a reply.
"T-that's what makes me human… Yes, I'm weak, a crybaby, a hypocrite, and even a fool, but I'm also independent, hardworking, and altruistic to a point where I'll die…"
She smiled through the agony that coursed through her body, her eyes staring up with pity at the reflection that stood above her.
"So what if people only value me for my magic or for my body? They'll realize how foolish they were when they see the truth."
Slowly, the girl who was sprawled against the ground reached out her hand towards her clone without an ounce of hatred or fear in her heart.
The copy didn't know what to do, a mixture of a thousand emotions flickering through their face faster than she could process.
"I'm a shameful, pathetic priestess who'd probably be better off with you taking over the show, but why give up? There's still a million things that I still need to do when I get back, and I sure as hell ain't going to let you beat me to them."
The gray pupils of the imposter that stared back at her shook with fear, anguish, and panic; the carefully sculpted expressions she had made now breaking apart as the original spoke one last time in a soft voice like a graceful sunset that would fall over the horizon.
"...I'm sorry, Eleanor, I need to go back… As myself."
With those words, she clasped the clone's hand with her own, forcing her into a handshake.
The fake's eyes dilated, and their body flinched, a blank expression overwriting the numerous other emotions that had been sprouting.
Then, in a flash of darkness, the identical copy of her body exploded into a vast goo that shot into her chest, absorbing itself into her very essence.
But as she began to stand, it was not that dark, hatred-filled Eleanor Lynn who glanced upon the bridge over the ravine and through the waterfall, but rather, the original host, the girl from Sea Fallen who, even with her faults, wouldn't give in, no matter the cost.