Shadows and Light
The enchanted forest was alive. Trees whispered ancient secrets, the mist curled with unseen forces, and somewhere in the distance, a beast howled—a chilling reminder that they were not alone.
Reiko took the lead, her sharp instincts guiding them through the dense terrain. Tranquility walked beside her, his golden eyes scanning their surroundings with careful precision. Syaoran and Endymion followed closely, the former’s magic crackling at his fingertips while the latter rested a steady hand on his sword.
“This is obviously a test of teamwork,” Endymion muttered. “They wouldn’t have thrown us in here just to fend off wild creatures.”
Syaoran scoffed. “That, or they just enjoy watching us struggle.”
Reiko smirked. “Both, probably.”
Tranquility suddenly held up a hand, halting their movement. “Something’s wrong.”
The air shifted. The once distant howling now echoed from all around them. The mist thickened, coiling around their legs like grasping fingers. Then, the shadows moved.
Four figures emerged from the darkness—mirror images of themselves. Their doppelgängers stood silently, identical in every way except for their eyes, which glowed with an eerie, unnatural light.
Reiko narrowed her gaze. “Oh, this is new.”
Syaoran clenched his fists, summoning the power of the moon and earth into his palms. “What are they?”
Tranquility’s grip on his sword tightened. “Us.”
The false Reiko attacked first, lunging at the real one with a swift, precise strike. Reiko barely managed to parry, their swords clashing with a deafening ring. The force of the impact sent her skidding back.
“They fight exactly like us!” she shouted.
“Good,” Tranquility said, spinning to block his own copy’s strike. “That means we just have to be better.”
Syaoran wasted no time, hurling a blast of moonlit energy at his opponent, only for the dark twin to counter with an identical spell. The two attacks collided, sending a shockwave rippling through the trees.
Endymion was already engaged with his double, their swords flashing as they traded rapid strikes. “I don’t like fighting myself,” he muttered through gritted teeth. “I’m incredibly annoying.”
Reiko smirked despite the battle. “Finally, some self-awareness.”
Tranquility dodged a blow from his counterpart and countered with a swift kick, knocking the shadow clone off balance. “We need a strategy,” he said. “If they mimic everything we do, we have to do something they won’t expect.”
Reiko’s mind raced. Then, she grinned. “Syaoran, switch opponents with Endymion. Tranquility, you take mine. I’ll take yours.”
Syaoran didn’t question her—he simply moved. As soon as he engaged Endymion’s copy, he realized the difference. The mirroring effect was tied to the opponent. By swapping, they disrupted the pattern.
Tranquility met Reiko’s doppelgänger’s blade with his own. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Reiko grinned, already overwhelming his opponent with unpredictable, unconventional strikes. “Always.”
With their strategy set, the battle turned in their favor. One by one, the shadow versions of themselves faltered, unable to keep up with the sudden shifts in style. It wasn’t long before the illusions dissolved into the mist.
The forest fell silent once more.
Breathing heavily, Endymion ran a hand through his hair. “Well. That was unpleasant.”
Syaoran rolled his shoulders. “At least we know we’d be a pain to fight.”
Reiko sheathed her sword, glancing at Tranquility. “You okay?”
He hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah. You?”
She smiled. “Always.”
Syaoran glanced between them and sighed. “Great. You two are doing the staring thing again.”
Reiko shoved him lightly. “Shut up.”
Tranquility chuckled, but before he could say anything, the mist began to recede. A warm, golden light filled the forest, and the illusion melted away, revealing the great hall of Hogwarts once more.
Clow Reed stood at the center, the four founders at his side.
“Well done,” Rowena said, her sharp eyes filled with approval. “You adapted quickly, learned from the challenge, and overcame it.”
Godric smirked. “And more importantly, you fought like true warriors.”
Salazar inclined his head toward Reiko. “It was your decision to change tactics that led to victory. Well played.”
Helga beamed at them. “And you all worked together, despite your differences. That is the true mark of strength.”
Clow stepped forward, his expression unreadable. “Your training is far from over. But tonight, you have proven that you are ready for the next step.”
Reiko, Syaoran, Tranquility, and Endymion exchanged glances.
The next step.
Whatever that meant, one thing was certain.
They were ready.