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墨書 Inktalez
The air gradually became humid, and the atmosphere within the cave felt as if it had solidified. Alice and the fox's footsteps echoed in the narrow tunnel, while the slimy moss on the stone walls spread from the cracks, and the surrounding darkness enveloped them like invisible tendrils, slow yet powerful. Alice's heartbeat quickened; with each step, she could feel the pressure buried deep within her heart.
"We're almost there, right?" She stopped and turned to the fox, her voice low and urgent.
The fox's ears perked up slightly, a glimmer of alertness in its eyes. "Yes, Mask Land is just ahead. Remember, this is not just a place; it is also a reflection of your past." Its tone was serious. "All the answers, even truths you have never seen, will be revealed. You must be prepared."
Alice nodded. Though she felt some hesitation within her, she knew she could no longer escape. She had come this far; facing her past and confronting the mask was her only way out.
"I understand." She lifted her head, her gaze resolute. "No matter how terrifying it may be, I'm ready."
The fox glanced at her as if wanting to say something but ultimately remained silent and continued to lead her forward. The end of the passage suddenly opened up, almost overwhelming them with bright light. Before Alice lay a vast cavern, its rocky walls adorned with ancient carvings—complex and difficult to decipher. Some seemed to depict a ritual, while others resembled mysterious symbols.
In the center of the cavern stood a massive stone platform. On it rested an old mask, quietly waiting. The surface of the mask was cracked and weathered, as if it had endured countless years of decay, losing its original luster and shape. Its presence was chilling—not just for its appearance but for the undeniable sense of oppression it exuded. Alice's gaze fixed on the mask, her heart racing uncontrollably.
"That is Mask Land," the fox's voice broke the brief silence. "You have finally arrived."
Alice approached slowly, each step feeling unusually heavy. The mask seemed to call out to her; each stride brought her closer and deeper into its allure. Her hand trembled slightly as she stopped just a few centimeters from the mask, taking a deep breath.
"Are you sure?" The fox's voice held a hint of concern as it paused behind her and whispered.
"I have no way back," Alice replied softly, an involuntary weariness in her tone. "This is my last chance to face everything."
Her hand reached out toward the mask, touching its cold surface. The moment her fingers made contact with it, a surge of intense energy erupted from the mask, tearing through the air of the entire cavern in an instant. Alice stumbled back in shock, terror filling her eyes.
"Alice, be careful!" the fox warned, its voice growing more urgent.
But Alice remained still, her gaze fixed on the mask. The overwhelming power emanating from it filled her with fear, yet deep within her, there was a faint sense of calling. It felt as if a voice behind the mask was waiting for her.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil inside her. "I know you're here," she whispered, her voice steady but laced with undeniable resolve. "I won't run away anymore."
As she spoke, the tremors in the cave began to subside, and the cracks on the mask seemed to respond, gradually glowing with a faint light. Alice reached out her hand once more; this time, she did not hesitate but decisively lifted the mask.
The moment she picked it up, a blinding light shot upward, illuminating the entire cave. Everything before her started to blur, as if being pulled by some powerful force. Alice felt as though she had lost control of her body; her thoughts became fragmented, and a whispering sound echoed in her ears, growing clearer.
"Alice... you have finally come."
The voice carried a familiar gentleness, as if it were calling out to her soul. Vague images surfaced in her mind—fragments she had long forgotten. She saw herself as a child, standing in an unfamiliar place, eyes filled with longing yet bound by invisible fear.
"Who are you?" Alice's voice was almost a murmur, as if she were asking both the voice and herself.
"I am you." The voice resonated again, this time clear and firm. "I am your true self—the one you have been avoiding all along. The mask is a tool you use to conceal the truth; it is the lie you have woven for yourself."
Alice's heart jolted as if struck by something profound. Countless images flashed through her mind—those truths she had never wanted to face. All this time, she had not been fleeing from external pressures but from the fears and insecurities within herself. She wore the mask to hide her weaknesses and the realities she dared not confront.
"I... I have been running away," her voice was hoarse, filled with confusion. "I am afraid to face myself, afraid of who I truly am."
"But now, you have nowhere left to escape," the voice said gently. "It is time to let go of the mask and confront the real you."
Alice gently cradled the mask in her hands, suddenly feeling its weight become unusually heavy. The mask was not a burden; it was a manifestation of the fears and insecurities deep within her heart. She realized that it was not the mask's fault, but rather her own choice to let it bear all her pain and contradictions.
Lowering her head, she gazed at the mask in her hands and murmured, "I can’t run away anymore. Not again."
As her voice echoed in the cave, the mask suddenly emitted a blinding light, illuminating the entire cavern in a brilliant glow. Around Alice, everything turned white. A vision flashed before her eyes—an image she had never seen before: a girl standing on vast land, sunlight pouring over her, a smile on her face, and determination and courage shining in her eyes.
It felt as if her soul underwent a complete cleansing. The mask fell from her hands; it no longer felt heavy or frightening like it once had.
"I accept my true self," she whispered. The mask was no longer her shackles but a part of her past. She placed it back on the stone pedestal and declared, "From now on, I will not escape."
The fox stood beside her, its eyes filled with pride. "Well done, Alice. You have found yourself again."
Alice turned to the fox, a faint smile gracing her lips, determination sparkling in her eyes. "Yes, I have found myself."
With the mask laid down and a surge of inner strength rising within her, she took a new step forward.
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