The Mountain of Reflections Chapter 10

The path ahead was steep and rocky, with towering cliffs on either side. The air grew cooler as Jeena   and Mohinder  climbed higher, the lush forest from the valley’s heart fading behind them. They were entering the last part of the valley, a place marked on the map as the Mountain of Reflections.

“Are we getting close?” Mohinder  asked, wiping sweat from his brow. The climb had been difficult, and the air was thin, but the sight of the mountain’s peak glowing in the distance kept them moving forward.

Jeena   nodded, her eyes focused on the jagged peak that loomed ahead, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. “According to the map, the Mountain of Reflections is the final test. We’ll need to face ourselves there.”

“Face ourselves?” Mohinder  asked, puzzled.

“Yeah,” Jeena   replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “The map says the mountain shows you things you might not want to see. It’s supposed to reflect your truest self, even the parts you might try to hide.”

Mohinder  hesitated, his thoughts spinning. “That sounds… kind of scary.”

Jeena   took a deep breath. “I know. But we’ve already faced so much together. I think we can handle whatever it is.”

With that, they continued their climb, determined to reach the summit.

As they ascended, the landscape around them began to shift. The rocks beneath their feet became smooth, almost mirror-like, and the air grew thicker with a soft mist. Each step echoed louder than the last, as though the mountain was listening to their every movement.

Soon, they reached a plateau, where a large stone archway stood before them, carved into the rock itself. The arch shimmered with an eerie light, and beyond it was a vast, still lake that mirrored the sky perfectly. The surface was smooth, like glass, reflecting the towering mountain and the two siblings as they stood before it.

“Is this… the Mountain of Reflections?” Jeena   asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“It must be,” Mohinder  answered, staring at the stillness of the lake.

A soft, melodic voice suddenly filled the air, like the wind calling their names. “Welcome, travelers, to the Mountain of Reflections. Here, you will see the truths you carry within you.”

Before they could speak, the waters of the lake began to ripple, swirling like a storm. From the center of the lake, a figure began to emerge, rising slowly as though made of mist and light. The figure was tall and shapeless at first, but as it came closer, it took on the form of Maya.

“Me?” Jeena   gasped, stepping back.

The reflection in the water smiled at her, its eyes kind but knowing. “I am the reflection of your true self, Maya. Here, you must face the parts of you that are hidden, the doubts you carry, and the fears you have left unspoken.”

Jeena   felt her heart race. “I’m not afraid,” she said, though her voice trembled. “I’ve been through so much already. I can face anything.”

But the reflection’s smile didn’t waver. “Facing yourself is not about being fearless, Maya. It is about accepting all of who you are—the light and the shadows.”

Suddenly, the reflection stepped out of the lake, its gaze fixed on Maya. The air around them seemed to hum with an unsettling energy.

“You doubt yourself,” the reflection said. “You’ve always felt like you’re not enough—like you have to be perfect to earn the love and approval of others. You hide your mistakes, your weaknesses, because you fear they will define you.”

Jeena   felt a chill run down her spine. The reflection was right—she had often felt that way. Always striving to do everything right, afraid that if she showed her mistakes, others might not accept her.

“Face this fear,” the reflection continued. “Embrace your imperfections, Maya. Only then will you truly be free.”

Maya’s chest tightened, but she refused to look away. “I’m not perfect,” she said quietly, her voice growing stronger. “I make mistakes. But I’m learning, and I’m trying.”

The reflection nodded slowly. “You are more than enough. You always have been.”

The lake rippled again, and the figure began to fade back into the water. “You have faced the first truth, Maya. Now, it is time to face Mohinder  .”

Jeena   turned, finding Mohinder  standing in front of his own reflection. The water rippled again, and Mohinder  ’s reflection began to take shape, appearing before him just as it had for her.

“Mohinder  ,” the reflection spoke in a deep, familiar voice. “I am your true reflection. I am the part of you that holds your doubts and your fears, the part you keep hidden.”

Mohinder  ’s knees felt weak as the reflection stepped forward, its face filled with both compassion and sorrow. “You are afraid, Mohinder  . Afraid that you are not strong enough, not brave enough, to be the hero you believe everyone wants you to be. You fear you will always fall short.”

Mohinder  swallowed, his heart pounding. It was true—he had always felt like he had to be the strong one, the one who kept it all together. But deep down, he feared he might not be able to live up to that expectation.

The reflection’s voice softened. “But strength does not come from never faltering. True strength is knowing that it’s okay to lean on others, to ask for help when you need it. You do not have to carry the weight of the world alone, Mohinder  .”

Mohinder  ’s eyes filled with tears as he whispered, “I’ve been so afraid of failing… I didn’t want to let anyone down.”

The reflection smiled gently. “You are not alone, Mohinder  . Your courage is in your heart, not in the burdens you carry. You are enough, just as you are.”

As Mohinder  stepped forward, his reflection embraced him. The air around them seemed to warm with the release of his fear, and the lake sparkled with newfound light. Slowly, the reflection faded back into the water, leaving Mohinder  standing taller than before.

The voice of the mountain echoed once more. “You have faced the truths within you, Jeena   and Mohinder  . The mountain reflects the parts of you that must be embraced to move forward. Now, you are ready to complete your journey.”

The mist around them began to lift, revealing the final path that led to the heart of the valley, the place where the curse would finally be lifted.

Jeena   and Mohinder  , side by side, took one last look at the Mountain of Reflections, feeling lighter and more whole than they had when they arrived. Together, they walked down the final path, ready to face the last challenge and restore the valley’s magic.