Dream: The Echoing Corridor

The dream begins in an infinite corridor. Smooth, dark walls stretch endlessly to either side, etched with faint lines of silvery light that pulse like a heartbeat. Your footsteps echo unnaturally loud, but the sound is accompanied by something else—another set of footsteps. They are just behind you, though when you turn, the corridor is empty.   The air is heavy and cold, carrying with it the faintest whisper, almost imperceptible but just enough to keep you moving forward.   As you walk, you begin to notice doors lining the corridor. Their surfaces are smooth and unmarked except for a single glowing rune on each one, shifting faintly in color and shape as if alive. Then, one door catches your eye—it’s slightly ajar. A thin line of light spills from within, and the whispers grow louder, forming impressions more than words, urging you closer.   When you reach the door, you feel a subtle pull, something within you yearning to cross the threshold. The moment you step inside, the corridor vanishes, replaced by a small circular chamber. The air in here is different—charged and electric. At the center of the room is a pedestal, and on it stands a mirror.   But this is no ordinary mirror. As you approach, you notice its surface ripples like water, and instead of your reflection, you see fleeting images: a battlefield shrouded in shadow, an immense dragon’s silhouette coiled in the distance, and finally, two faintly glowing eyes staring directly at you.   Suddenly, the room begins to shake. The walls crack and crumble, fragments of stone falling as the light in the mirror intensifies. The surface of the mirror expands outward, transforming into a glowing portal. A voice—not fully formed but undeniably present—fills your mind.   “Step through and see... or retreat, and wake to forget.”   The portal crackles, growing brighter as the room collapses around you. The decision is yours. Do you step through, or do you turn away?