Chapter 22: Mirrors of Fate

Isolde, her fingers just millimeters from the mirror's surface, whispered with a tremor in her voice, "We have to get him back. Malachi is more than a comrade; he's family."

Liora, her eyes locked onto one particular reflection where Malachi appeared to be laughing with a child they didn’t recognize, murmured, "It's not just about retrieving him, but understanding which reality he truly belongs to."

Ezra, his scholarly instincts kicking in, remarked, "The Maelstrom of Moments isn't just a convergence; it's a splintering. Each reflection represents a potential timeline."

Niamh, drawing on her deep connection with energies, said, "If we can attune to Malachi's essence, his core being, we might be able to discern the true reflection amid the countless possibilities."

Elysia, wiping away a tear, declared, "Then that's our starting point. We attune, focus, and pull him back."

Aeliana, her tone somber, cautioned, "The Maelstrom won't release him easily. You must be prepared to confront not