Crowned by Code - Chapter 3: Athena's Plan ~ (3/8) The Mirror of Self

As they moved through the corridor, the hum of holographic interfaces faded, replaced by a quieter, more solemn atmosphere. The doors ahead slid open, revealing a smaller, dimly lit chamber.

Darius hesitated at the threshold. This wasn’t just another test. This was personal.

As he stepped inside, Darius’s resolve from earlier wavered under the oppressive atmosphere. His mind echoed with Athena’s challenge: "Will you take the first step?" The weight of his decision hung heavily in the air.

The holograms pulsed to life: Darius during the heist at Erevania Central Bank, his trial, the moment the prison gates slammed shut behind him. His failures and regrets played out in brutal clarity.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice tight.

“Your past,” Arden replied. “Athena’s directive requires you to face it. Leadership isn’t just about decisions made in the future—it’s about reconciling the past. Every choice, every failure, and every triumph shapes who you are.”

Darius stared at one panel, which showed a younger version of himself arguing with a fellow hacker about the risks of exposing corporate secrets. Another panel displayed the pain of his time in prison, where despair had nearly consumed him. He clenched his fists, his reflection merging with the memories.

“What’s the point of dredging all this up?” he demanded.

“To understand that your failures don’t define you,” Arden said, her tone unwavering. “What defines you is how you rise above them. Leadership is forged in resilience.”

The room shifted again, this time showing moments of his past where he had chosen not to act. Missed opportunities played out: times he could have spoken out, choices that could have steered him onto a different path. Each scene carried a weight of its own, forcing Darius to confront his complacency as much as his mistakes.

Arden observed quietly, letting the silence stretch as Darius faced each projection. “Leadership is not just about bravery, Darius. It’s about knowing when to act and when to step back. But most of all, it’s about learning from the moments you wish you could change.”

Darius let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “And if I don’t learn fast enough?”

“Then you’ll fail here. And if you fail here, Erevania will have no one left to lead it through what’s coming.” Arden’s words were harsh but steady, their truth undeniable.

Darius turned back to the projections. The final scene lingered on an image of his younger self handing off critical data to an ally who later betrayed him. The guilt he had buried resurfaced, but it was accompanied by something else—a realization.

“I let my mistakes define me for too long,” he said, more to himself than to Arden. “I think I’m ready to stop doing that.”

The room went dark, the holograms fading into silence. Darius remained still for a moment, absorbing the weight of what he had seen.

Hours later, the door slid open with a low hiss. Arden stood outside, arms crossed. “Well,” she said, studying his expression, “you don’t look completely broken. That’s a start.”

Darius let out a dry chuckle. “Barely.” there was a newfound fire in his eyes.

Arden nodded toward the corridor. “Good. Now let’s see if you can handle the next step.”

Darius followed Arden to another chamber, where a small device projected the profile of Selena Veyra—a journalist renowned for her relentless pursuit of justice. Her piercing eyes and determined expression filled the hologram.

“Selena has already begun dismantling pieces of Viktor’s network,” Athena’s voice said. “She is a critical ally. But she will not trust you easily. You must earn it through honesty and action.”

Arden gestured toward a nearby console, which displayed Selena’s work in greater detail. Articles, exposés, and hidden camera footage documented her relentless crusade against corruption. Darius leaned closer, watching footage of Selena confronting a corporate executive outside a courthouse.

“She’s fearless,” Darius remarked, admiration creeping into his tone. “But she’s also a target.”

“Exactly,” Arden replied. “Selena operates on the edge. Her actions make her enemies, and that’s why she needs someone she can trust.”

Darius’s eyes narrowed as he scrolled through more of Selena’s work. “How do I convince someone like her to trust me? She’s spent her life exposing people like me.”

Arden crossed her arms, her voice steady. “By showing her you’re not the person you used to be. Selena values authenticity. If you’re transparent and back your words with actions, she’ll listen.”

Athena’s voice interjected. “Selena is driven by a deep sense of justice. Present her with information she cannot ignore, and she will act—even if she questions your motives.”

The hologram shifted to show a map of Erevania, highlighting the location of a public forum where Selena was scheduled to speak.

“This is your opportunity,” Arden said. “The forum will be crowded, but it’s the best chance to approach her without raising suspicion.”

Darius nodded, his jaw set. “I’ll do it. But if she doesn’t trust me, what then?”

“Then you keep trying,” Arden said firmly. “Trust isn’t built in a day, Kael. It’s earned through persistence.”

As Darius prepared to leave, Arden placed a hand on his shoulder. “Remember, Selena isn’t just a means to an end. If you can earn her trust, she’ll be one of the strongest allies you’ll ever have. Don’t underestimate her.”

Darius met her gaze, a flicker of determination in his eyes. “I won’t.”