The massive bird summon landed gently on the floating island, its enormous wings stirring only the faintest breeze. As the group dismounted, the creature dissolved into shimmering particles, vanishing into nothingness.
Han's mouth parted slightly in awe as he took in the remnants of the fallen civilization before them. They had come across scattered ruins throughout the desert: crumbled towers, half-buried pillars, fragments of forgotten architecture. However, this was the first time they had encountered a city that remained mostly intact.
Like many of the remnants they had seen before, the buildings here were primarily made of white stone. Yet unlike the usual man-made structures shaped with chisels and tools, these appeared almost organic in form. Though clearly composed of stone and other hard materials, the architecture twisted and coiled like the bark of ancient trees. The scale of the buildings varied greatly, and many of them were adorned with stained glass-like inlays, possibly functioning as windows or purely decorative elements. Colorful cloths were draped over some buildings or stretched across roads on thin wires, fluttering gently in the wind.
It was a hauntingly beautiful scene. Still, the beauty was marred by time and ruin. Many of the buildings were crumbling and empty, their facades scarred by decay. Everything bore the marks of a civilization long gone.
As the group walked through the quiet, desolate city, they couldn't help but wonder what kind of lives had once filled these abandoned streets. Based on the echoes they had encountered so far, it seemed the "gems" were quite similar to humans, despite fundamental differences in their biology.
Perhaps in response to that silent curiosity, or maybe triggered by Evara's presence, another echo began.
The scenery shimmered and shifted. The broken buildings were restored before their eyes. Rubble vanished, and the suffocating silence lifted. The city bloomed with life once more.
Figures filled the streets, gems of all shapes and hues strolling and chatting. Laughter and voices blended into a lively hum. While most walked on foot, Han's attention was quickly drawn to a group zipping through the air on strange vehicles.
They looked like surfboards, but instead of riding waves, they soared through the sky, skimming just above the ground. The gems controlled them entirely with their feet, which appeared magically affixed to the boards. The boards themselves came in a variety of designs. Some were slim and minimalistic, while others were larger and more elaborate. Regardless of shape, all of them were swift, darting between buildings with effortless grace.
Han's eyes sparkled with fascination. He couldn't help but wonder if he would get the chance to ride one himself.
"Hey, stop dazing off like that," Erika said, giving Han a sharp slap on the shoulder.
Han blinked, pulled out of his daydream, and glanced around. Alwyn was already moving ahead, following the trail of Evara's echo. He and Erika quickly caught up, just in time to hear Evara muttering to herself.
"Uugh, I hope I look decent enough," they muttered, brushing dust off their clothes and adjusting the folds.
Unlike the simple gown the younger Evara had worn in the previous echo, this version of them was dressed in something far more elaborate. The plain white fabric had been replaced by fine garments trimmed in black embroidery. They wore a long-sleeved, gown-like outfit that nearly brushed the ground.
Evara moved quickly, weaving through the crowd as they made their way toward the towering structure at the center of the city. The building loomed above everything else, so tall it seemed to pierce the sky. It was supported by massive pillars that twisted like waves, stretching across great distances to brace the colossal tower. Though the structure was primarily white, strange runes became visible along its surface as they approached, etched delicately into the stone walls.
At the entrance, Evara was greeted by Flareen, who appeared to have been waiting for them. It was difficult to tell how much time had passed since the events of the first echo, but Flareen looked completely unchanged, as if time had left them untouched.
"You're late," Flareen said with a disapproving glance.
"Excuse you, I was trying to find the best outfit to make sure I looked my absolute best for my first day," Evara grumbled.
"Nobody's going to care about that," Flareen said. "You're not here to charm a group of younglings, you know."
"Yeah, yeah, we're the dignified royal researchers," Evara muttered. "Ugh... maybe I really should've just joined the army instead. I can't handle this pressure."
"As if you could handle fighting the invaders," Flareen said, giving them a deeply skeptical look. "Be happy you even got the chance to join the research team. Most people would kill to be in your place right now."
"I know," Evara replied, already familiar with the argument.
They finally entered the tower, the rest of the group following close behind. The tower's interior was just as pristine as the outside, white and unmarred, but laced with glowing lines of magic that pulsed through the walls and floors. Crystals hung from the high ceilings, scattering a brilliant white light that illuminated the entire room.
Evara and Flareen stepped into an elevator, and the group scrambled to squeeze in with them. To their surprise, instead of rising, the elevator began to descend. Its see-through doors offered a glimpse of what lay below as they passed through a wide, windowed opening.
The interior of the tower was massive. At its center stood a colossal pillar that looked like it was impaling the earth itself. As the elevator came to a stop and the group stepped out, the sight became even clearer and more overwhelming. The aether running through the pillar could be felt, a powerful current leaking faintly from the towering structure.
"This is…" Alwyn narrowed their eyes. "Are they harvesting aether directly from the planet?"
"Looks like it," Erika muttered, covering their nose. Even with layers upon layers of containment and shielding, the raw purity of the aether being siphoned into the tower still radiated outward, brushing against their skin and senses.
"Whoa! The inside of the extraction tower is way more impressive than I imagined," Evara said, their voice echoing slightly as they stared up at the massive core.
"You'll get used to the sight the longer you work here," Flareen remarked casually, already walking ahead without waiting for the others to catch up.
The group followed the two echoes into another chamber, one clearly designed for research purposes. Screens lined the walls, and strange devices hummed in quiet operation. These machines resembled the servers Han had seen back on Earth.
Although there were other people in the room, Flareen and Evara's attention was immediately drawn to a figure standing near the window, gazing at the massive pillar beyond. This new presence was a Gem composed of pale, diamond-like light. Their attire was much more elaborate, complete with a long, trailing cape that brushed the floor. Atop their head rested an ornate crown adorned with star symbols, lending them a divine, regal presence.
Flareen quickly bowed. Evara, startled, hurried to follow suit.
"We greet the Arbiter," Flareen said respectfully.
The Arbiter turned with a gentle smile. "No need for ceremony. I'm only here for a brief visit." Their eyes settled on Evara. "A new member of the research team?"
"A-ah! This one's name is Evara, Great Arbiter," Evara replied, stiff and formal.
"This is her first day. Please forgive any missteps," Flareen added, aware of Evara's unpredictable habits. It would not have been surprising if they caused an incident before noon.
The Arbiter chuckled. "Fret not. I always welcome new sprouts. I look forward to your achievements, little Evara."
With that, the Arbiter departed the chamber, followed closely by two silent Gems who appeared to be bodyguards.
Once they were gone, Evara let out a sharp breath. "Whew. For a second, I really thought I was going to get my head chopped off. Does the Arbiter visit often?"
Flareen shook their head. "No, not before now. But with the invaders attacking us, increasing the efficiency of the extraction towers has become a priority. You know how much we rely on the energy siphoned from them."
Evara only hummed in response. As the echo faded, Han, Alwyn, and Erika were left standing alone in the empty city. The world around them shifted. The lingering remnants of the dead disappeared, leaving only silence in the research chamber.
The massive pillar at the tower's center had gone dark. The aetheric light that once pulsed from the earth was gone, leaving behind a cold, hollow stillness. Fortunately, they weren't left entirely in darkness. Patches of aether crystals still clung to the tower's walls, providing soft illumination.
"Money!" Erika shouted before darting off to collect more crystals.
Han and Alwyn stayed back, turning to Evara's projection.
"Your civilization was more advanced than we previously thought," Alwyn said. "Extracting aether directly from the planet is bold."
The people of Arboren had learned how to use aether, but none had discovered how to extract it directly from the planet's core. Most of their energy was harvested from naturally occurring aetheric crystals that formed in excess pools of aether.
"But… isn't that bad?" Han asked. He wasn't a scientist, but he knew aether was tightly bound to the world itself. Tearing it out the way the Gems had would no doubt leave lasting damage.
"Perhaps they knew," Evara whispered. "But they couldn't stop."
"In any case, we shouldn't stay here for long," Alwyn said. The tower's structure was unstable and visibly damaged. It was already a miracle that they hadn't been buried alive when the echo ended. They needed to leave as soon as possible.
"Erika, it's time to go!" Han called out to her, watching as she swung the pickaxe with relentless energy.
Erika clicked her tongue in irritation but stopped mining nonetheless. Alwyn summoned another aetheric bird, and the group climbed aboard. They flew upward, ascending through the tower's shattered interior. A gaping hole in the midsection made their exit easy. The tower had clearly collapsed in on itself long ago.
Following Evara's instinct, the group headed toward another floating island. This one was farther away and lower in elevation, but Alwyn's summoned bird was more than capable of making the journey. However, as they neared the island, a strange sensation crept over them. The space around them trembled faintly, like a ripple across fabric.
"This area isn't stable," Alwyn warned, narrowing his eyes. He urged the bird forward at a faster pace until they safely touched down.
Up to this point, they had only explored areas where the space remained relatively intact. Now, however, they had entered a zone of spatial instability. If they weren't cautious, they could be pulled into a rift. In the best-case scenario, the tear would spit them out nearby. Worst-case, they would be torn apart completely.
Despite the danger, the three teenagers didn't feel it was time to turn back. Investigating the true history of this broken world was bound to lead them into peril. This was no exception. So they pressed on, step by step, across the dunes.
At first, nothing new or particularly dangerous appeared. Just more sand. Occasionally, the monotony was broken by ruined structures half-buried in the dust. But eventually, something different emerged on the horizon.
A splash of color.
It shimmered in the distance, like an oasis breaking the yellow monotony of the desert. As they drew closer, they saw what it was: a forest. Not just any forest, but one pulsing with life and aether. Even the air felt denser, more alive, brimming with power that the deadlands lacked.
"This place…" Evara murmured, her voice trailing off.
Recognizing this as their next destination, the trio continued forward, wary but determined. The jungle was unlike anything they had seen so far. Strange plants in wild shapes and vibrant colors filled the area, some of them even glowing faintly with stored aether. The calm was deceptive, and none of them dared to let their guard down.
They walked cautiously through the lush undergrowth until they heard something rustling nearby.
All three tensed, ready to defend themselves.
But it wasn't an enemy. It was another echo of Evara, stumbling through the greenery, muttering under her breath.
"Looks like we've wandered into another echo," Alwyn said. The transition had been so seamless, none of them had noticed it until now.
Sharing a glance, the three began following the echo deeper into the forest without a word.
Evara's echo grumbled as they walked. "Geez, how did I even get lost like this? Ugh… Flareen's going to yell at me until I crack."
Still muttering complaints, Evara failed to notice the uneven ground ahead. Their foot slipped. With a startled yelp, they tumbled down a hidden slope.
"Ahhh!" they cried, flailing as they fell. Luckily, the thick undergrowth at the bottom softened the impact, keeping their gem-like body from shattering.
Moments later, Han, Erika, and Alwyn landed gently beside them, having descended more carefully. Evara looked up at the slope they had fallen from. It was far too steep to climb without risking another fall. Being alone now, they decided not to chance it.
Instead, Evara turned toward the dark tunnel ahead, hoping it would lead to another exit.
They lit the way with a bright gem, its light bouncing off the damp walls. The tunnel stretched on and on. At one point, Evara considered turning back, but something urged them to keep going.
"Stay positive, Evara. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a great prime spot for a new extraction tower," they muttered to themself. The war against the invaders had grown fiercer, and the current towers were no longer enough to meet demand. That was why Evara and a group of researchers had been sent to scout for a new viable location. During a short break, they had wandered off for some fresh air and ended up lost.
They really hoped things wouldn't get worse. The last thing they wanted was to make Flareen come rescue them. That would be beyond embarrassing.
Thankfully, the tunnel finally opened into a vast chamber.
Evara froze at the breathtaking sight.
Towering before them was a massive shell of crystal, as if the earth itself had grown it from within. The structure resembled an enormous egg, supported by pillars of luminous crystal that arched into a chamber hidden beneath the jungle canopy. Though the shell was thick, they could still make out something inside: a colossal beast, resting quietly within.