At first, the academy didn't notice.Too many voices, too many rumors, too many eyes watching Eris.But when the pulse of aether tremored through the ground for the third time, even the stones seemed to flinch.
By midday, the order had been issued:
Veltharion Academy – Full Lockdown
Dorms sealed.Training grounds closed.Main gates fortified with reinforced runic barriers.
The heirs and their shadows were escorted back to the tower by instructors with pale faces and trembling hands.
Because something was here.Something that had followed them back from the Resonant Hollow.Something that wasn't supposed to exist in this world.
Returning to the Infirmary
Eris and Saphine led the heirs to the sealed ward where Alia slept.
Valari Ka'tarel and Professor Myr met them outside.
Myr whispered urgently:
"Her aether is unstable. Every time something stirs outside the barrier, her Echo reacts like a tuning fork."
Valari glared at Eris.
"Explain."
He didn't bother arguing.
"Her Echo isn't asleep."He gestured at the glowing runes around the chamber."It's listening."
The heirs inhaled sharply.
Seloria murmured:
"Listening… to what?"
Eris stepped inside the ward.The air grew still, almost reverent.
Alia lay motionless in the bed, her pale hair fanned out, small fingers curled as though clutching invisible threads.
The moment Eris entered—
A faint wind brushed the room.The lamps flickered.The runes dimmed.
Softly, a voice whispered—
"Er…is…"
Saphine felt a chill crawl up her spine."Is that… really her Echo?"
Eris nodded.
"Yes. And it's afraid."
Aerin Valmont frowned.
"Of what?"
Eris looked toward the sealed windows.
"Of the thing that touched her first."
The Accusation
Verradine Calvess, arms crossed, scoffed.
"Enough riddles, Vale.Saphine nearly died.Your presence destabilizes the academy.And as Heir Ka'tarel, she hasn't shown anything worthy of her title."
Saphine stiffened.
Lyssandra's eyes widened. "Verradine—"
But Verradine continued:
"A weak heir relying on her shadow—and a shadow pretending to be a sage.This is embarrassing."
The room froze.
Saphine felt a sting in her chest.Shame? Hurt? No—anger.
But before she could speak, Eris stepped forward.
His demeanor changed.
No smile.No warmth.Just cold, absolute clarity.
"Verradine."
The Calvess heir swallowed instinctively.
Eris's eyes glowed faintly — not threatening, but piercing.
"If you want to test her strength,"he said softly,"then stand up."
Everyone froze.
Eris continued:
"Stand up.Draw your Echo.Challenge her.And I will stand beside her."
The pressure in the room tightened.
"Saphine Ka'tarel is weak?"Eris tilted his head."Then by all means — attack us.Right here.Right now."
Nobody moved.
Not even Verradine.
Eris's aura remained calm, utterly still.
"No volunteers?"His voice sharpened like a blade."Then sit down and don't speak of my heir again."
Silence.
Aerin exhaled shakily.Even Meline looked pale.
Seloria whispered:
"Akasha… never threatens.Because it doesn't need to."
Lyssandra shivered.
"He meant every word."
Saphine looked at Eris — not with fear, but with something deeper.
Gratitude.And a growing warmth she couldn't name.
Eris's Estimate
Eris finally turned away from Verradine, walking back toward Alia's bedside.
"Now that interruptions are dealt with—"
"Eris—" Saphine whispered, embarrassed.
He ignored it.
"Here is what we're dealing with."He held up three fingers.
"First."
"Alia is reacting because something marked her Echo.Not awakened — marked.Some entity brushed against her soul before the Hollow collapsed."
The heirs stiffened.
"Second."
"That entity is not inside the academy…"He tapped the glowing barrier wall."…it is inside the barrier."
Seloria gasped.
"It already bypassed the wards?"
Eris nodded.
"Third."
"It is drawn to Echoes — especially hers.But it hasn't acted yet."
Korrin muttered nervously:
"That's somehow the worst part."
Meline whispered:
"Is it… hostile?"
Eris thought for a moment.
"It isn't hostile."His eyes narrowed."But it is hungry."
The room chilled instantly.
Lyssandra's voice trembled.
"…Hungry for what?"
Eris looked at Alia.
"For the last memory the Saintess left behind."
Saphine felt her breath stop.
Aerin stepped back, horrified.
Verradine turned pale.
Seloria's teacup shattered in her hand.
No one spoke.
Because everyone realized:
This isn't a monster.Not a demon.Not a corrupted Echo.
It's something worse.
Something old.Something patient.Something that followed them out of the Hollow for one reason:
To finish what someone started years ago.
The Whisper Returns
Suddenly—
A gust of wind slammed into the ward.
The lamps burst.The runes flickered violently.Shadows stretched unnaturally across the walls.
Eris's eyes widened.
Saphine grabbed his arm.
Alia whispered again—
"…he's…here…"
Rhylas stepped forward in alarm.
Meline drew her blades.
Cyrinth hissed.
Aerin steadied his spear.
Seloria shielded the heirs.
Lyssandra's daggers flared.
Saphine clutched her chest.
Eris slowly turned toward the door.
His voice dropped into something cold, ancient, and terrifyingly calm.
"Everyone.Do not move."
A shadow slid beneath the doorframe.Something thin.Something whispering.Something familiar to only one person in the room.
Saphine whispered—
"Eris… what is—"
Eris's expression was unreadable.
His Echo flared.Akasha hummed.The world trembled faintly.
"The one who marked Alia's soul…has finally arrived."