The sun had long disappeared beyond the cliffs of Elyndra, leaving behind streaks of violet and crimson that bled into the horizon like fading hope. The air was heavy—too heavy. Even the whispers of the forest seemed to have died tonight.
Liora sat beside the dying campfire, her hands trembling as she stared into the flickering embers. The golden light reflected off the faint tear tracks on her cheeks. Every time she blinked, she saw it again—Auren's blood on her hands, his last breath fading into the silence of the cursed woods.
She couldn't tell if the ache in her chest was grief… or guilt.
"Blaming yourself won't bring him back," Kael's voice broke through the crackling of the fire. He stood behind her, his tone calm, but his eyes held the same exhaustion that weighed on her soul.
Liora didn't turn. "He died because of me, Kael. I led him into the Whispering Mire. I thought I could control it. I thought the magic would listen to me."
Kael stepped closer, his boots crunching softly on the forest floor. "And if you hadn't? The Shade would've taken us all. Auren knew the risks. He made his choice."
The mention of the Shade sent a chill crawling up her spine. That thing… the way it moved, the way it spoke inside her mind—it wasn't just a monster. It was something older, deeper. And it knew her name.
She closed her eyes, gripping the pendant that hung from her neck—the last thing Auren had touched. "You didn't see what I saw, Kael. It called me by name before it struck. It knew me."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Then we need to find out why. You're not facing this alone."
But she barely heard him. The wind shifted, carrying with it a soft murmur—like someone whispering through the trees. Her pulse quickened. The voice was faint, almost tender.
Liora… come back…
Her eyes widened. "Did you hear that?"
Kael froze. "Hear what?"
"It was him," she whispered. "Auren. He's calling me."
"Liora—"
But she was already standing, her body moving as if pulled by invisible strings. The voice was growing louder, clearer. She stepped past the edge of the light, into the misty darkness.
"Liora, stop!" Kael's shout echoed behind her, but her feet wouldn't obey. The whispers wrapped around her like silk threads, soft and familiar.
She followed them deeper into the forest until she saw it—a faint glow hovering between the trees. And in that light stood Auren.
At least… it looked like him.
His eyes were hollow, his skin pale and faintly translucent. Yet he smiled—the same warm, reckless smile that used to make her heart skip.
"You came," he said softly. "I knew you would."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Auren… how is this possible?"
He stepped closer, the glow around him pulsing like a heartbeat. "Because you called me, Liora. You didn't want to let go. Neither did I."
Her breath trembled. "Then come back. Please. We can fix this."
He reached for her, fingers brushing her cheek. It felt cold—too cold. "You can bring me back," he murmured. "All you need is the pendant. It's the key. Give it to me."
Liora hesitated. "The pendant? But it's—"
"Do you trust me?"
Her heart ached. "Always."
She raised the pendant slowly, but before it touched his hand, a sharp cry pierced the air.
"Liora, don't!"
Kael burst through the trees, sword drawn, his eyes blazing. "That's not him! Step away!"
Auren's face twisted, his smile curdling into something monstrous. His voice deepened, echoing like a thousand whispers overlapping.
"Always too late, aren't you, Kael?"
The figure lunged, dissolving into black smoke that wrapped around Liora's arm. She screamed as the pendant burned hot against her skin. Kael rushed forward, slicing through the dark tendrils with a flash of silver. The smoke shrieked before bursting apart, vanishing into the night.
Liora collapsed into his arms, trembling. The pendant lay on the ground between them, cracked and smoldering.
Kael knelt beside her, gripping her shoulders. "Liora, look at me! Are you hurt?"
Her lips quivered. "It wasn't him… was it?"
Kael shook his head. "No. The Shade's getting stronger. It's using his voice now."
The realization broke her. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing silently. Kael said nothing—he just sat beside her, eyes fixed on the shattered pendant glowing faintly in the dirt.
After a long silence, Liora whispered, "If it's using his voice… then maybe it's trying to tell me something. Something it wants me to remember."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Or something it wants you to forget."
The wind howled through the trees again, carrying faint whispers that only Liora could hear.
And this time, beneath the sorrow and fear, she recognized the voice. It wasn't Auren. It was her mother's.