The night pressed down heavy over Elyndra, its silence broken only by the crackle of dying embers and the soft rhythm of Liora's unsteady breaths. She hadn't slept since the Shade's voice took Auren's form. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face twisting into that thing's smile.
Kael had kept watch through the night, sitting just a few feet away, his sword planted firmly in the earth. The steel caught the faint light of dawn, glowing faintly red. But it wasn't the blade that worried him—it was Liora.
She hadn't spoken since the attack. Only stared into the darkness as though searching for something lost long ago.
Finally, as the first pale rays of morning pierced the mist, she spoke.
"Kael," her voice cracked softly, "do you believe in memory magic?"
He frowned. "It's forbidden for a reason. It can twist what's real—make lies feel like truth. Why?"
Liora turned to him, eyes glimmering faintly with gold. "Because last night… when the Shade used Auren's voice—it wasn't just trying to scare me. It showed me something. A place I know I've seen before."
Kael straightened, cautious. "What did you see?"
She hesitated, trying to form the words. "A song. My mother was singing. Her voice echoed through the forest, and the trees were… listening. But when I tried to step closer, the ground broke apart, and there was light—like something buried beneath the roots."
Kael studied her face. "You think the Shade is connected to your mother?"
"I don't think," she whispered. "I know."
He looked away, his jaw tightening. "Then we need to find out what she was hiding."
By midday, they reached the edges of the Elderwood Ruins—a forgotten place, half-swallowed by the forest. The remains of old stone arches jutted out of the earth like broken teeth, covered in moss and carved with runes that pulsed faintly beneath the sunlight.
Liora felt her pulse quicken as she stepped closer. The carvings shimmered with a faint golden hue, responding to her presence.
Kael unsheathed his sword. "Stay behind me."
She ignored him, kneeling beside one of the runes. Her fingers brushed across the stone, and the symbols flared brighter, humming softly.
"Kael… it's reacting to my touch."
Before he could answer, the air around them thickened, and a soft melody filled the space—a haunting lullaby.
Liora froze. "That's it. That's the song."
She rose slowly, following the music deeper into the ruins. The path curved downward, leading into a hollow chamber where sunlight barely reached. At the center stood a cracked mirror framed in gold vines.
Kael's grip tightened on his sword. "A relic mirror. Don't go near it—"
But Liora was already moving, drawn by the faint reflection flickering across its surface. Her own reflection stared back at her… but the woman in the mirror was older, her eyes full of sorrow.
"Mother?"
The reflection smiled gently. "My little whisper… you've grown."
Kael took a step forward, tension radiating off him. "This isn't real. It's another trick—"
The reflection turned her gaze toward him. "And yet, she remembers me. Can you say the same for your bloodline, son of the Broken Flame?"
Kael froze, shock flashing through his eyes. "How do you know that name?"
The woman in the mirror smiled sadly. "Because I was there when your family fell."
Liora's heart pounded. "What are you talking about? What's happening to Elyndra? Why does the Shade know me?"
The reflection's eyes darkened, and the melody turned hollow. "Because you carry its voice, child. You are not cursed… you are its vessel."
The words hit Liora like a knife. "No… no, that's not true."
The mirror pulsed once, and her mother's reflection shifted into shadow. The same golden eyes glowed from within the darkness.
Kael lunged forward, slashing his sword through the air—too late. The shadow burst outward, slamming into both of them. The chamber trembled as whispers filled the air, twisting into screams.
Liora clutched her head, pain tearing through her skull. You are the Echo, the voice hissed inside her. The first and the last whisper of Elyndra.
Kael fought to reach her, but the shadows coiled around his arms like chains. "Liora! Fight it! You're stronger than this!"
She screamed, her magic flaring like wildfire. The runes on the walls exploded with golden light. For a moment, everything was silent—then, with a burst of energy, the shadows shattered, and the mirror cracked completely.
When the light faded, the chamber was still. Kael was on one knee, breathing hard. Liora stood in the center, her hair drifting weightlessly, her eyes glowing faintly gold.
She looked down at her hands—veins of light pulsing beneath her skin.
"Kael…" she whispered, trembling. "It's inside me."
He rose slowly, his face unreadable. "Then we don't run from it anymore. We find a way to control it."
Tears welled in her eyes. "And if I can't?"
He stepped closer, his voice steady. "Then I'll be the one to stop you."
The air around them was heavy again—but this time, it wasn't just fear. It was destiny.
And deep beneath the ruins, in the echo of the shattered mirror, something dark laughed softly.