Liora woke to the sound of her own heartbeat.
Fast. Uneven. Too loud.
The ruins around her were quiet again, but her body trembled like the echo of a storm still passing through.
Kael sat near the shattered mirror, his back against the wall, a torch burning low beside him. His armor was cracked, and his hands were bloodied — but his eyes were fixed on her, unblinking.
"Don't move too fast," he murmured, voice rough. "You've been out for hours."
Liora tried to speak, but the words stuck in her throat. The light beneath her skin had dimmed, but faint golden veins still pulsed faintly under her wrists.
She pressed her hand to her chest — and froze.
Something… moved inside her.
You woke me.
The voice wasn't outside.
It wasn't Kael.
It came from somewhere deeper, curling through her thoughts like smoke through broken glass.
"Liora?" Kael rose quickly, sword in hand. "What's wrong?"
She blinked, forcing a small, shaky smile. "Nothing. Just dizzy."
But she lied.
Because the whisper didn't stop.
You opened the gate, child. You broke the seal that kept me buried.
Her heart pounded harder. "Who are you?" she whispered under her breath.
You know my name already, the voice hissed, soft and venomous. They called me the Shadow of Elyndra… before your blood betrayed me.
Liora's vision blurred. The ruins flickered — for a second, she wasn't in the chamber anymore but standing in a vast field beneath a crimson sky. The ground was cracked, littered with burning flowers that turned to ash at her feet.
In the distance stood a woman — her mother — singing the same haunting lullaby from her dream.
"Mother?"
Her mother turned, eyes hollow, mouth trembling. "You shouldn't have come here."
The ground split open beneath them. A thousand shadows rose from the cracks, their faces screaming silently as they reached for her.
Do you see now? the voice whispered. Your mother didn't die to protect you. She died to keep me caged.
"Liora!"
Kael's shout snapped her back. She stumbled, gasping, and realized she was on her knees — blood dripping from her nose, her palms pressed against the cold stone.
He grabbed her shoulders. "You're bleeding again. What the hell is happening?"
She couldn't answer. Not without sounding insane.
"I saw her," she breathed. "My mother. She was… warning me."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Or maybe the Shade was showing you what it wanted you to see."
Liora met his gaze, her eyes glinting faintly gold. "It's inside me now, Kael. I can hear it. I can feel it."
He hesitated — and then, slowly, reached out, cupping her face in his blood-streaked hands. "Then we keep it there. Contained. You hear me? You don't face this alone."
For a moment, she let herself believe him.
For a moment, his touch steadied her heart.
But the whisper returned, low and amused.
He lies to himself. He'll kill you when the time comes.
Liora flinched, pulling away.
Kael frowned. "What is it?"
"Nothing," she lied again, standing. "We should move before nightfall."
They left the ruins as the sun began to set — but something in Liora's eyes had changed. The warmth that used to live there now shimmered like dying embers.
That night, they camped by the river. The air was cold, and mist curled above the black water. Kael sat sharpening his blade, his reflection distorted in the metal's surface.
Liora sat across from him, watching the flames.
Every now and then, the whisper would hum — the same lullaby her mother sang, but slower, darker.
She pressed her palms to her ears. "Stop it."
Why fight me? it asked gently. Do you think he can save you? He doesn't even know what you are.
Tears welled in her eyes. "And what am I?"
The voice chuckled. You are the last echo of my soul. My heart beats in yours. The girl named Liora was only a shell — a vessel shaped by bloodline magic. You were never meant to be human.
"No," she whispered. "That's not true."
Then ask him.
Liora looked up. Kael was watching her. His eyes were tired, full of worry — and something else. Guilt.
"Kael," she said softly. "When you look at me… what do you see?"
He hesitated, lowering his sword. "Someone worth saving."
The whisper inside her laughed.
How kind. Pity always sounds like love when spoken by the broken.
Liora clenched her fists until her nails cut her palms. She didn't respond. She just stared into the fire, tears slipping down her cheeks silently.
When Kael finally slept, Liora stood. The forest was quiet — too quiet. She walked to the edge of the river, her reflection rippling under the moonlight.
For a moment, she thought she saw herself again. But the reflection smirked — the same cruel, knowing smile from the mirror.
You can't run from me, it whispered. You are me.
And as the moonlight shimmered on her skin, her reflection's eyes burned gold.
Liora reached out with trembling fingers — and this time, the reflection reached back.
When her hand touched the water, the surface split apart like a living thing, swallowing her reflection whole.
Behind her, Kael stirred in his sleep, murmuring her name. But when he opened his eyes — she was gone.
Only her pendant lay by the fire, glowing faintly.
And in the distance, the lullaby began again.
Low.
Broken.
And full of sorrow.