"The past does not vanish when forgotten. It lingers, waiting to be heard again."
The forest greeted them with silence. Not the calm stillness of peace, but a living, listening quiet that pressed against the skin. The air was heavy with the scent of moss and cold water. Ancient trees loomed on all sides, their trunks wide enough to swallow a small house. Shafts of light pierced the canopy, painting faint gold lines across the mist.
Kael drew his cloak tighter. "I hate forests. Too many places for things to hide."
Lior touched one of the trees, feeling the rough bark beneath his fingers. "They are not hiding. They are watching."
"That is comforting," Kael said. "Truly."
They followed a faint path winding between the roots, their footsteps muffled by thick layers of fallen leaves. Every so often, Lior would pause, as if hearing something beyond Kael's reach. The forest seemed to hum faintly, low and mournful.
Hours passed without a clear sense of time. The deeper they went, the dimmer the light became, until the world turned into shades of blue and green. Small orbs of pale light floated between the branches, drifting like wandering stars.
Kael watched one hover near his face. "You think those are fireflies?"
Lior shook his head. "No. They are echoes."
"Echoes?"
"Of the ones who never left this forest."
Kael frowned. "You mean ghosts?"
"Not ghosts. Memories," Lior said softly. "Fragments that forgot how to die."
They reached a small clearing where a pool of water lay still and perfect, mirroring the canopy above. In the reflection, however, there were faces. Hundreds of them, whispering silently, their eyes bright and sorrowful.
Kael took a step back. "That is new."
Lior knelt by the water. The faces shifted, focusing on him. Their whispers grew louder, weaving into words that touched only his mind. Lior… you returned…
His chest tightened. "Who are you?"
The ones you left behind, the voices said together.
Kael glanced around, uneasy. "I do not like this place. Lior, we should leave."
Before he could finish, the reflection changed again. A single figure rose from the water, a woman cloaked in white, her hair flowing like liquid silver. Her eyes were filled with both warmth and grief.
Lior froze. "Mother?"
Kael's breath caught. "Lior, that cannot be."
But she smiled. "My son," she said, her voice soft as rain. "You carry his flame still."
Lior's throat closed. "You died. I saw the fire consume everything."
Her hand reached toward him. The air shimmered where her fingers passed. "Death does not end what love binds. I waited, hoping you would remember who you are."
He trembled, torn between stepping closer and running away. "Why show yourself now?"
"Because the flame within you flickers. You doubt. You fear. And the path ahead will not forgive hesitation." Her gaze turned to Kael. "The shadow-born stands beside you still. That bond will either save or destroy you both."
Kael swallowed hard. "I would prefer the first option, if possible."
Lior took another step toward her. "Tell me what I must do."
Her smile faded. "The truth lies beyond the heart of the forest, where time folds upon itself. But beware, my son. The echoes will test your soul. You must face what you buried long ago."
Before he could answer, the reflection shattered. The water rippled violently, and the woman's image dissolved into mist. The orbs of light dimmed, and the air grew heavy again.
Kael crouched beside him. "You all right?"
Lior stared at the pool, his voice low. "That was not a memory. It was a warning."
"What kind of warning?"
"That the forest remembers more than I do."
As they rose to leave, the ground trembled beneath their feet. From the shadows between the trees came figures of light and ash—humanoid, but hollow, their forms flickering like dying embers. Their faces were blank, yet something about them felt painfully familiar.
Kael drew his blades. "Please tell me those are friendly memories."
"They are the ones who fell in Ardelin," Lior said. "My past."
The first echo lunged, its movements fluid but distorted. Lior met it head-on, his sword slicing through the figure, scattering it into mist. Another came, and another, until they were surrounded.
Kael fought beside him, his daggers flashing. The echoes made no sound when struck, no cry, only vanished into silence. Yet each time one fell, Lior felt a faint tug in his chest, like a thread being pulled loose.
The last echo stopped before him. Its face shifted and settled into one he recognized, Kael's.
Lior froze. The echo raised its blade.
Kael's voice came from behind him, urgent. "Lior! That is not me!"
But the echo spoke in his tone. "You will fail him too."
Lior's resolve wavered, the flame within him flickering violently. For a moment, he saw flashes again. Kael falling, his own hands stained with light and shadow.
Then he roared, driving his sword through the apparition. The echo dissolved, leaving only a faint whisper. Remember who you chose to protect.
Lior stood still, panting. The forest had gone silent once more. Kael approached carefully. "That looked like it hurt."
"It did," Lior admitted. "But I think that was the point."
Kael sheathed his blades. "Well, next time your memories want to kill you, let me know in advance. I will bring snacks."
Despite himself, Lior smiled faintly. "Come. The heart of the forest lies ahead. We are not done yet."
The mist parted before them, revealing a narrow path lined with glowing roots that pulsed faintly with light. Somewhere ahead, a faint sound like a heartbeat echoed through the stillness.
Kael glanced at him. "That sound… it is coming from below."
Lior nodded. "Yes. The forest's heart."
He stepped forward. "Let us see if it still remembers mercy."
The trees seemed to bend inward as they walked, the glow deepening to gold. The air felt alive now, heavy with expectation.
And as the last light of day faded beyond the canopy, the two figures disappeared into the heart of the forest, toward truth, and toward whatever waited beyond it.