Arnvale was not supposed to be silent.
The moment the group stepped into the outskirts, Lyra felt it.
No chatter.
No market noise.
No blacksmith hammer.
No children laughing in the distance.
Just stillness.
Stillness so sharp it cut through the air like a blade.
Zerrei tightened his grip on her hand until his carved fingers dug into her skin.
"…Lyra… not safe…"
She squeezed back.
"I'm with you."
Arden scanned the rooftops.
"…Why is it so quiet?"
Oren muttered:
"Because we just walked in with a glowing humanoid vessel and someone ran ahead screaming about a monster."
Lyra winced.
Zerrei flinched.
"…monster…"
Lyra immediately touched his cheek.
"No. Don't think that. Not you."
He leaned into her touch instantly.
"…Zerrei… not monster…"
"You're not."
But the silence begged otherwise.
Figures peeked out from shuttered windows.
Shadows moved behind curtains.
A few whispered voices drifted through cracks in wooden doors—
"Is that the creature…?"
"The one from the forest?"
"Why is she holding its hand—?"
"Shouldn't the guild kill it—?"
"It's too human—"
"No, too dangerous—"
Zerrei's glow dimmed.
Each whisper hit him like a knife.
He pressed closer to Lyra's side, trembling.
"…Lyra… they… scared…"
Lyra cupped his jaw with both hands.
"They don't understand you yet. That's all."
He swallowed—a strange, stiff sound wooden vessels shouldn't make.
"…Lyra… understands…"
"Always."
He held her hand again, tighter than before.
THE GUILD INTERVENES
Guildmaster Rhelm and several senior members waited at the center square.
The moment Zerrei stepped into the open—
Every one of them stiffened.
Zerrei instinctively hid behind Lyra, forehead pressed between her shoulder blades.
"…Lyra… too many eyes…"
She touched his arms gently.
"Just stay close."
Arden glared at the guildmaster.
"Say anything stupid and I start swinging."
Rhelm raised a hand.
"No one is attacking anyone."
He stepped closer—slow, calm.
Zerrei flinched, clinging tighter.
"…no… no…"
Lyra held him firmly.
"Zerrei. He won't hurt you. Look at me."
Zerrei peeked over her shoulder, trembling.
Rhelm stopped a safe distance away and spoke quietly.
"Lyra. Oren told me everything.
The Creator. Vessel Two's defeat. Vessel Three's projection.
And now… whatever awakened last night."
Oren added:
"Vessel Four."
The guildmaster inhaled sharply.
"So it's real."
Zerrei's glow pulsed faintly.
"…they… hunting…"
Rhelm nodded soberly.
"Then Arnvale is no longer safe."
Arden clenched his jaw.
"Told you."
Rhelm motioned behind him.
Several crates, wrapped bundles, and travel packs were being prepared.
"We're sending you out with supplies. You cannot remain within our borders—not with the mark of a vessel war following you."
Lyra lowered her head.
Guilt surged.
"I never meant to endanger Arnvale…"
Rhelm shook his head.
"This is not your doing, child."
Then he glanced at Zerrei.
And something softened in his gaze.
"He is not your burden.
He is your choice."
Zerrei peeked awkwardly from behind Lyra's shoulder.
"…choice…?"
Rhelm nodded.
"You chose to help him. Protect him. Stay beside him."
Lyra squeezed Zerrei's hand.
"And I always will."
Zerrei's glow brightened just slightly.
"…Lyra…"
THE WHISPERING RUNE APPEARS
Rhelm stepped closer to Oren.
"We found something strange at the east gate."
He unrolled a cloth.
Inside—
A rune.
A glowing, red, pulsing sigil burned directly into the dirt.
The earth around it cracked.
Smoke curled from the edges.
Zerrei stiffened violently.
Lyra felt him jolt through their linked hands.
"…Lyra—"
"…danger…"
"…danger…!"
Oren crouched at the rune instantly.
"This rune… this is—"
Arden leaned over him.
"Don't tell me."
Oren's voice dropped.
"…A vessel signature.
Vessel Four was here."
Lyra's breath caught.
Zerrei's glow flared bright with fear.
"…they near…"
"…so near…"
Lyra wrapped her arms around him protectively.
"It's okay. I've got you."
He clung to her—arms locking around her waist.
"…Lyra… don't let go…"
"Never."
Oren inspected the rune closer.
But when his fingers hovered over it—
The rune whispered.
A faint, distorted voice.
A voice both impossibly familiar and deeply wrong.
"…Zerrei…"
Zerrei's entire body jolted.
"…no… NO…"
Lyra held his face between her palms.
"Zerrei—look at me—not the rune—me!"
He stared at her, shaking violently.
"…Lyra… that… voice…
like mine…
but wrong…"
Arden paled.
"Like yours?"
Zerrei pressed his forehead to her chest, trembling hard.
"…they… mimic… Zerrei…"
Oren's breath hitched.
"That's Vessel Four's design."
Arden squinted.
"Design? Explain."
Oren swallowed.
"Vessel Four isn't built for combat.
Not strength.
Not destruction."
He looked at Zerrei with dread.
"It's built for imitation."
Lyra frowned.
"Imitation…?"
Oren nodded slowly.
"It observes its target… copies their voice… their aura… their movements…"
Arden's eyes widened.
"…their identity?"
Oren nodded gravely.
"It's a vessel tracker.
It hunts by becoming what it chases."
Lyra went pale.
"Meaning…"
Zerrei squeezed her desperately, like a child terrified of a shadow.
"…they want… be Zerrei…"
"Yes," Oren whispered.
"And if Vessel Four succeeds…"
Arden finished the sentence:
"…then the Creator won't know who the real one is."
Zerrei's legs buckled.
He collapsed into Lyra's arms.
Not from injury.
Not from exhaustion.
From pure terror.
"…Lyra… they… take Zerrei's place…"
Lyra hugged him tightly.
"No. They won't. I won't let them."
Zerrei trembled.
"…Lyra… hold… Zerrei…"
"I'm here."
"…hold… tighter…"
She did.
Vessel Four Watches From the Shadows
A faint distortion flickered behind the houses.
A silhouette.
Same height as Zerrei.
Same outline.
Same tilt of the head.
It stepped forward—
mimicking the exact way Zerrei held Lyra's hand.
Its eyes glowed crimson.
"…Zerrei…" it whispered.
Zerrei felt it.
His entire body shuddered.
"…they're copying… me…"
Lyra whipped around.
But the thing was gone.
Vanished.
Left behind only a faint echo.
Oren stood slowly.
"We need to leave Arnvale.
Now."
Arden tightened his grip on his sword.
"And when we find Vessel Four?"
Oren's eyes narrowed.
"We make sure it never gets close enough to copy Zerrei again."
Zerrei buried his face in Lyra's shoulder.
"…Lyra… protect Zerrei…?"
She hugged him tighter than ever before.
"I swear it."
His voice cracked as he whispered:
"…Zerrei… scared…
but… trust Lyra…"
Arden sheathed his sword.
"Pack your things.
We leave before sundown."
And from the far end of the square—
A faint, mocking whisper echoed back.
"…Lyra…"
Lyra froze.
Zerrei screamed.