It was not a battle of swords and shields. It was a battle of wills. Each shadow that touched a person tried to steal their memories, to empty them, to turn them into watchers like Varen had been. But the people of the meeting places fought back. They held their memories close. They shared them with each other. They created a web of connection that the shadows could not break.
Seong faced the first shadow. It was tall, formless, hungry. It reached for his mind, and he let it. For a moment, he felt his memories begin to slip. Then he remembered. He remembered the cold road. The huts. The thieves. The queen. His family. And he held on.
"You cannot take what I am not willing to give," he said.
The shadow screamed. And retreated.
Around him, others did the same. The queen faced a shadow and showed it her tears. Kalib showed his darkness and then his return. Kaien showed his cold and then his warmth. Al showed his patience and then his joy. Elara showed her stories. Fareen showed his redemption. Daren showed his loyalty. Luma showed her birth from ice and shadow.
And one by one, the shadows retreated.