The warning from Evelyn weighted heavily on Lira, lingering like a whisper in the back of her mind. For days, she tried to convince herself to reaching for Aeron's fragment, to let his memory drift back into the vast archive to where it belonged. But each night, she felt its pull, a quiet , insistent reminder of his gaze, his touch, his whispered promises.
Desperate for answers, Lira decided to meet with the other archivists, hoping they could offer some guidance Or reassurence. She hadn't sought their company in years, preferring the solitude of her work. But this was different;the lines between memory and reality were blurring, and she needed help.
The other Archivists met in an ancient hall in the heart of the city. The room was dimly lit, the walls lined with dusty tomes and strange artifacts gathered over the centuries. A heavy chandelier hung above, casting long shadows that flickered across the faces of those gathered there. The other Archivist were spread out around the room, some talking quietly, others lost in their own thoughts.
Lira hesitated in the doorway, suddenly feeling foolish. These people were all like her, guardians of memories, caretakers of lives that had long since passed. They would understand- the had to.
She stepped into the room, and several heads turned to look at her, their gazes curious but guarded. The other Archivists had always respected Lira for her dedication, her skill in navigating even the most intense echoes without losing herself. But now, she saw a hint of concern in their eyes.
Evelyn was among them, her expression softer than the rest. She crossed the room to meet Lira, her brow furrowed, " I wasn't sure you'd come, "she said quitely.
Lira managed a strained smile, " I..... I need to ask something, about a memory. "
Evelyn's gaze sharpened, "is this about thean you mentioned before? Aeron Gray?. "
The room fell silent at the name, and Lira felt a prickle of unease. She hadn't intended for others to know, but she couldn't turn back now. She nodded, feeling exposed under their watchful eyes.
Another Archivist, a tall man named Corin, spoke up, " The Gray family... I remember studyinh some of their records. But Aeron Gray's memory fragment shouldn't still exist. He was... Consumed long ago. "
Lira's heart raced, "what do you mean, 'consumed'? "
Corin exchanged looks with Evelyn before answering, " Sometimes, when a soul is bound to tightly to this world, their memory doesn't fade. It clinges, like a shadow. A memory that can linger, refusimg to rest, until it either shattered or... Or it finds a host. "
"A host, " Lira asked, her voice barely more that a whisper.
Evelyn's expressions darkened, "some memories are so intense, so full of unresolved desire or regret, that they try to live again. An archivist can become.... Infected by these memories. They lose themselves, slowly, until they are little more than a vessel for the soul that's haunting them.
The words struck Lira like a blow. She felt cold, her mind racing with fragments of her encounters with Aeron. His lingering touch, his voice calling her back, his plea: you're the only one who can bring me back.
"So what should I do, " She asked, her voice unsteady, " How do I sever the connection. "
The Archivists looked at each other in silence. Finally, Evelyn spoke, her tone gentle but firm, "Lira, there may be no way to sever it. If he's already began to root himself in your mind. ..... You may need to accept that he won't leave willingly. "
Lira's stomach twisted with fear and anger. " Are you saying that I am trapped? That I have no choice but to let him.... Take over. "
Corin shook his head, " Not necessarily, there's an old ritual, a severance, that can sometimes release a lingering memory. It's dangerous, though. Few Archivists have ever tried it, and fewer still have succeeded. You'd be risking your life. "
Evelyn placed a hand on Lira's arm, " Lira you have to consider if Aeron's memory is worth that risk. Severance is a path you can't return from. If you fail, you may end more lost than Aeron ever was. "
Lira looked around the room, her eyes meeting those of the other Archivists. She could see the pity in their expressions, the understanding of the sacrifice she might have to make. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Aeron's memory was more than just a fragment, more than a haunting echo. It felt real, alive, as though he was reaching out to her, pleading for release.
" I need time to think, " Lira said finally, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions churnimg within her.
The Archivists nodded, their faces solemn. Evelyn squeezed her hand, giving her a sad, knowing smile. "Be careful, Lora. Remember who you are. Don't let him consume you. "
That night, back in her study, Lira sat alone, staring at the memory fragment. Her memory replayed the Archivists warnings, their tales of Archivists who had lost themselves to lingering memories. But she couldn't shake the image of Aeron's face, the intensitu of hos gaze , the quiet plea in his voice. She knew it was dangerous, that she was risking more than her own life. But the pull was too strong, the mystery too compelling.
In the stillness, she reached for the crystal, again, feeling it's cold surface under her fingers. She knew she shouldn't knew that each encounter with Aeron drew her deeper into his world, but the compulsion was irresistible.
As she slipped back into his memory the world around her started to fade, and she found herself standing in the familiar dimness if the library. Aeron was there, waiting, his face shadowed but his eyes bright with a terrible, aching intensity.
"You came back, " He murmured, his voice like a dark lullaby.
Lira's heart pounded, a mix of fear and longing flooding her senses. She wanted to resist, to turn away, but something in his gaz held her fast, like a binding she couldn't break.
"Aeron, " She whispered, her voice trembling. "Who are you? What do you want from me? "
Aeron's expression softened, a hint of sorrow flickering across his face, " I was once a man bound by desire and regret. Now I'm little more than a echo, trapped between worlds. But you... You are my chance at freedom. Tha chance to live again. "
Tha words sent a shiver through her, and she felt his hand reach out, brushing against her cheek. The touch was as cold as death, but it left a burning trail across her skin.
"I don't understand, " She said, barely able to form the words.
" You don't need to, "he replied, his gaze holding hers, " All you have to do is surrender. Give yourself to me, and together, we will be whole, we will be free. "
His words were a promise, seductive and terrifying. A part of yearned to give in, to let herself be consumed by him, to feel the weight of his memories as if they were her own. But another part of her, the part that remember Evelyn's warning, fought against the temptation.
"I..... I can't, " She whispered, her voice breaking.
Aeron's face darkened, a flash of anger in his eyes, " You are the only one who can free me" He said, his tone almost pleading. " Don't turn away, Lira. You were meant for this. "
The room began to blur, the memory fragment slipping away from her, but his voice lingered, echoing in her mind even as she returned to her study.
You were meant for this.
Lira sat alone in the dark trembling, as the weight of his words settled over her. She could still feel his touch, his presence as though he were a shadow clinging to her skin.
And though she knew the danger, she couldn't stand the feeling that he was right - that somehow, she was meant to find him, to release him. The thought terrified her, but it also filled her with a strange, reckless determination.
For better or worse, she knew she would go back to him again.