Caden's stomach clenched as the echoes of the System's warning surged back, prickling his awareness.
[Warning: The presence of System Fragments may destabilize surrounding areas.]
The fire between them crackled, casting long, flickering shadows across Garrick's face. Caden studied his ally's worn features, the sharpness in Garrick's eyes more intense than ever.
"It seems your arrival has stirred more than just shadows," Garrick murmured, his voice edged with caution. "We need to prepare."
Caden nodded, feeling the strain of recent battles and the heavy exhaustion settling over him. His hand drifted to the shard, now cool in his pocket, its dormant state a stark contrast to the chaos it had ignited. "Prepare for what?" he asked, his voice low. "Out there, I barely survived."
Garrick's mouth tightened. "The echoes are drawn to the fragments like moths to flame. And by carrying one, you're not just a beacon—you're a summons."
He moved to a nearby shelf, pulling down a book with a cracked leather cover. Dust plumed into the air as he flipped through pages marked by time and age. The worn symbols were illuminated in the dim firelight, and Garrick traced a finger over them as if they held their own pulse.
Caden leaned in, straining to make out the strange marks. "What is that?"
"A map of whispers," Garrick replied, his tone reverent. "Old notes and scattered accounts. It's the closest we have to understanding the fragments' influence and where they lead." He paused. "It's also how we know what they draw toward us."
Caden's stomach dropped. "Why did the System lead me here?" Frustration seeped into his voice. "It told me to leave the forest without saying why."
Garrick's eyes hardened as he snapped the book shut. "This System you carry isn't a tool, boy. It's a relic from a time when the world was whole. And that world is broken now, fragmented—just like the shards. These echoes it sends are as erratic as they are essential."
Before Caden could respond, a sharp noise sliced through the air—a metallic clatter from outside. Garrick's body tensed, and he doused the fire, plunging the room into darkness. The silence between them was as taut as a drawn bowstring.
[Warning: Hostile presence detected.]
Caden's pulse hammered, fingers itching for the reassurance of a weapon.
"Stay behind me," Garrick whispered, eyes locked on the doorway. "Whatever's out there, it's here for the fragment."
Shadows deepened along the floor, swirling with a sickly, unnatural green glow. Slowly, the dim outline of a figure emerged outside—a man with eyes glowing a twisted, eerie light, his body moving with a jerky, unnatural grace.
Caden's breath caught. The creature was different from the corrupted beasts in the forest—this one was aware.
[Analyzing… Corrupted Echo Knight. Threat Level: Critical.]
The System's assessment sent a chill down his spine. Garrick's expression darkened as he turned to Caden, his voice low and urgent. "Don't let it see you. Its mind is fractured, but it will sense the shard."
Before Caden could process the words, the Echo Knight's gaze locked onto the hut, its hollow eyes narrowing in recognition. With unnatural speed, it advanced, the ground quaking beneath its step.
Garrick moved swiftly, grabbing a staff from the wall and slamming its base into the floor. A shimmering barrier erupted in front of the door, bathing the room in blue light. The Echo Knight collided with the barrier, howling as the force repelled it in a burst of crackling energy.
The hut shook from the impact, dust and debris raining down as Caden struggled to stay on his feet.
"This won't hold it back for long," Garrick said, voice strained. His focus remained on the creature pressing against the barrier. "We can't defeat it here—it's too strong. But if we lure it to the river cliffs, we'll have the upper hand. You take the path behind the hut. I'll draw its attention and meet you there."
Caden's heart raced. "How will I know where to go?"
Garrick's eyes gleamed with resolve. "Follow the pulse of the shard. It led you here; it'll guide you through the path." His gaze softened. "Trust it, and trust yourself."
Before Caden could respond, the barrier flickered and dimmed, splintering into fragments under the Echo Knight's relentless assault. Garrick's face set in determination as he waved Caden toward the back exit. "Go!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Caden slipped into the night, heart pounding as he followed the hidden path around the hut. Behind him, Garrick's shouts mingled with the unearthly howls of the Echo Knight, each step driving Caden closer to the river cliffs—and, with any luck, to safety.