The descent felt endless, the air growing colder with each step. Metal stairs groaned under their weight, their edges worn smooth by time and countless footsteps. The girl shivered as dampness seeped into the air, mingling with the faint tang of ozone. Around her, faint flickers of light danced along the walls, the glowing veins of energy seeming alive, pulsing in sync with her own heartbeat.
She glanced at Kael, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Why does this place feel… alive?"
Kael's eyes flicked to her briefly, his hand resting near the hilt of his weapon. "Because it is. The Core's energy flows through every layer of the Nexus. Some places, like this, feel it more strongly. It's why we're here—it'll respond to you."
Respond to me? The thought made her skin prickle. Ever since she'd woken, the mark on her arm had felt foreign, as if it didn't belong to her body. Now, its faint glow seemed to pulse more brightly with every step.
Lyra's voice broke through her thoughts. "The Core isn't just power. It's memory, history, everything this city's built on. If the mark on your arm ties you to it, then you're part of something much bigger than yourself."
The girl's steps faltered. "Bigger than myself? I don't even know who I am."
Lyra paused on the stairs, turning to face her. In the dim light, her sharp features softened slightly. "You're more than your memories," she said. "Trust me, I've been there. The Core doesn't care what you've lost—only what you choose to do with what it's given you."
The words offered little comfort, but the girl nodded, her jaw tightening as she pushed forward.
The stairwell opened into a cavernous space, and her breath caught. The walls stretched impossibly high, alive with streams of glowing energy that coiled and wove like veins through stone. In the center of the chamber stood a platform, its surface etched with runes that pulsed faintly, their rhythm matching the glowing conduits.
"This is it," Lyra said, her voice reverent. "An archive tied directly to the Core's flow. Few know it exists, and fewer still have ever stood here."
The girl hesitated at the threshold, overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of it all. Every pulse of energy, every flicker of light, seemed to whisper at the edges of her mind.
"What happens here?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Kael stepped up beside her, his gaze locked on the platform. "If the Core's chosen you, this place will help you understand why. It's dangerous, yes, but it's also your best chance at surviving what's coming."
"Dangerous?" The girl's stomach twisted.
Lyra smirked faintly. "Everything worth knowing comes at a price. The Core isn't gentle, but it's honest. If you're ready to face it, step onto the platform. If you're not… turn back."
The weight of their gazes pressed on her. She looked at Kael, searching his face for some hint of reassurance, but his expression remained unreadable.
Taking a steadying breath, she stepped forward. Her boots clinked softly against the platform's surface as she stepped into its center. The moment she did, the runes flared to life, glowing so brightly she had to shield her eyes. The mark on her arm burned, its glow matching the rhythm of the runes.
The hum of energy grew louder, resonating in her chest, her skull, her very bones. She gasped, clutching her arm as a surge of warmth spread through her body.
"Focus!" Lyra's voice rang out, sharp and clear. "Don't fight it—let it guide you."
The girl gritted her teeth, forcing herself to breathe through the sensation. The energy coursing through her wasn't just heat—it was alive, weaving through her thoughts and memories like fingers rifling through a book.
Images burst to life behind her eyelids.
A woman stood before her, shrouded in shadow but unmistakably familiar. Her voice echoed, soft yet urgent, as she spoke words the girl couldn't understand. Behind her, a sprawling city pulsed with light, its heart glowing brighter than anything she'd ever seen.
The image shifted violently. Machinery ground against stone, sparks flying as something ancient and immense was unearthed. Screams filled the air, followed by a deafening silence.
She cried out as pain lanced through her, sharper than anything she'd ever felt. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the platform, the light around her dimming.
"Enough!" Kael's voice cut through the haze. He moved to step forward, but Lyra grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"She has to finish this herself," Lyra said, her voice low but firm.
The girl clutched the platform's edge, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. The energy within her shifted, its once-violent flow softening into a steady pulse.
The images faded, leaving her with a single, haunting question: Who am I?
When she finally opened her eyes, the chamber was dim once more. Kael knelt beside her, his face tight with concern.
"What did you see?" he asked.
She struggled to find words. "A woman… a city… destruction." Her voice wavered. "It felt like it was mine, but it wasn't."
Lyra crouched beside her, her expression unreadable. "The Core doesn't give answers—it gives pieces. It's up to you to put them together."
The girl stared at the faintly glowing mark on her arm, the weight of its meaning pressing down on her.
Kael helped her to her feet, his grip steadying. "We'll figure this out," he said softly. "One step at a time."
As they left the chamber, the girl cast one last glance at the platform. She still didn't know who she was, or what the Core wanted from her, but one thing was clear—this was only the beginning.