The Key Shard hovered between us, spinning lazily in the air.
Its glow pulsated, creating a gentle hum that filled the silence.
When I reached out, it moved on its own, floating toward me as if drawn to the fragment in my hand.
"Careful," Lira said, her tone sharp. "It's not just a trinket. The shard's power is tied to Elysia itself."
Before I could respond, the shard released a beam of light, shooting into the distance.
A shimmering bridge of golden energy materialized, stretching far into the horizon.
It seemed to connect the island we were on to a distant land suspended in the sky.
"That's our path," Lira announced, motioning for me to follow.
The bridge swayed slightly under our steps, though it felt solid beneath my feet.
As we walked, the fragmented island behind us dissolved into mist, swallowed by Elysia's endless void.
"Where does this lead?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder at the vanishing landscape.
"To the next region," Lira replied, her voice steady. "And to more questions than answers, I'm sure."
Ahead of us, the bridge ended at a dense forest.
The trees glowed faintly, their leaves shimmering like glass.
The air here was thick with energy, every breath filling me with an unexplainable tension.
"This place…" I murmured, stepping cautiously into the forest.
The ground beneath us shifted subtly, the terrain seeming to ripple like water.
Each step brought a new sensation, one moment, the forest was vibrant and alive, the next, it was eerily silent, its colors muted.
"It's reacting to you," Lira said, her gaze sharp as she scanned the surroundings. "Your emotions. Keep them in check, or this place will twist into something worse."
"Easier said than done," I muttered, gripping the fragment tightly.
We continued deeper into the forest, the shifting landscape growing more disorienting with each step.
My mind felt heavy, as if the air itself was pressing down on me.
Then, without warning, the fragment in my hand began to glow brighter.
The world around me blurred.
I was no longer in the forest. Instead, I stood in a dimly lit room.
A familiar scent lingered in the air warm bread and something faintly metallic.
The room felt like home, yet it wasn't.
"Kay," a voice called softly, pulling my attention.
I turned, but the figure was hazy, their face obscured.
I reached out, but the vision shattered, and I was back in the forest, gasping for air.
"What just happened?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Lira frowned, studying me. "A memory, maybe. Or a piece of one. The fragment might be unlocking something."
The glowing trees around us began to dim, their light turning a sickly shade of green.
The ground trembled faintly, and a low, guttural sound echoed through the forest.
Lira drew her blade, her expression grim. "Stay alert. We're not alone."
From the shadows of the forest, a figure emerged.
Its form was human-like but distorted, its edges blurred as if it were caught between reality and a dream.
Its voice was a chorus of whispers, speaking directly into my mind.
"Kay… do you remember?"
I staggered back, my heart racing.
The figure's face shifted, taking on familiar features before dissolving into something monstrous.
"What is that?" I asked, gripping the fragment tighter.
"An Echo," Lira replied, her blade glowing faintly. "A manifestation of suppressed emotions. It's tied to you, Kay."
The Echo stepped closer, its form twisting with every step.
"You left us," it hissed, its voice dripping with malice. "You ran away."
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
The Echo lunged, its arm stretching unnaturally toward me.
I barely managed to raise the fragment in time, its energy forming a shield that deflected the attack.
"Focus, Kay!" Lira shouted, slashing at the Echo.
Her blade cut through it, but the creature reformed instantly, its laughter echoing through the forest.
"It's feeding off your fear," she said, her eyes locking onto mine. "You have to control the fragment. Use it to ground yourself, or this thing will tear you apart."
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe.
The fragment's energy felt wild, but I tried to channel it, focusing on the glowing light in my hand.
When I opened my eyes, the Echo was inches away, its twisted features leering at me.
I thrust the fragment forward, releasing a burst of light that sent it stumbling back.
"Good!" Lira called. "Now finish it!"
The fragment hummed, its energy resonating with something deep within me.
I stepped forward, The Echo lunged again, but this time, I didn't flinch.
With a surge of energy, I unleashed a final blast from the fragment, striking the Echo squarely in its chest.
The creature let out a distorted scream before shattering into motes of light.
The forest stilled, its colors slowly returning to normal.
Lira approached me, her expression unreadable.
"You did well," she said after a moment. "But this won't be the last time you face something like that."
"What was it talking about?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What did it mean by 'you left us'?"
She shook her head. "That's something only you can answer. But if you keep letting your past control you, it'll kill us both."
Her words stung, but I couldn't argue.
As we moved deeper into the forest, the fragment in my hand pulsed faintly, as if reacting to something ahead.
In the distance, a massive structure loomed a temple floating amidst the clouds.
"That's the first gate to the Nexus," Lira said, her voice filled with both awe and caution. "And the real test begins there."