The first light of dawn began to creep across the horizon as Vero reached the plains' edge. The sky above was a wash of muted colors, pale pinks and oranges bleeding into the deep indigos of the fading night. But the beauty of the scene did little to calm him. The encounter with the cloaked man still lingered in his mind, as did the strange distortion he had passed through. Each step forward felt heavier, the path ahead growing stranger with every mile.
As the trees thinned, Vero caught his first glimpse of the Boundary. It was a jagged, broken expanse stretching as far as the eye could see, a wasteland littered with remnants of structures long forgotten. The ground was cracked and dry, as if scorched by an ancient fire, and the air shimmered faintly, a clear indication that the fractures in reality were more concentrated here.
He tightened his grip on his pack, his resolve hardening. Somewhere beyond this desolate stretch was Iris Aeon, the scholar who might hold the answers he needed. But the Boundary was infamous, spoken of in hushed whispers even within the Vaults. Stories of wanderers who ventured into it and never returned had been told for generations.
This is where it begins, he thought. No turning back now.
---
The Collapse
As he moved deeper into the Boundary, the air grew heavier, pressing against his chest like an unseen force. The cracks in the ground widened, and strange, unnatural shapes began to emerge—pillars of black stone that jutted out at impossible angles, their surfaces etched with glowing runes. Vero stopped to examine one, running his fingers over the strange symbols. They pulsed faintly under his touch, as if alive.
The world around him began to hum softly, a low vibration that seemed to resonate within his very bones. Suddenly, the ground beneath him shifted, and a deep rumble echoed across the wasteland. Vero stumbled, barely managing to keep his footing as the ground split open a few feet ahead of him.
From the crack, a shimmering wave of light burst forth, twisting and contorting the air around it. The light formed a sphere, pulsating erratically as though struggling to maintain its shape. Inside the sphere, Vero could see glimpses of another place—dark, stormy skies, towering structures made of glass and metal, and figures that moved like shadows.
He stepped back, his instincts screaming at him to run. But something about the sphere held him in place. It was hypnotic, almost beautiful in its chaos. As he stared, a voice echoed in his mind—soft, distant, and unmistakably familiar.
"Find me..."
Vero's heart skipped a beat. It was the voice of the woman from the memory fragment, the silver-haired figure who had called out to him. His pulse quickened as he took a cautious step toward the sphere.
"Find you where?" he murmured, his voice barely audible. But the sphere didn't respond. Instead, it began to flicker, the images inside it growing more unstable.
Before he could react, the sphere imploded, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Vero threw up his arms, bracing himself against the blast. The force knocked him off his feet, and he hit the ground hard, the air driven from his lungs.
When the dust settled, the sphere was gone. The crack in the ground had sealed itself, leaving no trace of the anomaly. Vero sat up slowly, his head pounding. The voice still echoed faintly in his mind, as if etched into his very being.
"Find me..."
---
A Sudden Ally
As Vero pushed himself to his feet, a soft sound caught his attention. He turned, his hand instinctively moving to his blade. At first, he saw nothing. But then, from behind one of the black stone pillars, a figure emerged.
It was a woman, her long dark coat fluttering in the wind. Her face was sharp and angular, her eyes a piercing shade of green that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. She regarded Vero with a mixture of curiosity and caution, her hand resting on the hilt of a sleek, metallic weapon at her side.
"You're not from here," she said, her voice calm but edged with suspicion. "What are you doing this far out?"
Vero hesitated. The woman's presence was unexpected, and he wasn't sure if she was friend or foe. "I could ask you the same thing," he replied, keeping his tone neutral.
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Fair point." She took a step closer, her eyes scanning him as if assessing a threat. "But you don't look like the others who come out here. You're not scavenging, and you're definitely not lost. So, what is it you're after?"
Vero debated how much to reveal. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford, but he needed help if he was going to survive the Boundary. "I'm looking for someone," he said carefully. "Iris Aeon. Do you know her?"
The woman's expression shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Iris," she said, almost to herself. She paused, then nodded. "I know her. But if you're planning to find her, you're going to need more than just determination. The road ahead isn't kind to travelers."
"Do you know where she is?" Vero pressed, his hope rising despite himself.
The woman hesitated, then gestured for him to follow. "Come with me. I'll take you part of the way. But after that, you're on your own."
---
The Campfire
As night fell, the woman led Vero to a small clearing sheltered by jagged rocks. She built a fire quickly, her movements practiced and efficient. The flames cast flickering shadows across her face, highlighting the hard lines of her features.
"So," she said, breaking the silence, "why are you looking for Iris?"
Vero hesitated, then decided to be honest. "I need answers. About the Echo. About what's happening to reality."
The woman's eyes flicked to him, her expression unreadable. "The Echo," she said softly, as if testing the word. "You're braver than you look, walking into this mess willingly."
"You know about it?" Vero asked, leaning forward.
She nodded slowly. "I've seen it. Felt it. The fractures are everywhere now, spreading like a disease. If you're looking for Iris, you must think she can stop it."
"Can she?" Vero pressed.
The woman didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stared into the fire, her expression distant. Finally, she said, "Iris knows more about the Echo than anyone. But finding her won't be easy. She doesn't trust outsiders."
"Then why are you helping me?" Vero asked, his voice edged with suspicion.
The woman met his gaze, her green eyes sharp. "Let's just say I have my own reasons. But don't think this makes us allies. You're still on your own out here."
Vero nodded, accepting her words for now. As the fire crackled between them, he felt the weight of the journey ahead settle over him. The road to Iris Aeon was dangerous, but he was one step closer to the answers he sought.
And somewhere, deep in the shadows of the Boundary, the Echo waited.