As the forest gave way to open plains, Vero and Levin found themselves standing before the next light pillar. Its glow was softer than the one they had encountered earlier, casting a warm, golden hue that seemed almost inviting. Yet, Vero could feel an underlying tension in the air, as though the pillar held a truth he wasn't ready to face.
Levin studied the pillar with narrowed eyes, his usual grin replaced by a thoughtful frown. "Well, this one's different," he said, breaking the silence.
"Different how?" Vero asked, his grip tightening on the shard.
Levin gestured toward the runes etched into the pillar's surface. "The markings... they're more intricate than the last one. Almost like they're telling a story."
Vero stepped closer, his eyes tracing the swirling patterns of the runes. As he stared, the shard in his hand began to glow, and the runes responded, their light shifting and pulsating in time with the shard's rhythm.
"Careful," Levin warned, taking a step back. "These pillars don't just show memories—they can pull you into them."
But Vero couldn't look away. The runes seemed to come alive, their light weaving together to form an image—a vivid, moving scene that unfolded before his eyes.
---
In the vision, a vast city rose from the ground, its towers piercing the sky and its streets filled with people. The city was vibrant and alive, its architecture a perfect blend of technology and nature. At its heart stood a massive, glowing sphere—the source of the city's light and energy.
The vision shifted, and a figure appeared before the sphere. Clad in flowing robes and bearing an aura of immense power, the figure extended their hand toward the sphere. The light around them dimmed, and the city's once-thriving energy began to fade.
A voice echoed through the vision, deep and resonant:
"Veredian, the Lightbringer. The one who brought salvation... and destruction."
Vero's heart raced. The name Veredian sent a chill down his spine, though he didn't know why. The vision continued, showing the city crumbling as the sphere's light was consumed. The people screamed and fled, their forms dissolving into the shadows of the Echo.
And then the figure turned, their face obscured by light, and spoke directly to Vero.
"You bear the shard of my legacy. Will you make the same choice?"
---
The vision shattered, and Vero staggered back, his breathing ragged. Levin caught his arm, steadying him.
"Easy there," Levin said. "You looked like you were about to pass out."
Vero shook his head, trying to process what he had seen. "The name... Veredian. Do you know it?"
Levin hesitated, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by something more cautious. "Everyone in the Echo knows the name Veredian," he said. "The Lightbringer. Some say they were a savior, others a destroyer. Depends on who you ask."
"And the shard?" Vero pressed. "What does it have to do with them?"
Levin shrugged. "If I had to guess, I'd say it's a piece of whatever power Veredian used to shape the Echo. But if you're looking for a straight answer, good luck. The Echo isn't exactly big on clarity."
Vero clenched the shard tightly, his mind racing. The vision had felt too real to be just another fragment of the Echo's tricks. He couldn't shake the feeling that Veredian's fate was somehow tied to his own.
---
As they prepared to move on, the light pillar began to fade, its glow dimming until it was nothing more than a faint shimmer in the air.
Levin glanced at Vero. "So, what now? Keep chasing these pillars until we run out of luck?"
Vero met his gaze, his resolve hardening. "I don't care how many pillars it takes. I need to know the truth—about Veredian, about this shard, and about myself."
Levin smirked. "Well, that's good. Because something tells me we've only scratched the surface of this mess."
The two set off once more, the path ahead shrouded in mist. Vero didn't know what awaited them, but he was determined to find out.