The mist continued to clear as Vero and Levin advanced along the path, revealing the remnants of what once seemed to be a road. Cracked stones jutted from the earth, etched with runes that had long since faded. The shards of a forgotten civilization littered the ground—broken statues, shattered weapons, and fragments of structures that whispered of a time before the Echo consumed them.
Vero knelt beside one of the runes, brushing the dust away with his hand. Its markings seemed familiar, like those he had seen on the light pillars. The shard in his hand pulsed faintly, as if recognizing the remnants of its past.
Levin leaned over his shoulder. "You keep staring at these things like they're going to start talking. You think they're important?"
"They have to be," Vero replied, his voice low. "The shard reacts to them. It's like they're part of the same puzzle."
Levin shrugged, straightening up. "Well, if they're part of the puzzle, we're definitely missing a few pieces. Come on, let's keep moving before something else creepy shows up."
---
The path led them to the edge of a ravine, its depths hidden by a swirling darkness. A narrow, crumbling bridge stretched across it, barely wide enough for one person at a time.
Levin peered over the edge, whistling softly. "That's a long way down. You think it's bottomless?"
Vero didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the bridge. The shard in his hand glowed brighter, illuminating faint symbols carved into the stones of the bridge.
Levin followed his gaze and groaned. "Oh, great. More runes. What do you think, shard-boy? Is this thing safe?"
"Not really," Vero admitted. "But I don't see another way across."
Levin sighed, flipping one of his daggers in his hand. "Figures. Fine, I'll go first. If the bridge collapses, at least you'll know to turn back."
Before Vero could protest, Levin stepped onto the bridge. The stones groaned under his weight, but they held. He moved cautiously, testing each step before putting his full weight on it.
"See?" Levin called over his shoulder. "Piece of cake. Just don't look dow—"
The bridge shuddered violently, cutting him off. Levin stumbled, grabbing onto the edge to keep from falling.
"Levin!" Vero shouted, rushing forward.
"I'm fine!" Levin called back, his voice strained. "But I think we've got company!"
From the darkness of the ravine, shapes began to emerge. Shadowy figures, similar to the wraiths they had encountered earlier, but larger and more defined. Their glowing eyes fixed on the bridge as they began to crawl upward, their movements unnervingly fluid.
Vero didn't hesitate. He stepped onto the bridge, the shard in his hand blazing with light. The shadows recoiled, but they didn't retreat. Instead, they shifted their focus, surrounding the bridge and cutting off any chance of retreat.
"Great," Levin muttered, pulling himself upright. "Now what?"
"We fight," Vero said, his voice firm.
---
The shadows surged forward, their claws scraping against the stones as they lunged at the two travelers. Vero raised the shard, its light forming a barrier that deflected the first wave of attacks.
Levin moved with practiced ease, his daggers flashing as he cut through the shadows. Though his strikes couldn't destroy them, they slowed the creatures enough for Vero to push forward.
The shard pulsed in Vero's hand, guiding him toward the center of the bridge. The symbols etched into the stones began to glow, reacting to the shard's energy.
"Whatever you're doing, do it faster!" Levin shouted, dodging another swipe from one of the shadows.
Vero focused, pouring his will into the shard. The light intensified, spreading along the length of the bridge and forcing the shadows back. The symbols glowed brighter, their light forming a protective barrier around the two travelers.
For a moment, the shadows hesitated, their movements slowing as if they were unsure whether to attack. Then, with an ear-splitting screech, they dissolved into the darkness, leaving the bridge eerily quiet.
---
Levin let out a shaky laugh, wiping sweat from his brow. "Well, that was fun. Let's not do it again."
Vero didn't respond, his attention focused on the shard. It had dimmed slightly, as though the effort of repelling the shadows had drained it.
Levin clapped him on the back. "Come on, shard-boy. We're not dead yet. Let's get off this death trap before it changes its mind."
They hurried across the rest of the bridge, reaching the other side just as the symbols' light began to fade. The moment they stepped onto solid ground, the bridge crumbled, collapsing into the ravine with a deafening roar.
Levin stared at the empty space where the bridge had been. "Well, I guess we're not going back that way."
Vero turned his gaze forward, his resolve hardening. "We're not going back at all. We have to keep moving."
Levin smirked. "Now you're starting to sound like a real adventurer. Let's see what other nightmares the Echo has in store for us."
Together, they pressed on, the path ahead shrouded in uncertainty.