The path twisted ahead, framed by jagged cliffs that loomed over Vero and Levin like watchful sentinels. The air had grown colder, tinged with the faint smell of iron, and the shards of broken civilization they had seen earlier were becoming less frequent. In their place, unfamiliar structures rose—archways and obelisks carved from a dark, glass-like stone that seemed to absorb the light around them.
Levin kicked a small piece of rubble out of his way, his usual smirk replaced by a grim expression. "This place just keeps getting friendlier, doesn't it?"
Vero didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. The shard in his hand glimmered faintly, its light steady but subdued, as though it, too, was wary of the surroundings.
"You're awfully quiet," Levin said, glancing at him. "Still thinking about our bridge buddy back there?"
Vero shook his head. "Not just that. Everything we've seen—the pillars, the visions, the wraiths—it's all connected somehow. The shard, Veredian... I just can't figure out how."
Levin chuckled, though there was little humor in it. "Well, good luck with that. The Echo isn't exactly big on straightforward answers. But hey, maybe we'll stumble across another mysterious stranger who can give us half a clue."
Despite Levin's attempt at levity, Vero could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The figure on the bridge had spoken of the shard as both a key and a test. If that was true, then every step they took brought him closer to a truth he wasn't sure he was ready to face.
---
They came to a stop at the base of a massive obelisk, its surface etched with runes similar to those on the light pillars. Unlike the other ruins, this one radiated an almost palpable energy, its glow pulsing in time with Vero's shard.
Levin squinted up at it. "So, what do you think? Another pillar? Or just a really fancy decoration?"
Vero stepped closer, the shard in his hand growing warmer as he approached. The runes on the obelisk shifted subtly, their patterns rearranging themselves as though reacting to his presence.
"I think it's a door," Vero said, running his fingers over the surface. "Or a lock."
Levin raised an eyebrow. "A lock? Great. And let me guess—you're the key."
Before Vero could respond, the shard flared with light, and the runes on the obelisk responded in kind. The air around them seemed to ripple, and a low hum filled the space, growing louder with each passing second.
Levin took a step back, his daggers appearing in his hands. "Uh, Vero? You might want to stop whatever it is you're doing."
"I'm not doing anything," Vero said, his voice tense. "It's the shard."
The light from the shard spread outward, forming a web of energy that connected to the obelisk. The hum reached a deafening crescendo, and then, with a sound like shattering glass, the obelisk split open, revealing a swirling vortex of light and shadow.
Levin stared at the portal, his usual bravado replaced by genuine unease. "Well, that's not ominous at all."
Vero swallowed hard, his grip on the shard tightening. "We have to go through."
Levin turned to him, his expression incredulous. "Are you serious? We don't even know where it leads! For all we know, it could spit us out into a pit of wraiths!"
"Or it could lead us to answers," Vero said, his voice firm.
Levin sighed, sheathing his daggers. "You know, for someone who doesn't even remember his own name half the time, you're surprisingly stubborn."
Without waiting for a response, Levin stepped forward, disappearing into the vortex. Vero hesitated for only a moment before following him, the shard's light guiding his steps.
---
The transition was disorienting, a blur of colors and sounds that left Vero feeling as though he were being pulled apart and reassembled at the same time. When the sensation finally passed, he found himself standing in a vast chamber unlike anything he had seen before.
The walls were made of the same dark, glass-like stone as the obelisk, but they were smooth and polished, reflecting the chamber's eerie, golden light. Massive columns stretched upward, disappearing into a ceiling shrouded in mist, and the air was filled with a faint, melodic hum that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Levin stood a few feet ahead, his hands on his hips as he took in their surroundings. "Well, this is... unsettling. Any idea where we are?"
Vero shook his head, his gaze drawn to the center of the chamber. A large platform rose from the floor, and atop it rested a pedestal holding an object that pulsed with a soft, golden light.
The shard in his hand responded immediately, its glow intensifying as though urging him forward.
"Looks like your shiny rock has a thing for whatever that is," Levin said, following Vero's gaze. "Think it's safe to grab?"
"Only one way to find out," Vero said, stepping toward the platform.
As he approached, the hum in the air grew louder, and the light from the pedestal seemed to brighten. Levin followed cautiously, his daggers at the ready.
The moment Vero set foot on the platform, the hum stopped, replaced by a deep, resonant voice that echoed through the chamber.
"Bearer of the shard, you have entered the Sanctum of Whispers. Speak your name, and the path shall be revealed."
Vero froze, his mind racing. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. He didn't know his name—not truly.
Levin frowned, stepping closer. "Uh, you might want to say something before this place decides we're not worthy."
Vero took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. "My name is Vero Zenith," he said, his voice steady.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the pedestal's light flared, and the object atop it—a crystalline sphere—rose into the air, spinning slowly as it emitted a soft chime.
"Vero Zenith," the voice said, its tone thoughtful. "You walk a path of uncertainty, bearing a shard of Veredian's legacy. But the shard alone is not enough. You must seek the fragments of truth that lie scattered across the Echo."
The sphere descended, its light dimming as it hovered before Vero. He reached out hesitantly, and as his fingers closed around it, a surge of energy coursed through him, filling his mind with fleeting images and whispers he couldn't fully understand.
When the sensation faded, the sphere's light dimmed, and the voice spoke again.
"The shard and the sphere are but the beginning. To uncover the truth, you must unlock the Pillars of Memory and awaken the Sentinel. Only then will the Echo reveal its secrets."
The chamber began to tremble, and the light from the pedestal faded completely.
Levin grabbed Vero's arm, pulling him toward the exit. "Great, now the creepy voice is telling us to run. Let's move!"
The two of them sprinted toward the chamber's edge as cracks began to spread through the walls and floor. The vortex that had brought them there flared to life once more, and they leaped through it just as the chamber collapsed behind them.
---
They emerged back on the path, gasping for breath as the vortex closed behind them.
Levin let out a shaky laugh. "Well, that was... something. So, what did we just risk our necks for?"
Vero held up the sphere, its light faint but steady. "This. Whatever it is, it's part of the answer. The voice said we need to find the Pillars of Memory and awaken the Sentinel."
Levin groaned, shaking his head. "Of course it did. Because nothing in this place is ever simple."
Vero didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the sphere. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he was certain of one thing: the journey was far from over.