The air was unnervingly quiet as Vero and Levin pressed forward, the tension between them as palpable as the shadows that clung to the ancient path. Levin's usual carefree demeanor had given way to an uncharacteristic seriousness, his gaze darting to every crevice and shadow as if expecting something to leap out at them.
Vero, clutching the newly acquired crystalline sphere, found his thoughts swirling with the fragments of the voice's message: the Pillars of Memory and the Sentinel. The significance of these terms gnawed at him, yet no clear answers emerged from his fractured memories.
Levin broke the silence, his tone sharper than usual. "So, let's recap. We've got a shiny ball, a shard that likes to glow at weird times, and a cryptic voice telling us to wake up some 'Sentinel.' I'm not sure if we're saving the world or walking into the dumbest trap ever."
Vero glanced at him, his expression calm but determined. "Do you have a better plan?"
Levin rolled his eyes. "Sure. How about this: we find a quiet corner, bury these cursed trinkets, and forget any of this ever happened?"
"That's not an option," Vero said, his grip tightening around the sphere. "You saw what happened in the chamber. The shard and the sphere are connected to this place—the Echo. If we don't follow the clues, we'll never find the answers we're looking for."
Levin sighed, muttering under his breath. "Great. More answers that come with questions attached."
---
The path eventually opened into a vast plain dotted with crumbling ruins and overgrown vegetation. The sky above was an unnatural mix of colors, its hues shifting in mesmerizing patterns that made it difficult to look at for too long.
In the center of the plain stood a massive structure—a towering monolith carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly in the ever-changing light. Unlike the ruins they had encountered before, this structure was intact, exuding an aura of power that made the air around it feel heavy.
Levin whistled low. "Well, that's definitely not ominous. You think it's one of these 'Pillars of Memory' the voice was talking about?"
Vero nodded, his gaze fixed on the monolith. "It has to be."
As they approached, the shard in Vero's hand began to glow brighter, its light casting long shadows across the plain. The crystalline sphere responded in kind, emitting a soft hum that resonated with the shard's glow.
"Okay, that's new," Levin said, eyeing the objects warily. "I'm guessing this means we're on the right track. Or we're about to trigger something really nasty."
They reached the base of the monolith, where a circular platform inscribed with runes lay embedded in the ground. At the center of the platform was a pedestal similar to the one they had encountered in the chamber, though this one was cracked and weathered.
Vero stepped onto the platform, the shard in his hand flaring with light. The runes on the platform responded, their glow intensifying as the air around them grew thick with energy.
Levin hung back, his daggers drawn. "Uh, you sure this is a good idea? This place feels... off."
Vero ignored him, focusing on the pedestal. He placed the crystalline sphere onto it, and the reaction was immediate. The runes erupted with light, and a deep, resonant tone echoed across the plain.
The monolith began to shift, its surface rippling as though it were alive. From its base, a figure began to emerge—a towering humanoid construct made of the same dark, glass-like material as the monolith. Its eyes glowed with an intense, golden light, and its movements were deliberate and precise as it stepped onto the platform.
Levin swore under his breath, his daggers raised. "You just had to wake up the giant golem, didn't you?"
The construct's gaze fixed on Vero, and its voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Bearer of the shard and the sphere, you stand before the Sentinel. State your purpose."
Vero swallowed hard, his mind racing. "We're searching for answers," he said. "About the Echo, about the shard... about everything."
The Sentinel tilted its head, the golden light in its eyes pulsing. "You seek truth within the Echo's embrace. To proceed, you must prove your worth."
Levin groaned. "Of course. It's never as simple as just asking nicely."
The Sentinel extended its hand, and a glowing orb of energy formed in its palm. The orb floated toward Vero, hovering before him as the Sentinel spoke again.
"Within this orb lies a fragment of the Echo's memory. To claim it, you must face its trials and emerge victorious. Are you prepared to face what lies within?"
Vero hesitated, glancing at Levin.
Levin rolled his eyes. "Don't look at me. This is your hero's journey, not mine. Just don't get us both killed, okay?"
Taking a deep breath, Vero reached out and touched the orb. The moment his fingers made contact, the world around him dissolved into light.
---
When the light faded, Vero found himself standing in a vast, empty expanse. The ground beneath him was smooth and reflective, like a mirror, and the air was heavy with a sense of anticipation.
A figure materialized before him, its form shifting and changing like smoke caught in a breeze. It had no discernible features, yet Vero felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity as he looked at it.
"Who are you?" Vero asked, his voice echoing in the emptiness.
The figure didn't respond. Instead, it raised its hand, and a torrent of images flooded Vero's mind—memories that weren't his, visions of a world consumed by light and shadow, and the sound of a voice whispering a single word: "Veredian."
The figure moved suddenly, lunging toward Vero with inhuman speed. Vero barely had time to react, raising the shard in his hand. The shard's light flared, forming a barrier that deflected the attack, but the figure didn't relent.
The battle that followed was unlike anything Vero had experienced. The figure's movements were erratic and unpredictable, forcing him to rely on instinct and the shard's guidance. Each strike of the shard against the figure's form sent ripples through the expanse, as though the very fabric of the Echo was reacting to their clash.
As the fight dragged on, Vero began to notice something strange. The figure's attacks weren't entirely random—they seemed to be testing him, probing for weaknesses but never fully committing to a decisive blow.
Realization dawned on him. "You're not trying to defeat me," he said. "You're trying to teach me."
The figure paused, its form flickering. Then, for the first time, it spoke, its voice a blend of countless others. "You are not yet whole. But you are beginning to understand."
Before Vero could respond, the figure dissolved into light, and the expanse around him shattered like glass.
---
Vero blinked, finding himself back on the platform. The Sentinel stood before him, its golden eyes glowing with approval.
"You have passed the first trial," it said. "The fragment of memory is yours to wield."
The glowing orb from earlier appeared in Vero's hand, its light merging with the shard and the sphere. He felt a surge of energy, and for a brief moment, the fractured pieces of his memories seemed to align, offering him a glimpse of the truth.
Levin approached cautiously, his daggers still in hand. "So... what just happened? Did you win?"
"I think so," Vero said, his voice distant as he tried to process what he had experienced.
The Sentinel stepped back, its form beginning to fade. "Your journey has only just begun, bearer. Seek the remaining fragments, and the Echo will reveal its secrets. But beware—the path ahead is fraught with danger."
As the Sentinel vanished, the platform's light dimmed, leaving Vero and Levin standing in silence.
Levin sighed, sheathing his daggers. "Well, that was dramatic. So, where to next, shard-boy?"
Vero didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "We find the next pillar. And we uncover the truth."