The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a fiery glow across the treetops. Lin Xuan stood at the edge of a small lake, his reflection rippling in the water as he washed the blood from his hands. Around him, the forest whispered with life—crickets chirped, leaves rustled, and the occasional hoot of an owl echoed in the distance. Despite the serene surroundings, tension hung in the air like a coiled spring.
Behind him, Yu Mei and Xu Yan rested against a fallen log, their breaths still labored from the recent skirmish. The encounter with Harrow had pushed them to their limits, and though they had emerged victorious, the price had been steep.
Yu Mei broke the silence, her voice tinged with worry. "Lin Xuan, how long do you think we have before the Council sends more agents after us?"
Lin Xuan didn't turn to face her. Instead, he stared at the rippling water, his mind racing. "Not long. Harrow was just the beginning. The Council of Shadows won't stop until they've reclaimed the fragment—or destroyed us."
Xu Yan tightened his grip on his bow, his expression grim. "We need to find a safe place to regroup, somewhere they can't track us. Wandering through the forest won't keep us hidden for long."
Lin Xuan finally turned to face them, his eyes gleaming with determination. "There's no such thing as a safe place anymore, not with the fragment in our possession. We have to keep moving, stay one step ahead of them. If we stop, we die."
Yu Mei nodded reluctantly, though her gaze lingered on Lin Xuan's face. "Then where do we go? We can't keep running aimlessly."
Lin Xuan reached into his robes and retrieved the fragment, its faint glow illuminating the darkening forest. "This fragment holds the answers we need. If we can unlock its secrets, we might find a way to fight back against the Council."
"But how?" Xu Yan asked, his skepticism evident. "It's not like we have a manual for deciphering ancient relics."
Lin Xuan's lips curved into a faint smile. "No, but we have someone who might."
---
Night fell as the trio journeyed deeper into the forest, their path illuminated by the soft glow of the fragment. Lin Xuan led the way, his senses on high alert for any signs of danger. After what felt like hours, they emerged into a clearing where an ancient stone structure stood shrouded in vines and moss.
Yu Mei frowned, her eyes scanning the ruin. "This is where you're taking us? It looks like it's been abandoned for centuries."
Lin Xuan stepped forward, his hand brushing against the weathered stone. "Appearances can be deceiving."
He pressed his palm against a particular symbol etched into the wall, and a faint hum resonated through the air. The ground beneath them trembled as a hidden door slowly slid open, revealing a dimly lit corridor.
Xu Yan whistled softly. "I stand corrected. How did you know this was here?"
Lin Xuan glanced over his shoulder, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Let's just say I have my sources."
As they ventured inside, the temperature dropped, and the air grew thick with the scent of damp stone. Torches flickered to life along the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced across the corridor.
At the end of the passage, they entered a cavernous chamber where a lone figure sat cross-legged on a raised platform. The figure was cloaked in robes of deep crimson, their face obscured by a hood. Despite their stillness, an oppressive aura emanated from them, filling the room with a palpable sense of dread.
The figure spoke, their voice a low, resonant murmur. "Lin Xuan. It's been a long time."
Yu Mei and Xu Yan exchanged uneasy glances as Lin Xuan stepped forward, his posture tense. "Not long enough, Ashen Sage. I wouldn't be here if it weren't absolutely necessary."
The Ashen Sage chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Still as direct as ever, I see. Very well. Speak. What brings you to my domain?"
Lin Xuan held up the fragment, its light casting a faint glow on the sage's robes. "I need to know what this is and how to use it."
The sage's hood tilted slightly, as if they were studying the fragment. "Ah, the Fragment of Echoes. A dangerous artifact, indeed. It holds great power, but unlocking it comes at a cost."
"What kind of cost?" Yu Mei asked, her voice wary.
The sage turned their hooded gaze toward her, and though no eyes were visible, the weight of their stare made her shiver. "The kind that leaves scars on the soul. Are you willing to risk it?"
Lin Xuan's grip on the fragment tightened. "I am. Tell me what I need to do."
The sage rose to their feet, their movements slow and deliberate. "Very well. But be warned, Lin Xuan—once you begin this path, there is no turning back."
---
The Ashen Sage led the trio to a smaller chamber where a circular altar stood at the center, surrounded by intricate runes carved into the stone floor. The air thrummed with latent energy, and the fragment pulsed in Lin Xuan's hand, as if resonating with the altar.
"Place the fragment on the altar," the sage instructed.
Lin Xuan hesitated for only a moment before doing as instructed. The moment the fragment touched the surface of the altar, the ground beneath them trembled violently. An ethereal energy surged from the altar, wrapping around the fragment and spiraling toward Lin Xuan. His body was momentarily engulfed in the swirling power, and a vision flashed before his eyes—a landscape of distant stars, a figure cloaked in shadows, and a terrifying force that sought to tear the fabric of reality itself.
The vision faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Lin Xuan breathless. The sage stood motionless, watching intently.
"You have felt its power," the Ashen Sage said, his voice cold. "Now, you must decide: Will you continue to seek the truth, or will you turn back?"
Lin Xuan's expression hardened, his resolve solidifying. "I will continue."
The sage gave a small nod, as if expecting nothing less. "Very well. The path you walk now is one fraught with peril. But it is also one that may offer you the strength to face the enemies that will come."
Lin Xuan nodded, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. The fragment's power had already begun to change him, and he knew that this was only the beginning.
The veil of deception had lifted, but the true trial was only just beginning.