Chapter 21: Whispers of the Past
The sky above them was a fractured mosaic of light and shadow, a stark contrast to the forest that still loomed around them. The new path stretched ahead, paved with smooth obsidian stones that glimmered faintly under the pale light.
The human walked in silence, their thoughts churning. They glanced at Nyx, who moved beside them with its usual grace. But something about the creature seemed… different. Its golden eyes burned brighter, and the shadows clinging to its form swirled with more purpose, more intensity.
"That thing back there," the human said, breaking the silence, "it knew you. It knew us. I don't like that."
Nyx let out a low rumble, its gaze fixed ahead.
The human sighed. "You're not going to explain anything, are you? Not that I expected you to."
The golden thread between them pulsed faintly, and for a moment, the human thought they felt something—an echo of emotion. It wasn't frustration or anger, but something quieter, more uncertain.
They frowned. "You didn't want to hear what it had to say, either. Why?"
Nyx didn't respond, but its shadows rippled uneasily.
The human exhaled sharply, gripping their blade tighter. "Fine. Keep your secrets. But whatever's waiting for us up ahead, you better be ready."
The path twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the forest. The trees here were ancient and gnarled, their branches intertwining above to form a canopy so dense that only slivers of light broke through. The air was colder, heavier, and the golden thread pulsing between them felt taut, as though it was guiding them toward something immense.
As they walked, faint whispers began to echo in the distance. They were different from the ones in the clearing—softer, less malevolent.
The human slowed, their eyes narrowing. "You hear that?"
Nyx growled in response, its shadows curling tightly around its form.
The whispers grew louder, forming words that drifted through the air like leaves on the wind.
"Nyx… remember…"
The human clenched their jaw. "Not this again."
But the voice wasn't like before. It wasn't accusatory or commanding—it was mournful, tinged with a sorrow that made the human's chest ache.
"Remember the stars… the fire… the fall…"
The human stopped, their heart pounding. "Stars? Fire? What does that mean?"
Nyx froze beside them, its body tensing. The golden thread flickered erratically, and the human could feel the creature's unease through their bond.
"Nyx," they said carefully, "are these memories? Your memories?"
Nyx didn't respond, but its gaze remained fixed on the path ahead.
The whispers grew louder, more insistent.
"Fragment of the whole… forgotten… forsaken…"
The human shivered, their grip on their blade tightening. "If these are memories, why are we hearing them now? What's triggering them?"
The golden thread pulsed sharply, and the human staggered as a wave of energy surged through them. Images flashed in their mind—fragmented, fleeting.
They saw a vast sky filled with unfamiliar stars, a great city of golden spires, and a figure wreathed in shadow standing at the center of it all. The figure turned, and for a brief moment, the human thought they saw Nyx—whole and unbroken, a being of pure, majestic power.
Then came the fire. A great inferno consumed the city, tearing it apart. The figure reached out, its golden eyes wide with desperation, but it was too late. The flames roared, and the vision dissolved into darkness.
The human gasped, stumbling back as the images faded. "What… what was that?"
Nyx growled, stepping closer to steady them. Its golden eyes were narrowed, its shadows swirling violently.
The whispers faded, replaced by an oppressive silence.
The human took a shaky breath, their mind racing. "Was that… was that you? Before all this?" They looked at Nyx, their voice barely above a whisper. "What happened to you?"
Nyx didn't answer. It simply turned and continued down the path, its movements stiff and deliberate.
The human hesitated, then followed.
The path led them to another clearing, this one dominated by a massive structure that rose from the earth like a jagged claw. The building was ancient, its black stone walls covered in glowing green runes. The air around it hummed with power, and the golden thread between them pulled taut, as though urging them forward.
The human stared at the structure, unease prickling at their skin. "What is this place?"
Nyx stopped at the edge of the clearing, its body tense.
The golden thread pulsed again, and the human felt a strange pull—like a whisper at the back of their mind, urging them to step closer.
They shook their head. "No. We've been walking into traps this whole time. I'm not just walking in there without a plan."
Nyx growled softly, glancing back at them.
The human sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I know. We don't have a choice. But if this place tries to mess with my head like that monolith did, I'm blaming you."
They stepped into the clearing, their blade ready.
As they approached the structure, the runes along its surface began to glow brighter, their light pulsing in time with the golden thread. A low, resonant hum filled the air, and the human's stomach churned as the sensation of being watched returned.
The entrance to the structure was a jagged archway, its edges lined with sharp, claw-like protrusions. Beyond it was only darkness.
The human stopped just short of the archway, their instincts screaming at them to turn back. "This feels wrong," they muttered. "This feels really wrong."
Nyx stepped forward, its golden eyes fixed on the darkness beyond.
"Of course you're going in," the human muttered, following reluctantly.
The moment they crossed the threshold, the world shifted.
The ground beneath them vanished, and they were plunged into a void of swirling shadows and blinding light. The golden thread flared brightly, anchoring them as they floated in the emptiness.
A voice echoed around them, deep and resonant.
"Nyx… and the mortal. You have come far."
The human tightened their grip on their blade. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
The void trembled, and a massive figure began to take shape—a towering being of shadow and light, its form vaguely humanoid but shifting constantly. Its eyes burned with the same golden light as Nyx's, and its voice was a chorus of many.
"You seek answers," the figure said, its gaze fixed on Nyx. "But are you prepared to face the truth?"
The human stepped forward, their jaw set. "We didn't come this far to back down now."
The figure turned its gaze to them, and the weight of its stare made their knees buckle.
"Then step forward," it said. "And remember what has been forgotten."
The void shifted, and the golden thread between them pulsed violently.
And then the memories began to flood in.