The forest gave way to open plains, the tall grass swaying gently in the breeze. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the landscape. Alina and Kael stepped out of the treeline, their eyes scanning the horizon. The plains stretched endlessly before them, a sea of green and gold that seemed to go on forever.
But as they ventured further into the plains, Alina began to notice something strange. The air was still, unnaturally so, and the only sound was the soft rustling of the grass beneath their feet. It was as if the plains were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen.
Kael glanced at her, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Do you feel that?" he asked, his voice low.
Alina nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Yes. It's like... the plains are alive, but they're waiting for something."
Kael frowned. "Or someone."
They continued on, following the path Alina had deciphered from the celestial map. The symbols had led them to the plains, but the map had been vague about what they would find here. Alina couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far more dangerous than they had anticipated.
As they walked, the stillness of the plains began to weigh on them. The silence was oppressive, and the lack of sound made every step feel heavier, more deliberate. Alina's heart raced as she realized that the plains were not just waiting—they were watching.
-
The first echo came without warning.
It was a sound, faint at first, like a whisper carried on the wind. But as it grew louder, it became clear that it was not just a sound—it was a voice.
*Alina...*
Alina froze, her heart pounding in her chest. The voice was familiar, but she couldn't place it. It was soft, almost gentle, but there was something unsettling about it.
Kael glanced at her, his expression concerned. "Did you hear that?"
Alina nodded, her eyes scanning the plains. "Yes. It... it said my name."
Kael's grip on his sword tightened. "Stay close. We don't know what's out there."
They continued on, but the echoes followed them. The voices grew louder, more insistent, and soon they were surrounded by a cacophony of sounds—voices, laughter, cries, all overlapping and blending together.
*Alina...*
*Kael...*
*You cannot escape...*
*The stars have already decided...*
*You will fail...*
Alina clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "We have to keep going," she said, her voice trembling but determined. "We can't let them stop us."
Kael nodded, his eyes scanning the plains ahead. "Stay close. We don't know what's out there."
---
The second echo was different.
It was not a voice, but a vision. Alina blinked, and suddenly the plains were gone, replaced by a dark, swirling void. She felt herself falling, tumbling through the darkness, until she landed in a place she recognized.
It was her childhood home.
The walls were familiar, the furniture exactly as she remembered it. But something was wrong. The air was cold, and the shadows seemed to move on their own, twisting and shifting in the corners of the room.
*Alina...*
The voice came from behind her, and she turned to see her mother standing there, her face pale and drawn. But her eyes were empty, devoid of life.
*You left us...*
Alina's heart ached as she reached out to her mother, but her hand passed through the figure as if it were made of smoke. "No," she whispered, her voice filled with pain. "I didn't leave you. I... I couldn't stay."
*You abandoned us...*
The words cut deep, and Alina felt tears welling up in her eyes. She wanted to explain, to tell her mother that she had no choice, but the words wouldn't come.
And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the vision was gone. Alina blinked, and she was back in the plains, the tall grass swaying gently around her.
Kael was beside her, his hand on her shoulder. "Alina, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Alina nodded, though she wasn't sure if she was telling the truth. "I... I saw my mother," she said, her voice trembling. "She said I abandoned her."
Kael's expression softened, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. "You didn't abandon her, Alina. You had to leave. You had to follow your path."
Alina buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. "But what if I made the wrong choice? What if I should have stayed?"
Kael held her tighter, his voice firm but gentle. "You didn't make the wrong choice. You're here now, and you're doing what you have to do. Your mother would understand."
Alina nodded, though the pain in her heart didn't fully fade. She knew Kael was right, but the echoes of her past still haunted her.
---
The third echo was the most terrifying.
It came as they reached the center of the plains, where the grass gave way to a large, circular clearing. In the center of the clearing stood a stone archway, its surface covered in intricate carvings that glowed faintly in the dim light.
As they approached the archway, the air around them began to shimmer, and the echoes grew louder, more intense. And then, without warning, the ground beneath them began to tremble.
Alina and Kael stumbled back as the archway began to glow brighter, and the air around it seemed to warp and twist. And then, from the archway, a figure emerged.
It was Kael.
But it wasn't the Kael standing beside her. This Kael was different—his eyes were cold, his expression filled with anger and hatred. He stepped out of the archway, his sword drawn, and his gaze fell on Alina.
*You betrayed me...*
Alina's heart raced as she stared at the figure before her. "Kael, what are you talking about? I would never betray you!"
The other Kael's eyes narrowed, and he raised his sword. *You left me to die...*
Alina shook her head, her mind racing. "No, I didn't! I would never do that!"
But the other Kael didn't listen. He stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light, and Alina realized with horror that he was going to attack her.
Kael—the real Kael—stepped in front of her, his sword raised. "Stay back," he growled, his voice filled with anger.
The other Kael smirked, his eyes filled with malice. *You can't protect her...*
And then, with a roar, he charged.
The two Kaels clashed, their swords ringing out in the stillness of the plains. Alina watched in horror as the battle unfolded, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to help, but she knew she couldn't interfere. This was Kael's fight.
The other Kael was relentless, his attacks fierce and unyielding. But the real Kael held his ground, his movements precise and calculated. He blocked each strike, his eyes never leaving his opponent.
*You're weak...* the other Kael sneered, his voice filled with contempt. *You can't protect her...*
Kael's eyes narrowed, and he swung his sword with renewed force. "I will protect her," he growled, his voice filled with determination. "No matter what."
The battle raged on, the two Kaels evenly matched. But as the fight continued, Alina began to notice something. The other Kael's form was flickering, his edges blurring as if he were made of smoke. And then, with a final, powerful strike, the real Kael shattered the other Kael's sword, sending him stumbling back.
The other Kael glared at him, his form flickering even more. *You can't escape your fate...*
And then, with a final burst of energy, the other Kael dissolved into nothingness, his form fading into the air.
Kael lowered his sword, his breathing heavy. He turned to Alina, his expression filled with concern. "Are you okay?"
Alina nodded, though her heart was still racing. "I'm fine. But... what was that?"
Kael shook his head, his eyes scanning the clearing. "I don't know. But it's gone now."
Alina's mind raced as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. The echoes were not just voices or visions—they were manifestations of their fears, their doubts, their regrets. And they were getting stronger.
As the echoes faded, the stone archway began to glow brighter, and the air around it seemed to hum with energy. Alina stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the carvings. They were similar to the symbols on the celestial map, but they were more detailed, more intricate.
"This is it," she said, her voice filled with awe. "This is what the map was leading us to."
Kael stepped up beside her, his sword still in hand. "What is it?"
Alina shook her head. "I'm not sure. But it's important. I can feel it."
She reached out, her fingers brushing against the carvings. As soon as she touched the stone, a surge of energy shot through her, and the whispers in her mind grew louder.
*The path is open...*
*But the cost will be great...*
Alina's heart pounded as she realized what the archway was. It was a gateway—a gateway to the next stage of their journey. But it was also a warning.
Kael glanced at her, his expression concerned. "What do we do?"
Alina took a deep breath, her mind racing. "We go through. We have to."
Kael nodded, his grip on her hand tightening. "Together."
Alina smiled, a small but genuine smile. "Together."
As they stepped through the archway, the plains disappeared, replaced by a swirling vortex of light and shadow. Alina felt herself being pulled forward, her body weightless as she tumbled through the void.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the vortex disappeared, and they found themselves standing in a new place—a place that was both familiar and strange.
It was a temple, its walls covered in the same carvings as the archway. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the only sound was the soft hum of energy that seemed to emanate from the walls.
Alina's heart raced as she realized where they were. This was the next step—the next stage of their journey.
But the echoes still lingered in her mind, a constant reminder of the challenges they had faced—and the challenges that still lay ahead.