Chapter 99: Echoes of the Past
When the glow of the fragment dimmed, Vaiolet felt as if the air in the room had changed. The energy that had previously surrounded her now seemed contained within, vibrating inside her like a newly ignited flame. The hooded figure remained in front of the altar, his eyes fixed on her.
—The fragment is now part of you —the man said, his voice softer than before—. But with it also come consequences.
Kael stepped forward, his sword still in hand.
—What kind of consequences? Speak clearly.
The man raised a hand to calm him.
—The fortress was a sanctuary for those who sought to understand the pact, but it was also a place of warning. Each fragment connects to the core, yes, but in doing so, it creates a stronger bond with the source of its power.
—And what is that source? —Vaiolet asked, feeling she already knew the answer but dreading to hear it aloud.
The man sighed.
—The source of the pact is none other than an ancient being. Something that existed before us, before this world. Each fragment you find, every piece you collect, brings you closer to releasing that entity.
Silence fell over the group like a heavy weight. Arlen was the first to break it, crossing his arms with a look of disbelief.
—And we’re just supposed to believe that? You could be making all this up to scare us.
The man looked at him with a mixture of pity and patience.
—Why would I lie? I’ve already lost everything I once had. I’m only trying to keep you from suffering the same fate.
Vaiolet clenched her fists, feeling the weight of his words. She remembered the whispers in her dreams, the vague warnings, and the echoes that seemed to follow her everywhere. There was something about the man’s words that resonated with an uncomfortable truth.
—How can we stop it? —she finally asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The man shook his head.
—I’m not sure you can. Once you begin collecting the fragments, it’s nearly impossible to stop the process. The only thing you can do is prepare.
—Prepare for what? —Kael asked, his tone full of frustration.
The man looked directly at him, his expression grim.
—To face what’s coming.
\---
They decided to spend the night in the fortress, though no one was entirely comfortable with the idea. Loryn insisted the place was safe, but even he seemed uneasy as they prepared their beds in one of the side rooms.
Vaiolet sat against one of the walls, holding the core and the new fragment in her hands. The bluish glow they emitted seemed to have changed, as if the two fragments were trying to communicate with each other.
—What do you plan to do now? —Kael asked, sitting beside her.
Vaiolet looked at him, her eyes reflecting the fragment’s light.
—I don’t know. But I can’t ignore what that man said. If what we’re carrying can release that entity, then we need to find a way to stop it.
Kael nodded, but his expression remained tense.
—And what if there’s no way to stop it?
Vaiolet didn’t respond immediately. Deep down, she knew that possibility existed. But she also knew she couldn’t give up. She had come too far, sacrificed too much, to stop now.
—Then we’ll find a way to face it —she finally said, her voice filled with determination.
\---
In the middle of the night, Vaiolet was awakened by a strange sound. At first, she thought it was part of a dream, but when she opened her eyes, she realized the whispers had returned.
She rose slowly, making sure not to wake the others. She followed the whispers through the fortress’s dark hallways, guided by a force she couldn’t explain. Eventually, she arrived at a room they hadn’t explored before.
At the center of the room stood an ancient mirror, its frame decorated with symbols she found familiar. The whispers seemed to emanate from the mirror, drawing her toward it.
Vaiolet approached cautiously, feeling the energy in the air intensify with each step. When she finally stood before the mirror, she saw something that took her breath away.
Her reflection wasn’t her own.
The figure in the mirror was a version of herself, but with completely black eyes and a cold, inhuman expression. The figure smiled, but not in a comforting way. It was a smile filled with malice.
—You’re stronger than I thought —the figure said, its voice resonating in the room like an echo—. But you still have much to learn.
Vaiolet stepped back, her heart pounding.
—Who are you?
The figure tilted its head, as if considering its answer.
—I am what you will become if you continue down this path. I am the reflection of your destiny.
Vaiolet felt a chill run down her spine.
—No… that’s not true.
The figure laughed, a sound that seemed to fill the room.
—The pact has already marked you. Every fragment you find, every decision you make, brings you closer to me.
Vaiolet clenched her fists, feeling anger and fear mix within her.
—I won’t let that happen.
The figure looked at her with a mix of pity and amusement.
—They all say that at first. But the pact has a way of consuming even the strongest.
Before Vaiolet could respond, the figure disappeared, leaving only the normal reflection of the room in the mirror. The whispers faded, and the air in the room returned to normal.
Vaiolet stood there, staring at her reflection, trying to process what had just happened. She knew she couldn’t ignore the warning, no matter how terrifying it was.
\---
The next morning, the group gathered to decide their next move. Vaiolet didn’t mention what she had seen in the mirror, but it was clear that something was troubling her.
—We have to keep moving —she said, her voice firm—. We can’t stop now.
Loryn nodded, though his expression suggested he had his own doubts.
—There’s another place we could investigate. It’s not far, but the path will be dangerous.
—When isn’t it? —Arlen commented with a sarcastic smile.
Vaiolet looked around, seeing the tired but determined faces of her companions. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she also knew she couldn’t do it alone.
—Then let’s go —she said, adjusting her bag over her shoulder.
The group set off once more, leaving behind the Whispering Fortress and heading into the unknown.