Talen stood before the statue for a long time.
His name carved in stone. His likeness frozen in marble. A monument to a man who had never been here—should have never existed.
Yet something about it felt familiar.
Too familiar.
He reached out and traced the words with gloved fingers, half expecting the stone to burn him. It was cold. Lifeless. But beneath the moss and grime, there was intent behind the carving. Someone had made this. Someone had wanted it to be found.
A soft rustle broke the silence.
He spun, hand on his sword.
From the mist between the trees, a figure emerged.
An old woman, draped in tattered robes the color of dried blood. Her hair hung like silver vines, tangled and wild. Her eyes—deep-set and gleaming—watched him like she already knew his name.
"You've come far," she said, voice rasping like dry leaves.
Talen didn't lower his guard.
"Who are you?"
She smiled, as if amused by the question.
"I am only what remains."
Her gaze flickered to the statue behind him.
"And so are you."
Talen frowned.
"I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm not here for riddles."
The woman tilted her head.
"Then why are you here, hero?"
He hesitated.
"To slay the dragon."
She laughed—a hollow, sorrowful sound.
"To kill Vorathax," she murmured. "To save the kingdom. To be remembered."
Her smile faded.
"But tell me… do you remember why you began this journey?"
Talen opened his mouth to answer.
And stopped.
He remembered the fire.
The screams.
The village burning.
But before that?
There was nothing.
Only silence.
Only shadow.
The woman stepped closer.
"You think you are the first to walk this road?" she whispered. "You are not the first Talen. And you will not be the last."
His breath caught.
"What are you talking about?"
She raised a trembling hand and pointed past him, deeper into the forest where the fog grew thick and blackened trees leaned like watching sentinels.
"The truth lies ahead," she said. "But beware—the dragon does not lie to destroy you."
She turned to leave.
"Then why?" Talen called after her.
She paused.
"It tells the truth… to break you."
Then she vanished into the mist.
Alone again, Talen stared down the path that stretched into darkness.
And for the first time since leaving home…
He wasn't sure he wanted to reach the end.