The morning light was weak, barely filtering through the grimy windows of the orphanage. But the three of them—Revan, Cassie, and Lira—were already packed and ready.
Revan checked the weight of his dagger and the leather pouch strapped to his belt. The dark spiral on his forearm seemed to pulse faintly, reminding him of the price he now carried.
Cassie adjusted the strap of her satchel, eyes scanning the worn map they'd pieced together from fragmented clues and whispered rumors.
Lira stood quietly, clutching a small charm woven from silver threads and fragments of dark crystal—something she claimed would help stabilize her connection to the Echoes.
"We leave before noon," Lira said, voice steady but laced with urgency. "The ruins aren't far, but the closer we get, the stronger the Echoes will become."
Revan exhaled slowly. "Then we keep our guard up. No unnecessary risks."
Cassie grinned, trying to inject some lightness. "And no getting lost this time. Last time you got lost, we ended up chasing your shadow for an hour."
Revan smirked despite himself. "That was tactical."
They stepped out into the dusty street, the orphanage door creaking shut behind them.
The town was quiet, save for the distant clatter of carts and the low murmur of townsfolk beginning their day.
As they walked, the air seemed to grow heavier, colder—almost as if the shadows themselves were trailing just out of sight.
Lira glanced back, whispering, "The ruins want us to feel afraid. Don't let them win."
Revan tightened his grip on his dagger, feeling the subtle tug of the mark on his arm.
"We've come too far to turn back now," he said. "Whatever waits in those stones—we face it. Together."
And with that, they disappeared into the gathering gloom, stepping into a darkness that promised both danger and answers.
The ruins loomed ahead like the skeleton of some long-forgotten giant, stones cracked and crumbled, twisted vines snaking through shattered archways. A bitter wind whispered through the broken halls, carrying voices just beyond hearing.
Revan led the way, shadow mark pulsing faintly beneath his sleeve, a cold weight that both tethered and warned him.
Cassie followed close, frost crystal glowing faintly in her palm, ready to freeze anything that moved.
Lira brought up the rear, eyes scanning every dark corner, fingers twitching with unseen power.
They stepped carefully into the main chamber, moonlight filtering through the jagged holes in the ceiling. The air tasted stale, heavy with the scent of decay and forgotten memories.
Suddenly, a low skittering sound echoed off the walls.
Cassie stiffened. "Did you hear that?"
Revan nodded, drawing his dagger. "Stay alert."
From the shadows, a figure emerged—not quite human, not quite shadow. Its form flickered like smoke, edges blurred and shifting.
A cold chill filled the room as the creature's many eyes, shining like dark gems, locked onto them.
Lira stepped forward, whispering, "An Echo... it feeds on the past, the pain trapped here."
The creature hissed, and tendrils of darkness reached toward them.
Cassie summoned a blast of ice that struck the creature, but the shadows seemed to absorb the cold, swirling around it like armor.
Revan felt the mark flare painfully. The shadow inside him writhed as if warning of the danger.
With a grunt, he summoned his shadow armor, but this time it trembled, unsteady, as if the ruin itself fought to swallow it whole.
"We need to move—now!" Revan shouted.
The Echo shrieked and lunged, but Lira stepped in, bending the very air with her Echo-bending powers. A ripple distorted the creature's form, buying them precious seconds.
Together, they sprinted through the crumbling corridors, shadows clawing at their heels.
Breath ragged, hearts pounding, they burst out into the cold night air, the ruin's whispers fading behind them.
Revan gasped, clutching his arm. "That mark... it's getting stronger."
Cassie looked at him with fierce determination. "Then we fight harder."
Lira nodded, eyes glinting. "This is just the beginning."
The chill night air bit through Revan's cloak as they stumbled onto the worn cobblestones outside the ruins. The moon hung low, casting pale light over their exhausted faces.
Revan pressed his hand to his forearm where the mark pulsed—a dull, aching heat that had grown stronger with every step inside the haunted halls. His shadow magic felt unstable, flickering like a dying flame.
Cassie knelt beside him, concern shadowing her usually bright eyes. "You okay? That mark… it's hurting you."
Revan gave a short, grim smile. "It's not just pain. It's like it's trying to take more — my magic, my will."
Lira, her breath steady despite the exertion, spoke softly, "The Echoes in that place fed on the ruin's history. Your mark is connected to that shadow world. It's a part of it — and it's fighting to control you."
Revan's gaze darkened. "Then I need help. Someone who understands these shadows… and the Echoes."
Cassie nodded. "We can't keep running blind."
Lira glanced at the narrow streets leading back to Kallzara. "There's someone. An old mentor of mine. She's a scholar, but also knows how to fight these things. If anyone can help you control that mark, it's her."
Revan's shadow flickered, coiling at his feet like a restless beast. "Lead the way."
The old townhouse sat at the edge of Kallzara, hidden behind creeping ivy and half-forgotten streets. Its windows were cracked, dim light flickering inside like dying embers.
Lira pushed open the heavy wooden door with a creak. "She's expecting us."
Inside, the air smelled of old parchment and herbs. Shelves groaned beneath stacks of dusty tomes, strange artifacts, and jars filled with glowing powders. At a cluttered desk, a woman looked up—silver hair tied back in a braid, sharp eyes that missed nothing.
"You're late," she said, voice low but commanding.
Lira bowed her head slightly. "We encountered Echoes on our way. The mark's growing stronger."
The woman's gaze shifted to Revan, who stepped forward, shadow swirling faintly around him. "I've heard of you," she said, studying the mark on his arm. "Shadow magic is a dangerous path… one that corrupts as much as it empowers."
Revan swallowed the bitter truth in her words. "I don't want to be corrupted. I want to control it. To use it to protect those I care about."
The mentor nodded, pulling a worn leather-bound book from a shelf. "The mark is a bond—a tether to the shadow realm. It feeds on your fear and doubt. To master it, you must first master yourself."
She gestured to a faded map on the wall, marked with runes and sigils. "There's a place deep in the Blackwood Forest—an ancient shrine. It's a focal point of shadow energy. If you can survive its trials, the mark's hold may lessen."
Cassie frowned, stepping beside Revan. "Trials? What kind of trials?"
The mentor's eyes gleamed. "Not just tests of strength, but of mind and spirit. The shadows will reveal your deepest fears, your darkest memories. Only by facing them can you break free."
Lira crossed her arms, voice steady. "Then we go. Together."
The mentor's expression softened. "Good. You'll need all the strength you can muster."
She handed Revan a small talisman—a silver shard etched with twisting snakes, the same symbol as his captor's pendant.
"This will help shield your mind from the shadows' whispers, but it won't protect you completely."
Revan clenched the talisman tightly, determination burning in his eyes.
"We leave at dawn."