The forest ahead was unnaturally quiet.
No birds. No wind. Just a low hum — faint, pulsing in rhythm with Elian's heartbeat.
Lyra stopped. "Do you feel that?"
Kael nodded slowly. "Yeah. It's like… the air's vibrating."
Elian pressed his hand to his chest. The mark on his wrist — the Eclipsera Seal — was glowing faintly, its pulse syncing with his heart.
> thump… thump… thump…
Each beat sounded heavier, sharper — like something inside was knocking from the other side.
His eyes dimmed, and for a second, the world blurred. He could hear a voice — faint, echoing in his mind.
> "You're slipping, Elian… every step you take toward the Abyss weakens the chain."
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay conscious. "Not now… not yet."
Lyra grabbed his arm. "Elian! What's happening?"
He shook his head. "The seal… it's reacting to something nearby. I think… I think there's an Abyssal relic close."
They followed the pulsing energy until the trees opened into a clearing — and there it was.
A ruined shrine.
Ancient, covered in vines, but unmistakably marked with the same symbol as Elian's wrist.
The air was thick with black mist, curling like smoke from the cracks in the stone.
Kael muttered, "This looks like one of the old sealing sites."
Elian's voice was low. "It is. My mother's magic started here."
He walked closer — each step making the mark on his wrist burn hotter, his veins glowing faint red beneath the skin.
Lyra reached for him. "Stop, Elian—"
Too late.
The seal flared violently — and a shockwave burst from the shrine, throwing them all back.
When the dust cleared, a shape emerged from the shrine's center — a phantom form, tall and wreathed in black flame. Its voice was layered, echoing like a thousand whispers.
> "The seal-bearer… lives."
Elian forced himself to stand, eyes burning with pain. "Who are you?"
> "A guardian of the first seal. Your mother bound us to protect you — and to remind you: the seal weakens with every life you save."
Elian froze. "What do you mean?"
> "Each act of mercy feeds the life within you… and life is the lock. The stronger your heart, the tighter the chain. But when the heart breaks—"
The phantom's voice deepened, echoing through the ground.
> "—the lock shatters."
Elian's breath caught. "So if I ever lose hope… if I give up—"
> "The Abyss will awaken."
Suddenly, a blade flashed from the shadows — slicing through the phantom.
The specter shrieked and faded, dissolving into black mist.
The trio spun around. A man stepped out — cloaked in crimson, eyes glowing faintly gold.
Lyra drew her weapon. "You again!"
The man ignored her, looking only at Elian.
"Elian Veyne," he said calmly. "You shouldn't have come here."
Elian's gaze sharpened. "Who are you?"
He lifted his hood — revealing a scarred face and a sigil burned into his neck: the mark of the Celestial Order.
> "I'm the one keeping you alive. Because if you die… everything ends."
Elian stepped forward. "Then you know about the seal."
The man nodded. "I know more than you think. Your mother made a deal with Heaven — and I'm the one enforcing it."
Lyra's eyes widened. "A deal?"
The man looked at Elian, voice hardening.
"She sealed the Abyss inside your soul — but she promised Heaven one thing in return: that you would never die."
Elian's mind went blank. "She… promised my life?"
"Yes," the man said coldly. "Your life is sacred and cursed. As long as you live, the world survives. When you fall… everything burns."
The wind howled, carrying ashes from the ruined shrine.
Elian lowered his gaze, his voice trembling between anger and grief.
"So I'm not living for myself anymore. I'm just… a cage."
The man's expression softened — barely. "You're more than that. You're the only wall left between Heaven and the Abyss. That's why I'll protect you, even if you hate me for it."
Elian looked at him sharply. "And if I refuse your protection?"
The man smirked faintly. "Then I'll have to chain you myself."