The Shadowsteel shot down the corridor like a spear of darkness.
Straight toward the girl at the far end.
Kai screamed.
"No—NO—STOP—!!"
He tried to run, but his legs buckled beneath him, the seal burning through him like molten iron.Lina caught him before he hit the ground.
"Kai—stay with me—"
"LET ME GO!" he roared, struggling."I have to reach her— I have to—"
Reyon thrust out both hands."Illusion barrier — NOW!"
The illusion wall snapped to life—
Just as the Shadowsteel slammed into it.
The barrier shattered instantly.
Reyon cried out in pain. "I CAN'T BLOCK THAT—!"
Lina didn't think.
She threw herself into the path of the Shadowsteel.
Seren screamed.Kai roared.Reyon swore.
Lina braced—
Her flame exploded outward, forming a golden shield.
The Shadowsteel collided with her flame—
Bright gold against violent black.
The corridor lit up like a star had detonated inside it.
Lina screamed as the impact tore through her body —Her flame buckling under the impossible force.
Kai saw her collapse and broke.
"LINA—!!!"
He dragged himself toward her, Shadowsteel whipping around him like chains trying to pull him back.
Seren sprinted to Lina's side, catching her before she hit the floor.
"Her flame— it's destabilizing— she can't hold another hit like that!"
Reyon grabbed Seren's arm, shaking.
"Why did she do that?! Why would she—"
Seren looked at Kai.
"She did it…because he couldn't."
Kai reached Lina, hands trembling as he lifted her gently.
"Why—"His voice cracked."Why would you step in front of that?!"
She opened her eyes weakly.
"Because… I'm not letting you lose someone else you love."
Kai's breath caught, shattering.
Shadowsteel stilled around him.
Lina touched his cheek softly.
"I wasn't going to watch you break again."
Kai bowed his head over her hand — broken, grateful, furious, terrified all at once.
Reyon pointed weakly at the girl at the end of the hall.
"Okay, okay — heroic moment — love the drama — BUT SHE'S STILL THERE—"
Seren gasped, eyes glowing with Soul Echo sensitivity.
"No…She's not just 'there.'She's covered in… echoes."
Kai looked up sharply.
"What echoes?"
Seren's voice trembled.
"Death echoes."
Kai's blood ran cold.
Lina pushed herself up despite the pain."What does that mean?"
Seren pointed with a shaking hand.
"She… shouldn't be alive."
The girl at the end of the corridor stepped forward finally, shadows clinging to her ankles like chains.
Her voice wavered.
"Kai… is that really you?"
Kai tried to stand but collapsed again.
Lina held him up.
"Who is she?" Lina whispered softly.
Kai closed his eyes, torn apart.
"My sister.Arienne."
Reyon frowned. "But I thought—"
Kai swallowed hard.
"She died."
Silence.
Heavy. Crushing.Impossible.
Lina stared at him."Kai… you mean—"
He nodded, eyes burning.
"I watched her die."
Seren covered her mouth.
Reyon muttered, "Okay, ghost-sister plot twist, amazing, love that for us—"
Lina shot him a look.
He shut up immediately.
Arienne stepped closer.
Shadows curled around her feet like fog.
"Kai… you left me."
Kai's breath shattered.
"No— Arienne— I didn't leave you— I ran to the council for help— you told me to go—"
Arienne's expression twisted with something like grief…and something like accusation.
"You promised you'd come back."
Kai flinched like she'd stabbed him.
"I did. I DID. But when I returned— you were—"
She tilted her head slightly, her voice strange.
"Dead?"
Kai squeezed his eyes shut, tears forming.
Lina felt her chest ache just watching them.
Arienne took another step.
"Then why am I here, Kai?"
The corridor groaned.
Runes flickered.
Something ancient stirred behind Arienne.
Lina felt her flame pulse in warning.
"Kai… something's wrong."
He nodded weakly.
"I know.She's not… whole."
Arienne smiled sadly.
"Of course I'm not whole.You left the other half behind."
Seren gasped.
Reyon whispered, "What does THAT mean—?"
Arienne lifted her hands—
Revealing wrists marked with runes.
Dark runes.
Containment runes.
Lina's eyes widened."Kai… she's been sealed."
Kai's voice broke.
"By me."
The corridor froze.
Lina stared at him in shock.
Reyon's jaw dropped.
Seren stepped back, trembling.
Kai forced the words out.
"I sealed her… into the Forbidden Wing.Because she asked me to."
Lina's mind reeled.
"Why?! Why would she ask you to do that?!"
Arienne smiled softly.But her eyes were wrong.Too dark.Too empty.
"Because I was already dead, Lina."
The shadows behind her rose like a wave.
"And dead things belong with the dead."
Kai choked on his breath.
"No.No— Arienne— please—"
Arienne's voice deepened.
"Don't cry, brother.You weren't the one who killed me."
Everyone froze.
Kai staggered.
"What…?"
Arienne pointed at Lina.
With a trembling finger.
And whispered:
"She was."
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
All rights reserved.