The next morning, Liora and Kael descended to a hidden chamber beneath the Citadel, where ancient symbols glowed faintly in the dark.
"This is where it began," Kael said, voice low. "Where your Sight was first sealed. Where the Glassless learned to hunt you."
Liora looked around. Cubes of glass floated in the air, each containing fragments of people, places, and events she couldn't fully understand. She realized the truth — she was not just a survivor; she was a part of the Glassless' story.
Kael touched one of the cubes. "This one contains the memory you forgot the most. The night you made the choice to hide your Sight. Look."
Liora hesitated, then peered inside. A younger version of herself stood before a glowing cube, tears streaming down her face. A shadow loomed behind her — not the Glassless, but a figure she trusted.
The memory hit her like a thunderclap. The figure was her mentor, Kael — guiding her, yes, but also sealing her power away, forcing her to forget.
"Why?" Liora whispered, tears burning her cheeks.
"To protect you," Kael said quietly. "And to prepare you. The Glassless were already moving that night. You weren't ready. But now… you are."
The whisper hummed in agreement: Ready… and stronger… stronger than you know…
Liora clenched her fists. "Then let's finish this. No more hiding. No more running."
Kael nodded. "Then we move forward. The Citadel will not be enough. You must face them in the city. Face the oldest, the first, the one who started it all."
The whisper slid into her mind like ice and fire. The final shadow waits… and you will either end it… or be lost…