The wind in the southern canyons didn't howl.It mimicked.
Every gust repeated the last word spoken within it — a natural echo.
"Don't trust it," Lyra said as they descended the rocky trail."This place remembers what shouldn't be remembered."
Kael didn't respond.Veilbrand pulsed on his back — like it agreed.
⛓️ Scene: Ambush Begins
They were a day out from the ruins when it happened.
The shadows in the canyon deepened unnaturally.The wind stopped echoing.And suddenly—
"Hollowborn."
Kael turned — and time slowed.
Four cloaked figures stood above them, each bearing black masks etched with runes that moved like ink in water.Each held a twisted fragment of relic steel.Each one had the same mark burned into their chest: a flaming circle bound in barbed wire.
🕷️ Enemy Reveal: The Forsworn Heralds
The elite assassins of the Church of Pure Flame.Chosen by flame, reborn in suffering, and forged to destroy Echo-Wielders.
The Mask of Ash – speaks prophecies backward
The Scalding Fist – burns reality with every punch
Silence-That-Walks – a mute killer who removes sound from her surroundings
Saint Reversal – leader. Carries the Counter-Veyra Lance, which undoes actions that haven't happened yet.
Kael moved to shield Lyra.
"They're not here for me," she said, eyes narrowed."They're here for us."
Saint Reversal stepped forward.
"Two fragments in one place. How blessed. How blasphemous."
⚔️ Fight Sequence: First True Loss
Kael opened with a Time-Shatter Echo, distorting reality for a second.
But Reversal's lance canceled it mid-air. The magic unraveled.
Lyra activated three fire runes and struck down Silence-That-Walks with a combo of Ember Chains and Ashbind Pulse. She got a clean hit.
But then...
"Echo: Nullframe."
Reversal's spear twisted.And Lyra vanished.
Not injured. Not killed.Just... removed from the moment.She'd never been there.
Kael screamed — the sound shattered stone.
"Echo: UNNAME REALITY."
Veilbrand flashed like a dying star.Kael's form became distorted — his body radiating like a dying constellation.
Reversal staggered. The other three Heralds screamed. The canyon split.
But before Kael could finish it…
"Enough."
A voice. Cold. Female. Timeless.
The air froze. The canyon itself paused.
And a new figure appeared, walking across the air as if it were still ground.
She wore white robes.Her face was covered by a veil of threads.And she bore a staff made of spine-bone and starlight.
☠️ New Character Reveal: Archivist Vellamira, The White Weaver
"You've broken protocol, Reversal," she said calmly. "We don't erase before the second bell."
"The Hollow Star is unstable," Reversal growled.
"That's the point."
She turned to Kael.
"You're not ready to lose her. But you needed to feel what you could lose."
"This is your first lesson, Kael Veyrin."
"Power doesn't make you untouchable. It makes everyone near you... replaceable."
💔 Aftermath: Lyra Gone
Kael stood alone, surrounded by scorched ruins, blood, and half-memories of a girl now wiped from reality like she never existed.
Only her rune-stone remained, cracked.Still faintly warm.
"I will unwrite gods," Kael whispered. "If it brings her back."
And far above… Vellamira smiled.
"Good. Then you are exactly what we need you to become."