The Hollow District was nothing but ash now. Blackened trees. Shattered relics. Long-abandoned by the living, still haunted by whispers.
Lengaza and Nyra stood on the ledge of a sunken temple, breathing the sharp air. Nyra looked nervous.
"Are you sure you want to go in?"
"No," he said. "But it's calling."
He didn't mean the temple.
He meant the ache in his chest—pulling, dragging him forward. Something… or someone… had stirred it back to life.
They climbed down into the ruins, vines crunching underfoot. And that's when everything changed.
A distant hum.
Nyra raised her head. "Do you hear that?"
Lengaza's eyes widened. He turned sharply—
And there she was.
A girl in black, dust swirling around her like the air had been waiting for her to speak. The second their eyes met, the world stopped.
Raya.
Older than his last memory of her.
Wounded.
But alive.
Her lips parted.
"...Lengaza?"
He staggered back like he'd been struck.
"I know that voice."
She stepped forward.
Nyra instinctively moved in front of him—but Lengaza touched her shoulder gently.
"It's okay. I think I know her."
"You don't remember me," Raya whispered. "But I remember everything."
She unclasped her necklace, holding it out. The ring glowed softly.
Lengaza looked down at his hand.
The same crest.
For a split second—a blinding flash.
He saw her.
Running. Laughing. Crying.
Screaming his name as light consumed him.
And now… standing in front of him again. Eyes glassy. Breathing like she hadn't breathed in years.
"They said you died," she whispered. "They told me you were gone."
"I think… I was," he said. "But something brought me back."
"No," she said, stepping even closer.
Her voice cracked.
"I did."
And for the first time in thirteen years, she reached out.
Her fingers trembled just before they touched his.
But before they could meet—
Boom.
A pulse blast exploded the wall beside them.
Nyra screamed. Lengaza shielded Raya.
Figures poured in. Black-clad, face-masked, weapons drawn.
"Target located. Eliminate the girl. Contain the boy."
Lengaza stood up slowly.
For once, he didn't look lost.
"Touch her," he said coldly, "and you'll know why they tried to erase me."
His palm glowed.
The crest ignited.
And the ruins answered.