"Since the appearance of the first Gatebearer, many have wondered the reason for entering its world and have tried to leave it, but there's been no means and no record of anyone leaving," Sera explained.
"Think of Gatebearers like game avatars we collect shards and kill Echo beasts, either solo or as a team to get stronger and the Echo is the Playing ground. We all have one objective, whereas The Silent Chain is a band of Gatebearers who refuse to accept the fate of a never-ending fight for survival. They hunt down Whispering Stone bearers, believing that there exists one capable of setting them free from this realm."
Ren raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Isn't it stupid? There's no proof of ever leaving."
Sera nodded.
"True. But the Chain believes in an ancient prophecy of a Whispering Stone that will set them free from this realm. There's a saying that goes in the Echo: 'Do not despair, for the chosen, calamity is divine.'"
Ren's eyes narrowed. "What does it mean?"
Sera's expression turned thoughtful.
"Some interpret it as a message of hope, that there's a way out of this place for those who are chosen. Others see it as a warning, that the path to freedom is fraught with danger and uncertainty."
The words hung in the air, and Ren felt a shiver run down his spine. He realized that the stakes were higher than he had initially thought, and that the Silent Chain's pursuit of the Whispering Stone was driven by a deep-seated desire for freedom.
Sera finally broke it. "Look, Ren... the Echo isn't like the real world. There are no do-overs here. No saves. No cheats. No matter what…"
She paused. Her jaw clenched, and her voice lowered.
"Just survive."
Ren swallowed hard once more, taking in the last words she'd uttered.
"Better eat; we've got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow," Sera said, leaving the fireside.
"Where are we going?"
"North, to The Woken Field," Sera replied with a slight smirk.
***
Sera and Ren navigated the winding path through the forest, their footsteps quiet on the earthy terrain. The sky was a mottled grey, infused with a gentle glow of white that illuminated their surroundings, making every detail visible. The woods around them were eerily silent, devoid of the usual chorus of creaking insects or birdsong. However, the stillness was punctuated by the occasional darting movement of snakes and squirrels, their presence a reminder that they were not alone in the forest. As they walked, the trees seemed to close in around them, their branches tangling overhead to form a canopy that filtered the light. The atmosphere was tense, and Sera and Ren moved with a sense of purpose, their senses heightened as they made their way north through the woods.
"If you don't mind, what is at the Woken Field?" Ren asked.
Sera glanced back, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Like the name says it's a field."
Ren suddenly stopped walking and grabbed his stomach. "Hey, Sera, can we take a break? I need to, uh, pee."
Sera turned around, concerned. "Okay, but make it quick. We don't want to linger here too long."
Ren nodded and quickly darted behind a nearby bush. Sera waited, looking around cautiously.
As Ren squatted down, he let out a sigh of relief. But instead of the sound of peeing, Sera heard some suspicious noises coming from behind the bush.
Sera raised an eyebrow. "Ren, are you okay? You're taking a bit long."
Ren's voice came out strained. "Uh, yeah! Just, uh, having some trouble aiming!"
Sera chuckled. "Well, take your time. I'm sure it's not like you're trying to shoot a target or anything."
Ren's face turned bright red as he struggled to do his business. He was mortified that Sera might figure out what he was really doing.
Finally, Ren emerged from behind the bush, looking flustered. Sera glanced at him with a knowing glint in her eye.
"Ren, did you...?" she started to ask, trying to stifle a grin.
Ren's eyes widened in panic. "No, no, no! I just... uh... had some trouble with my boots!"
Sera burst out laughing. "Ren, you're such a terrible liar! I think the bushes are going to be your new best friend."
Ren's face turned even redder as he realized Sera had figured out what he was really doing. He sheepishly grinned and shrugged.
"Hey, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do, right?"
Sera chuckled and patted Ren on the back. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. But next time, just tell me you need to poop. I'll wait."
Ren's embarrassment turned to relief, and he laughed along with Sera. "Deal. But let's just forget this ever happened, okay?"
Sera smiled mischievously. "Oh, I'll never forget this. It's going to be a great story to tell later."
Suddenly a fierce gust of wind slammed into them, threatening to sweep them off their feet. The trees rattled and shuddered, their leaves torn loose and sent swirling through the air. Ren and Sera shielded their eyes, struggling to protect them from the stinging particles. As the gale howled around them, the sky and surroundings began to shroud in a thick, swirling mist.
The sky darkened, yet retained a faint, eerie luminescence, as if the very fabric of reality was being distorted. The clouds pulsed with a faint, electric blue light, reminiscent of distant lightning, hinting at some unseen force lurking beyond the veil of clouds. The mist seemed to have caught up to them, wrapping around them like a damp, chilling shroud.
The howling wind grew louder, its cacophony almost deafening. Sera's eyes narrowed, her face twisted in a mixture of concentration and concern. "How could I have forgotten?" she muttered, her voice barely audible above the din.
Ren, took a few steps back, his gaze fixed on the sky with a mixture of awe and trepidation. His eyes were drawn to the pulsing clouds, and he felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
"What's happening?" he asked, his voice laced with wonder, but Sera's response was lost in the growing storm.
As the wind and mist continued to intensify, a thunderous neigh of what sounded like a thousand horses shook the air, and from the darkening sky, a thick, black mist descended to the ground. As it cleared, a brigade of approximately 50 knights emerged, clad in black smoke armor, their horses' hooves thundering against the earth as they approached. The dark slats on their helmet visors gleamed with a sinister red glow, casting an ominous light on their faces. Their horses' eyes burned with the same menacing intensity, as if fueled by an inner fire.
The sound of their approach was deafening – the pounding hooves, the creaking leather, and the ominous rumble of their collective presence. The heavy black mist swirled around them, as if drawn to their dark energy.
Ren felt an intense pulse in his marked palm, which was clenched into a fist. He crouched to the ground, his eyes fixed on the approaching knights, and grunted in response to the sudden surge of energy. The mark on his palm seemed to extend a bit further, crawling up his wrist like a living thing, before stopping just above the joint.
"Run!" Sera's voice was almost lost in the commotion, the boy slowly rose to his feet, and together they began to flee from the approaching brigade. However, with every step they took, the knights drew closer, the thunderous neighs of their horses growing louder. Suddenly, Ren and Sera found themselves overtaken by the horses and completely surrounded.
Ren staggered and fell to the ground, while Sera stood tall, her sword drawn and ready to fight. For a moment, the knights simply sat on their horses, watching the pair with an unnerving intensity. Each of the knights was menacing in size and appearance, their dark armor seeming to absorb the light around them. Sera's eyes darted around the circle, searching for an opening, but there was none. Even if there was, she knew it would be impossible to escape alive.
She was about to speak before Ren grunted heavily, his hands clutching his head as if struck by an intense headache, twisting and turning. Strange, whispery language, like the soft murmurs of people, or perhaps the cries of birds assaulted his ears they were loud but only him seemed to hear them–the noise grew louder and unreasonable.
"Ren!" Sera's shouted, but the boy was too consumed by pain to respond let alone hear her.
The knights didn't move. Not yet.
Then—the commander's horse reared, releasing a final, earth-shaking neigh.
And just like that… they were gone.
In a single heartbeat, the entire brigade vanished into smoke. The mist faded. The light returned. And the silence came rushing back like a crashing wave.
Ren gasped, collapsing to the forest floor, sweat dripping from his brow.
Sera dropped to his side. "Ren? Ren, talk to me. What happened?"
He didn't answer right away. His hand still throbbed, the mark now faint, but lingering. The whispers had gone—but something inside him had shifted.
Whatever those knights were, they weren't just Echo constructs.
They were something worse.
And somehow… they had recognized him.