Ren stood frozen, his mind dumbfounded by the surreal scene before him. The Woken Field was nothing like he had expected. Turns out that beyond the veil, he found himself in a vast, bustling space filled with people. Some looked like ordinary men and women, while others appeared to be hybrids, their features blending human and animal traits in unsettling ways.
The space was not open to the sky; instead, it was covered by a roof that seemed to stretch impossibly high, disappearing into the shadows. Multiple levels of flooring were visible, with people walking on seemingly transparent surfaces or floating in mid-air with an air of nonchalance.
The room was illuminated by orange lanterns that cast a warm, golden glow over the proceedings. Some people were engrossed in board games, while others laughed and chatted over drinks that seemed to contain a rainbow of colors. Small, sparkling lights flitted about the space, reminiscent of fireflies on a summer evening.
At one end of the room, an apple tree grew, its branches heavy with fruit that seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. Everything about this place felt insanely unnatural, as if the laws of physics and reality were mere suggestions rather than rules.
The room's construction defied logic; it was as if an entire dimension had been folded into this single, impossible space. Ren's mind struggled to comprehend the sheer scale and complexity of what he was seeing, his senses overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of this bizarre, wonderful world.
"Stop looking so surprised," Sera said, her voice low.
"It's not what I imagined," Ren replied, still trying to snap out of the enchanting environment. His eyes darted around, taking in the sights and sounds of the Woken Field.
"Apart from the traders and a few, the people you see here aren't real," Sera said, her words cutting through the air like a knife. Ren's expression turned pale as he processed her words.
"Most of the people you see here are merely memories," Sera continued, her voice steady. "Memories of what?"
"Probably memories of a long-forgotten world," Sera replied, her eyes scanning the area. "Maybe something the Echo doesn't want to forget."
"This place is a meeting ground for many Bearers to come, meet, create allies, and acquire any tools or clothing they deem necessary," Sera paused, "But most importantly, New gatebearers are trained here and educated here too" her voice filled with a sense of familiarity.
She stopped in her tracks and turned to Ren, her figure gesturing for him to keep quiet.
"To be on the safe side, it's best you don't tell anyone you possess a Whispering Stone. If they ask, just say you don't have a Flare Stone. And if they ask about your rank, say your new," she cautioned, her voice firm.
"Do you understand?" she asked, her eyes locked onto Ren's.
"Of course," Ren replied, his voice steady.
"I'm going to check something out," Sera said, her eyes scanning the area.
"I suggest you change your clothes, too. Also, here at the Woken Field, you make purchases with your shards, so don't trade a shard you'll regret."
With that, Sera walked away, leaving Ren to gulp before staring down at his tattered clothes. He was still wearing the trousers and button-down shirt he had when drawn into the Echo. Ren looked around for a moment before spotting an open clothing display. One outfit in particular caught his eye – a sleek black jacket with intricate silver threading that seemed to shimmer in the light.
***
Meanwhile Sera approached a man, his rugged features stood out in the dimly lit room. His bald head gleamed in the faint light, and his short, neatly trimmed beard framed his strong jawline. The fine lines etched around his eyes and mouth spoke of years of experience and wisdom. His deep brown eyes, warm and friendly.
A simple leather cord around his neck held a small wooden pendant, its symbol worn smooth by time and touch. A sturdy leather cuff adorned with metal studs encircled his wrist, giving him a slightly battle-hardened air.
"Marcus," she called out, her voice carrying across the space. The man stopped mid-drink and turned to her, a look of surprise and delight on his face.
As he turned to Sera, his whole face lit up with a warm smile, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. "Sera!!" he exclaimed, his voice full of genuine delight. Despite his rugged appearance, there was something undeniably charming about Marcus, something that put those around him at ease.
"It's been a while!" He set his drink down and opened his arms, embracing Sera warmly. As they pulled back, he said, "I thought you were dead by now." Sera's face twitched, and she shot him a serious look.
"Huh, you should know I'm not that easy to kill," she replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Marcus chuckled and sat down, gesturing for Sera to join him.
"So, tell me, what have you been up to?" Marcus asked, resting his left elbow on the table and propping his head up with his hand. "Everyone's curious." Sera's eyes widened.
"Everyone?" she repeated, her voice laced with concern. Marcus nodded.
"Of course, you caused quite a stir in the Woken Field," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. Sera's face turned more worried, and she seemed to be thinking to herself.
"So, that's what that old merchant was talking about," she thought, her eyes narrowing slightly. Suddenly, Marcus's expression turned serious.
"Malek was here," he said, his words cutting through the background noise like a knife. Sera's eyes widened in shock, and her voice shook as she asked, "W-why?"
Marcus's eyes seemed to bore into hers as he replied, "He said something about you possessing a key." Sera tried to hide her anxious expression, but Marcus's piercing gaze made it hard.
"But is it true?" Marcus pressed on, his voice low and urgent. "Do you really have a new Whispering Stone bearer?" Sera managed to regain her composure and replied, "I thought you didn't believe in that whole key prophecy crap."
Marcus let out a loud sigh and fell back against the wall, his eyes never leaving Sera's face. "Of course, I don't," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "But sometimes we just hope there's a way out of here." His words hung in the air, filled with a deep-seated longing for escape.
"Well, you'd better clear that thought out of your head, 'cause I don't," Sera said, her tone firm but amused.
Marcus took another sip from his mug before speaking, his tone turning serious and full of intent. "So, now for real, why was Malek after you? And don't lie to me – he mentioned a boy traveling with you." He stared at Sera intensely.
"You see the brown-skinned boy over there," Sera said, gesturing with her head toward Ren, who was standing in front of a trading stand. "Malek, as always, traced his signal when he arrived, claiming that he's a key and possesses a Whispering Stone," Sera explained.
Marcus's interest was a bit skeptical. "But is it true? Does he have a Whispering Stone?" Sera replied, "Of course not."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?" Sera said with a smile, "Because I asked him." Marcus's face turned disappointed.
"And you believed him just like that?" Marcus asked.
Sera explained, "I was there with him when he entered the tower and got his real shard – no Whispering Stone." Her words seemed to convince Marcus.
***
"Chill Island," Marcus said, his voice sharp.
Sera's head snapped up, intrigued. "I heard there's a shard there guarded by an Echo Fiend present there. You could get some really valuable shards," Marcus said. "Naturally, I'd go myself, but my motivation to keep fighting in this realm isn't so strong," Marcus said with a disappointing tone.
Sera thought to herself, "Fiend... it's rare to find Fiends, and they're incredibly dangerous." But the rewards were great, she stood up. "Alright, I'm going to get something new to wear. I'll be right back." She walked away, and Marcus glanced at her exit before standing up.
***
He approached Ren from behind. "You must be Ren?" he said.
Ren turned around, curious about how an unfamiliar voice spoke his name. He studied Marcus's face before responding, "Yes, I am."
Marcus smiled. "I'm a friend of Sera's – Marcus. I didn't mean to bother you, but Sera said you're a new Gatebearer." He continued, "She also said that you have a Whispering Stone too."
Ren's expression turned shocked, and Marcus's eyes twitched slightly. "Really? She said that? She obviously knows I don't," Ren replied, trying to maintain his composure.
Marcus's strong, large palm clamped down on Ren's left shoulder, the grip like a vice. Ren could feel the intensity of Marcus's strength, honed from years of battle experience, radiating through his entire body. Marcus leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Ren's with an unyielding gaze. In a cold, gritty tone that sent shivers down Ren's spine, he growled, "Are you sure you don't have a Whispering Stone?" His eyes glowed with a faint, ominous red light, and his aura became suffocatingly dominant. The air around them seemed to thicken, heavy with an almost palpable sense of menace.
Ren felt like he was staring into the eyes of a beast that had devoured all its prey, a primal fear creeping up his spine. He couldn't help but wonder how Marcus had sensed the truth about him, despite their brief acquaintance. The silence between them stretched out like a thin wire, taut and vibrating with tension.
"Aren't you going to answer me?" Marcus whispered, his voice barely audible, yet still terrifying and chilling. The words seemed to crawl under Ren's skin, making his heart pound in his chest.
Just as suddenly, Sera's voice cut through the tension. "Ren seems you've met Marcus." Marcus's aura shifted, becoming friendly and carefree. "Yeah, I was just introducing myself and telling Ren what a great disciple you are," Marcus said, his voice friendly and carefree.
Sera's face turned slightly embarrassed. "I told you not to go around announcing that," she said, a bit of embarrassment imprinted on her face. Ren thought to himself, "Disciple..."
"Let's get going, Ren," Sera said, gesturing and leading them both away. Marcus watched in the distance, staring intently at Ren, and Ren did the same.