"I am not your answer. I am your reminder. Choose better than I did."
— Rahul, memory echo fragment
Scene 1: The Empty Room
It began with silence.
Zephyr was gone.
His weapons, his coat, even his pendant — left behind.
In his place:
Three dead bodies, marked with glowing words carved into the floor:
"This is not betrayal. This is protection."
"If you follow, I'll kill more."
"Forgive me later."
Kaien stood over the scene.
Still. Breathing hard.
Voidflame cracking beneath his skin.
"He didn't leave a trail," Valenya muttered.
"He left a warning," Kaien replied.
Scene 2: Aren Goes Missing
Hours later, while the team prepared for search protocol...
Aren vanished.
No teleport spike. No signature. No trace.
Aeyra, pale and shaking, whispered:
"He was near me one second… and the next… he was just gone."
Kaien dropped his sword mid-training.
Didn't say a word.
He walked to the map.
Activated a trace beacon tied to their bloodline.
Nothing.
Not silence.
Absence.
The kind only one person could cause.
Scene 3: Olivia's Bloom Awakens
Olivia sat alone in the Citadel's chamber of light, staring at the crystal Rahul left her.
It pulsed again.
And cracked.
Then bloomed.
A small creature stepped out — made of light and flame, its form shifting between a bird, a wisp, and a flower.
It chirped once.
Then spoke in Rahul's voice — young, warm, uncertain.
"Hello. You must be the one he chose."
Olivia froze.
"You're… not him."
"No. I'm what's left of his love. The part he never learned to use."
The creature fluttered onto her shoulder.
"And I'm here to make sure Kaien doesn't follow his ending."
Scene 4: Valenya's Secret
Valenya stood on the wall of the Citadel.
Alone.
Until Vaeyra approached.
"You look like you're about to make a mistake," she said gently.
Valenya didn't look away from the stars.
"I once loved someone who followed the wrong side."
"I think he's back."
Vaeyra was silent. Then:
"If he is, do you kill him?"
"No."
"I make sure Kaien never sees him."
Scene 5: Memory Fragment — Rahul Speaks Once More
Back in the Book of Echoes, a new page bled itself into being.
A floating sigil hovered.
Then Rahul's voice echoed:
"You've lost one. Not forever. But for now."
"The one who left did it to protect the ones who stayed."
"But beware the brother of the flame."
"He lies in smiles. And he kills in mercy."
Scene 6: Rahn Makes His Move
In a forgotten ruin, Aren sat in a sealed circle.
Unharmed.
Unaware.
Until a figure entered the light.
Rahn.
Kaien's greatest threat.
Rahul's hidden shame.
"Hello, little Voidflame."
"Let's see how much of him you carry."
"Let's see what happens… when I give you a choice your brother never had."
Final Scene: Kaien's Resolve
Kaien stood on the cliffside, watching the twin moons rise.
Olivia approached from behind, the light-creature perched on her shoulder.
"You're not speaking," she said softly.
"I'm listening," he replied.
"To what?"
He stared at the stars.
"To Rahul's silence."
"He always protected others… but never let them protect him."
He turned to her.
Eyes fierce. But tired.
"I won't make that mistake."