The sound of distant bells echoed through the smoky air, a harsh reminder that the Outer Wall, Ravik, was no place for dreams. The streets were filled with the clamor of merchants hawking wares, scavengers bartering scraps, and soldiers marching with hollow expressions. For the people of Ravik, survival was a battle fought every day.
Kael Ardyn stood on the roof of a crumbling building, his gaze fixed on the towering walls of Valtros in the distance. The middle wall, where the kingdom's elite soldiers trained, was a place Kael had only seen in glimpses. Beyond that was Solvia, the shimmering city of the inner wall, said to hold the answers to everything: the Echo attacks, the Veil, and the secrets of the royal family.
"Dreaming of freedom again?"
Kael turned to see his best friend, Rynne, climbing up to join him. Her auburn hair was tied back, and her freckled face was streaked with dirt from a day of scavenging.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Kael replied with a smirk.
"It is when you can't even afford food for tomorrow," Rynne said, sitting beside him. She held out a small loaf of bread, which Kael gratefully accepted. "We barely made enough today to get by. What makes you think you'll ever make it to Solvia?"
Kael tore off a piece of bread and shrugged. "Because if I don't believe it, who will?"
Rynne rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "You're impossible."
---
The peace of their moment didn't last. A loud, bone-rattling roar pierced the air, followed by screams from the street below.
Kael and Rynne froze, their eyes locking.
"Echoes," Rynne whispered.
Kael scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding. From their vantage point, he could see the chaos spreading like wildfire. Massive, shadowy figures with glowing eyes emerged from the alleys, their forms twisting and shifting unnaturally. People ran in every direction, some falling to the creatures' claws while others tried in vain to fight back.
"We need to move," Kael said, grabbing Rynne's arm.
"But the others—"
"They'll be fine if we survive. Come on!"
Kael led Rynne down the side of the building, leaping from ledge to ledge. The screams grew louder as they hit the street, the acrid smell of burning wood and flesh filling their nostrils.
"Head for the tunnels!" Kael shouted, steering Rynne toward an old sewer grate.
They had just reached it when a massive Echo dropped from above, blocking their path. Its body was amorphous, shifting between solid and liquid, its claws dripping with black ichor.
"Stay behind me!" Kael yelled, though he had no idea what he was going to do.
The Echo lunged, and Kael braced for the end.
---
A burst of light illuminated the street, and the Echo screeched, recoiling. Kael looked up to see a figure clad in sleek armor, wielding a glowing spear. More armored figures appeared behind them, the emblem of the Vanguard emblazoned on their chests.
"Get out of here!" the lead soldier barked.
Kael didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed Rynne, and they ran for the tunnels as the Vanguard soldiers engaged the Echo. The sound of clashing metal and unearthly screams echoed behind them.
---
They didn't stop running until they were deep in the sewers, where the world above felt like a distant nightmare. Kael collapsed against the wall, gasping for breath.
"That was too close," Rynne said, her voice trembling.
Kael nodded, his thoughts racing. The Echoes were attacking more frequently, and the Vanguard was barely keeping them at bay. If this continued, Ravik would be wiped off the map.
"We can't keep living like this," Kael said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Rynne looked at him, her eyes filled with worry. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'm done waiting for someone to save us." Kael clenched his fists. "If the answers are in Solvia, then that's where I'm going."
Rynne stared at him in disbelief. "You're insane. The Vanguard will kill you before you even get close."
"Then I'll find another way," Kael said firmly. "I'm not staying here to watch everything burn."
For a moment, Rynne said nothing. Then she sighed and sat down beside him. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Kael smiled faintly. "You've mentioned it before."
They sat in silence, the distant sounds of the battle above fading into an uneasy quiet.
---
Far above, in the heart of Solvia, a figure watched the chaos unfold through a shimmering orb.
"The Veil weakens," the figure said, their voice calm but laced with menace. "It won't be long now."
Behind them, a shadowy figure stepped forward. "Shall I dispatch the Sentinels to investigate?"
"No," the first figure replied. "Let the Echoes do their work. And keep an eye on the boy."
"The boy, my lord?"
"Yes." The figure's lips curved into a cold smile. "He will either save us or destroy us. And I intend to ensure it's the latter."