1. LOST IN THE VOID
The space around Xuan Xingli gradually distorted. Shards of memories drifted in the void, overlapping and intertwining, making it impossible for her to distinguish reality from illusion. A cold wind swept past, carrying whispers that echoed in her mind.
"Do you... truly wish to remember?"
A deep voice, distant, as if coming from a place beyond this world. Xuan Xingli clenched her fists, struggling to anchor her consciousness. But the space before her suddenly shattered, pulling her into an entirely different realm.
The sky was ashen, the ground cracked and worn, as if bearing the weight of countless years of decay. Before her stood a familiar figure—a girl with long black hair and crimson eyes that burned like blood.
"Who... are you?"
The figure did not answer, only smiled. Yet that smile sent a chilling sensation down Xuan Xingli's spine. A sudden realization struck her—this was not a dream, but a memory she had once lost.
2. HIDDEN MEMORIES
The scene spun and shifted. Xuan Xingli found herself standing in a dimly lit chamber, draped in black silk that fluttered with the passing breeze. The faint scent of incense permeated the air.
At the center of the room sat a woman clad in deep crimson robes, her gaze piercing yet betraying a sorrow that ran deep.
"Have you truly forgotten, Xingli?" she spoke, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable weight.
Xuan Xingli remained silent. Her heart pounded as though it was trying to recall something of great importance. Yet, her memories remained veiled, like mist beyond her grasp.
"Remember. You once stood by my side... once fought for something."
A sharp pain seared through Xuan Xingli's mind. She clutched her head, her breath ragged. A fleeting vision—a battlefield drenched in blood, echoes of screams, and... an unfulfilled promise.
"What... did I say to you?"
The woman in red smiled, her voice now tinged with a gentler sorrow. "You once promised never to forget me. Yet now, you stand before me with those unfamiliar eyes."
Xuan Xingli froze. That promise... it echoed in her mind, but it was still too distant to reach.
"I have not forgotten," she whispered, though even she was unsure of her own words.
The crimson-clad woman lowered her gaze, her tone carrying a trace of bitterness. "Then prove it, Xingli. If you truly have not forgotten, find me... where it all began."
Before she could ask more, the space shattered once again, and Xuan Xingli was pulled back to reality.
3. FOREST OF FORGOTTEN ECHOES – WHERE MEMORIES ARE BURIED
A blinding light engulfed her, then abruptly faded. When she opened her eyes, Xuan Xingli found herself kneeling before the black stone gate of the Forest of Forgotten Echoes. Luo Chenxi stood beside her, her gaze filled with curiosity.
"What did you see?" she asked.
Xuan Xingli exhaled, her hands tightening into fists. "I... I'm not sure. But there was someone... someone who has been waiting for me for a long time."
A heavy silence settled between them. A gentle breeze carried the lingering scent of incense. Luo Chenxi crossed her arms, her violet eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Do you know what this place is?" she asked slowly.
Xuan Xingli shook her head. Luo Chenxi chuckled lightly. "They call it the Forest of Forgotten Echoes—a place where lost memories are sealed. Those who enter must face their past. Once you remember, you may never be the same again."
"Have you been here before?" Xuan Xingli asked.
Luo Chenxi held her gaze for a long moment before offering a faint smile. "Perhaps I have. But who knows? Memories in the Forest of Forgotten Echoes are never trustworthy."
A sense of unease crept into Xuan Xingli's heart. She turned to the ominous black gate before her, sensing an enigmatic energy coursing through its ancient stone. She knew that moving forward would be anything but simple. But she also knew that if she turned away, she would never uncover the truth.
"Then let's continue. Perhaps, what you seek... is not far now." Luo Chenxi murmured, her violet eyes gleaming with an unreadable light.
Their silhouettes melted into the darkness as they ventured deeper into the Forest of Forgotten Echoes—where long-buried secrets awaited their discovery.