Dawn painted the treetops in muted gold, but beneath the canopy, light filtered through like liquid amber—warm, fractured, and soft. Ren moved quietly, his breath steady. Moss rode on his shoulder as usual, occasionally flicking its ears at sounds only it could detect.
Since acquiring the Echo Fragment and unlocking the Root Armor, Ren felt different. Not just stronger—more aware. The system's presence no longer felt foreign. It had become a constant companion, like a second set of senses whispering in the background of his mind.
[Daily Sync Completed]Status: StableSeed Resonance: 4.3%System Notes: Begin exploration of secondary relic zone – priority suggested.
Ren raised a brow at that.
"Secondary relic zone… Where?"
He brought up the map. It had evolved subtly overnight, lines becoming clearer, shapes taking form. One such shape pulsed now—a stone icon shaped like a blooming flower, glowing faintly. A note hovered over it.
Relic Zone – The Whispering LedgerEstimated Risk Level: ModeratePrimary Function: Lore and System Archive IntegrationUnclaimed by current Seedbearer generation.
He muttered, "So there's more to the story, and this place has it."
Ren set off.
The path became difficult after an hour—gnarled roots twisted across the ground like the bones of ancient beasts, and the mist returned, thicker and colder. Moss burrowed deeper into his cloak, clearly unhappy.
Eventually, the terrain opened into a clearing bordered by broken stones and half-fallen statues. It felt like a place once meant for gathering, but long abandoned. At its center sat a strange obelisk, cracked down the middle, humming faintly.
[System Alert: Archive Node Detected]Initiate Extraction Protocol?Warning: Environmental Echo Barrier Present – Temporal Playback may destabilize.Recommend activating system safety shell before proceeding.
Ren paused. "Temporal playback?"
He remembered what it felt like to stand in that vision from the caravan—how real it had been. If this was anything more intense, he needed to be cautious.
"Alright," he said. "Activate shell."
[Shell Deployed – Duration: 15 minutes]Echo Feedback Reduced. Mental Load Capped at 60%.
Ren touched the obelisk.
The world didn't change this time. It shifted—the forest went grayscale. Movement paused. Moss froze mid-blink. Even the air seemed to still.
Then came a whisper, not just sound but presence. A figure emerged from the obelisk, draped in long robes that moved like mist.
It looked directly at Ren.
"You're late."
Ren's heart kicked against his ribs.
"You... can see me?"
"No," the voice said. "But I remember you."
A flicker of confusion.
The figure turned. Around it, other projections appeared—dozens of robed figures seated in a wide circle. It was a memory of a council. A trial. The center seat was empty.
"The Seed has always chosen. But this time, it's impatient. It seeks… correction."
Another voice from the memory asked: "If we record the truth, will they listen?"
"No. But we must write it anyway."
The projections shifted. The obelisk flared. Words burned into the air, symbols the system translated instantly:
[Lore Fragment Recovered: The Seed's Betrayal – Part I]Not all who bore the Seed were meant to keep it.One among the First Circle fell. His ambition twisted the root, and the balance shattered.Ever since, the Seed chooses with caution—selecting not the strong, but the stubborn.
Ren whispered, "It's a test."
[System Response: Lore Archived – Interface Upgraded]New Feature: Timeline GlimpseYou may now access condensed system-generated memory threads of prior Seedbearers.
Unlocked Entry: Cadren Voss – The First Betrayer
Ren blinked. "First betrayer?"
Images flickered—just a flash. A tall man with obsidian armor, wielding a jagged spear made from something alive. His face was calm. Too calm.
Timeline Access: RestrictedComplete three additional archives to unlock full memory.
The system pulled Ren out of the playback.
Time snapped forward. Moss un-froze, let out a startled squeak, and swatted his ear.
Ren knelt to steady himself.
That had been... intense.
He looked up at the obelisk again. It was cracked, but pulsing faintly—like a heart still beating.
You have absorbed 1 of 5 Whispering Ledgers. Progress: 20%Next Nearest Archive: Skyroot Chamber – Elevation ZoneWarning: Elevation Zone is under control of local fauna class: Hostile – Sporeborne (lvl 7-9)
Ren stood and exhaled slowly.
It was clear now—the Seed wasn't just a gift. It was history, reincarnated and looking for resolution.
"Why me?" he murmured.
System Note: Chosen based on resonance and mental resilience.Stubborn enough to survive. Curious enough to uncover. Reckless enough to try.A rare combination.
Ren grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes.
The story wasn't just his anymore. It never had been.
And he was beginning to understand—those echoes? They weren't warnings.
They were invitations.