Part 1: The Crew's Demand
The ghostly sailors circle Lyria, their hollow eyes fixed on her shadow-self.
"Give her back," they rasp, voices like crumpling parchment.
Revelation: The crew are the Drowned Bard's original party, erased when she defied the Audience.
Their Price: Lyria must stay behind to take her shadow's place—or they'll scuttle the ship.
Lyria (smiling, tears ink-black):"Well. I did miss them."
Aiden's fist clenches. "Like hell."
Part 2: Kael's Prophecy Arm
Kael's corrupted limb writes on its own, scrawling across the deck:
"The Audience's weakness: They crave conflict. Deny them."
Nirah's Hollow Eye Sees:
The Audience leaning in, eager for betrayal.
Their frustration when heroes refuse to suffer prettily.
Aiden's Play: He kicks the script overboard.
"No tragic sacrifices today."
Part 3: The Unwritten Ending
The ship revolts.
Elara grapples with her own ghost (a version who died for Kael).
Ignisia fights without flames—just raw, desperate fists.
Aiden does the unthinkable: He apologizes to the shadow.
"I can't replace what you lost. But I'll burn the ones who took it."
The shadow hesitates.
The Audience screams.
Cliffhanger: The First Aiden's Last Lie
Lyria's shadow dissolves—revealing a single page stuck to the mast:
"The real Drowned Bard? She won. They just rewrote history. Do it again."
The ship lurches toward the Audience's throne.
Next Chapter Teaser:
The Audience's Lair: A theater of living tropes.
Nirah's Secret Role: Her missing eye is the First Aiden's.
Final Battle Prep:"How do you kill a story?"