Eron's one eye gleamed with something strange.Hope?Madness?
Vael stood up slowly.The crown still hummed—quiet, but alive.
"You know me?" Vael asked.
Eron laughed.A dry, cracked sound.
"I know what you carry," he said."I've seen it before. Long ago."
Nyra stayed close.Reylen gripped his blade.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Edge of the Severed Woods," Eron replied."Past this? Nothing but ruins and war."
Vael's breath was steady.He felt the world shifting.
"You said you're the last survivor," Vael said."Of what?"
Eron's face darkened."The Crownless War," he said."A war that never ended. Just… went quiet."
He knelt by the dirt.Drew a symbol—two circles overlapping.
"There were seven crowned ones.Each chosen by a different Echo."
"Echo?" Reylen asked.
Eron nodded.
"They are not gods. Not demons.Just… remnants of something older than memory."
Vael stepped closer."And the crown I wear?"
"Was worn by the first," Eron whispered."King of Silence. Bringer of Ends."
Vael's throat felt dry.A wind blew past, sharp and cold.
Eron stood."There's more like you. Some awakened. Some waiting."
Nyra looked uneasy."We can't fight them all."
"You don't have to," Eron said."Just reach the Ruined Vault. Before they do."
"What's in it?" Vael asked.
"The heart of the oldest Echo."
Night fell.They made camp near shattered stones.
Eron stared into the fire.His burned face glowed faintly.
"You chose not to kill the shadow," he said."That means something."
Vael nodded."I want to change… but not become him."
Eron looked up.Then said one thing before sleep.
"Be ready, boy.The crowned are waking."