Saphine closed her eyes.
She could still feel the warmth of Eris's hand on her wrist from the last lesson. Ignore the logic of sense.Listen to your own world.
Silence folded in around her… and for a few long heartbeats, there was only stillness.
Then—
…phine…Saphine…
The voice again.Not loud. Not distinct.But closer.
Her heart stuttered in her chest.
It isn't that I can't hear it, she thought. It's that it's still so far away…
She exhaled and opened her eyes — and for a second, she thought she saw a faint shimmer in the air, like distant starlight pressed against the edge of reality.
Then it was gone.
"…Closer than yesterday," Eris said quietly from where he leaned against the wall.
She turned, cheeks warming. "You were watching?"
"Of course," he replied. "It's my job."
"That doesn't mean you need to monitor my every breath—"
"It might."
"Eris—"
"If a stray Echo Phenomenon tries to devour you mid-meditation, I would rather be present."
She glared at him.
He did not appear remotely apologetic.
Later – Under the East Wing
Aerin walked several paces behind the pair, spear resting across his shoulders, Meline drifting like a pale shadow at his side.
They were following Eris and Saphine into the restricted archive tunnels — but this time, as allies.
Allies.
The word felt strange on Aerin's tongue.
He glanced at Eris, watching the way the older boy walked: relaxed, deliberate… but constantly aware. Each movement measured. Each decision quiet.
He doesn't move like a bodyguard, Aerin thought. He moves like someone who has already seen the end of things—and is simply choosing not to let them happen yet.
He caught Meline looking as well. Her posture was looser now—still wary, but no longer haunted.
She noticed him watching.He raised a brow.
"I'm not comfortable," she muttered under her breath, "just… less terrified."
"That's an improvement."
"Barely."
Ahead of them, Saphine called over her shoulder: "Did you two say something?"
"No," both answered at the same time.
"…Creepy," she muttered.
At the Old Sigil Chamber
They reached the cracked sigil-plate again — the same circular stone Eris had used to trace the Echo's movement.
Without words, all four knelt around it.
Eris placed two fingers on the fracture.Aerin extended his spear, letting its tip hover over the center.Meline laid out a small set of resonance-stones.Saphine closed her eyes and listened.
A soft pulse rippled through the ground.
The stones flickered.
"North wing," Meline said quietly. "Near the old amphitheater."
Eris nodded without looking at her. "It's accelerating now that Saphine has begun resonance."
Aerin met his gaze. "So it really is coming for her."
"Yes," Eris said.
Saphine opened her eyes but didn't flinch. "Then let's go to it first."
Eris gave her a calm nod — but in his eyes, Aerin saw it again:
Not pride.Not fear.
Certainty.
Aerin tightened his grip on his spear and stepped forward.
"I'll take the lead. If it manifests physically, my Echo reacts faster."
"Agreed," Eris said, falling into step at his left.
And just like that… they moved together.Four sets of footsteps in perfect rhythm — one spear, two short blades, one echo of a voice still rising from the dark.
Saphine risked a glance at Aerin and Meline.
They weren't hostile now.Just… watchful.Maybe even protective.
She smiled to herself.
Maybe this is what a real heir and shadow are supposed to feel like…
In the back of her mind, the voice murmured again — still distant, but clearer than ever.
Saphine……I'm almost here.
She didn't know if it was a warning or a promise.
But somehow… it didn't frighten her anymore.
To be continued…