The words refused to leave Kael's mind.
"Your mother made a sacrifice."
He stood silently in the ancient forest, staring at Seraphina.
For years, he had wondered why he never knew his mother.
Why there were no paintings of her in the palace.
Why no one spoke her name.
He had always believed she had simply disappeared.
But the truth was far more painful.
"Tell me everything," Kael said.
Seraphina looked at him with sadness.
"Some memories are difficult to carry."
"I have been carrying questions my entire life."
The old woman lowered her eyes.
"You deserve to know."
She sat beside the glowing river, and Kael sat across from her. Arven remained nearby, watching the forest in case the Shadowborn returned.
"Your mother's name was Elara Arwyn," Seraphina began.
Kael listened carefully.
"She was not only the queen of Elysium. She was the strongest Echo Guardian in generations."
"She had the same power as me?"
Seraphina nodded.
"But unlike you, she mastered it completely."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"She could hear the memories of ancient kings, forgotten warriors, and even the voices of the land itself."
Kael looked at his hand.
"So she knew I would have this power?"
"Yes."
The answer surprised him.
"Then why did everyone hide it?"
Seraphina took a deep breath.
"Because there was a prophecy."
The forest became colder.
"A prophecy about the child who would inherit the echoes."
Kael already knew the answer.
"Me."
"Yes."
Seraphina looked at the sky.
"The prophecy said that the child of the royal bloodline would either restore Elysium or bring its final destruction."
Kael's expression changed.
"So they feared me."
"They feared what could happen."
A painful silence followed.
Kael looked away.
"Even my own family?"
"Your family loved you more than anything."
Seraphina's voice softened.
"Your father wanted to protect you. Your mother wanted to give you a chance to choose your own destiny."
Kael clenched his fist.
"But they left me alone."
"No."
Seraphina shook her head.
"They hid you because enemies were searching for you."
She looked toward the dark mountains.
"Valen was not the only one who wanted your power."
A strange feeling moved through Kael.
"Who else?"
Before Seraphina could answer, the ground began shaking.
Arven immediately stood.
"We are not alone."
A powerful wave of darkness spread through the forest.
But this time, it was different.
The Shadowborn did not appear.
Instead, a single figure walked through the trees.
A woman.
She wore a black dress covered with silver markings, and her eyes glowed with unnatural magic.
Kael felt the echoes react.
The voices became louder.
Danger.
Seraphina stepped forward.
"You survived."
The woman smiled.
"Of course I survived."
Kael looked at Seraphina.
"You know her?"
The old woman's face became serious.
"Her name is Veyra."
The woman laughed.
"Still telling stories about me, Seraphina?"
Kael reached for his sword.
"Who are you?"
Veyra looked at him.
"The person who knows why your mother truly died."
The words froze him.
"What?"
Seraphina stepped forward.
"Do not listen to her."
Veyra smiled.
"Why not? Because I know the truth?"
Kael looked between them.
"Tell me."
Veyra walked closer.
"Your mother did not sacrifice herself because of the Shadowborn."
The air became heavy.
"She sacrificed herself because of your power."
Kael felt his heart drop.
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
Veyra looked at his glowing mark.
"When you were born, the Echo Crystal reacted to you. It showed your mother the future."
She lowered her voice.
"It showed her that your power could destroy everything."
Kael shook his head.
"No."
"She was afraid of you."
The words hurt more than he expected.
Seraphina immediately spoke.
"Enough."
Veyra smiled.
"Still protecting him after all these years?"
Arven stepped forward.
"You will not poison his mind."
Veyra looked at him.
"The loyal knight."
Her smile disappeared.
"You failed to protect his family once. Do you plan to fail again?"
Arven's hand tightened around his sword.
Kael noticed something.
Pain.
The knight carried guilt.
"What happened that night?" Kael asked.
Nobody answered.
"Tell me!"
The echoes suddenly exploded inside his mind.
A vision appeared.
The royal palace.
Fire everywhere.
His mother holding him as a baby.
His father fighting against enemies.
Arven standing outside the chamber.
And then...
A dark force entered.
A voice whispered.
"The child must be eliminated."
Kael saw his mother crying.
But she was not afraid.
She looked at him.
"My son will not be a weapon. He will be a choice."
The vision disappeared.
Kael opened his eyes.
Tears filled them.
His mother had not feared him.
She had protected him.
Veyra watched silently.
"You saw it."
Kael looked at her.
"You lied."
For the first time, Veyra looked surprised.
"The echoes showed me the truth."
Kael stood taller.
"My mother never saw me as a monster."
The golden light returned around him.
"You were wrong."
Veyra smiled slightly.
"Perhaps."
She stepped backward into the shadows.
"But the truth you discovered is only the beginning."
Dark energy surrounded her.
"The kingdom you want to save is hiding its greatest secret."
She disappeared.
The forest became silent again.
Kael looked at Seraphina.
"What secret?"
The old woman hesitated.
Then she said:
"The Echo Crystal was never destroyed."
Kael stared at her.
"Where is it?"
Seraphina looked toward the mountains.
"Inside the heart of Elysium."
Arven's expression changed.
"But reaching it means entering the forgotten kingdom."
Kael picked up his sword.
"Then that is where we are going."
Seraphina looked at him.
"Are you sure?"
Kael looked at the path ahead.
For the first time, he was not searching for who he was.
He already knew.
"I spent my entire life running from the echoes."
He closed his hand around the glowing mark.
"Now I will follow them."
Far away, beneath the ruins of Elysium, an ancient crystal began to awaken.
And a forgotten voice whispered:
"The heir is coming home."
To be continued...