It rained that night.
Not a normal rain — the kind that soaked the village in silence — but a sudden, violent storm that came out of nowhere and vanished just as quickly. By morning, the ground was littered with fallen branches, and the villagers were murmuring about omens.
Kael stood on the porch of his house, watching water drip from the eaves.
"You didn't cause this, right?" Liora asked from behind him, her arms crossed.
Kael didn't answer.
"Oh no," she said, stepping closer. "You totally did. Your glowing shard thing is turning you into a walking disaster."
"I didn't summon a storm," Kael said quietly.
"Good. Because if you did, I'd have to strangle you."
Kael almost smiled — but then the hum returned, sharp and insistent, pulling his attention toward the forest.
"You feel it again, don't you?" Liora asked, reading his expression.
"Yes."
"Of course you do. Great. Fantastic. Nothing says 'normal day' like being haunted by a magic tree."
Kael turned toward the forest. "I have to go."
Liora groaned. "You're lucky you're my friend, because anyone else dragging me into this would be unconscious by now."
The forest was wet and quiet, but not empty. Birds didn't sing. No insects buzzed. It was as though the entire forest was holding its breath.
"Okay," Liora whispered, gripping her staff tightly. "If something jumps out at us, I'm hitting it first and asking questions later."
Kael didn't respond. The hum was stronger now, guiding him deeper until they reached the clearing with the tree.
The roots glowed again — brighter this time — and the air seemed to ripple like heat haze.
"Yeah, no, this is cursed," Liora said.
Kael knelt by the roots, placing both hands on the ground.
The hum exploded into a roar inside his mind. Images flashed — endless void, falling stars, titans moving like mountains. And then a voice, faint and deep, speaking in a language Kael didn't know… yet somehow understood.
"Awaken."
Kael's breath caught. The glow surged, and a wave of wind burst outward, flattening the grass and knocking Liora onto her back.
"Kael!" she shouted.
But when he turned, his eyes glowed faintly for just a second — and then it was gone.
Back at the village, people were talking.
"Did you feel that wind earlier?"
"It came from the forest."
"The Hollow's been strange for days. Someone should tell the elders."
Kael heard the whispers as he passed, Liora close behind.
"You know," she muttered, "you're officially the weirdest thing to ever happen to this village. And this village once had a goat that ate an elder's beard."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Don't ask," she said quickly. "Long story."
He didn't smile this time. "They'll start asking questions."
"Let them," Liora said, a little softer now. "You're still you, Kael. Whatever's happening, it doesn't get to take that away."
He didn't answer — because deep down, he wasn't sure she was right.
That night, Kael dreamed again.This time, the figures in the void were closer. And one of them turned, looking directly at him.
"Child of Echo," it said, its voice shaking the dream around him."You are late."
Kael woke with a start, heart racing — and found the mark on his chest glowing faintly again.