The heartbeat continued.
Slow.
Heavy.
Too heavy.
BOOM.
…BOOM.
...…BOOM.
Each pulse rattled the moss under their feet.
Even the trees shivered—
roots pulling subtly away from the direction of the sound.
Zerrei clung to Lyra, shaking so hard she could feel every tremor.
"…Lyra… Lyra… no… no… too big…"
She held him tighter.
"I'm here. It won't touch you."
His glow flickered in panic.
"…it… feel… like chains… same… same…"
Arden stepped forward, planting his feet, sword drawn.
"Whatever this is, it's getting closer."
Oren's voice was a forced whisper.
"Closer… and larger."
Lyra stroked Zerrei's back.
"What do you feel, Zerrei?"
He squeezed his eyes shut.
"…cold… heavy…
not like Vessel Four…
not copy…
not empty…
it's… hungry…"
His voice broke into a whimper.
"…Lyra… please… please… don't go…"
She pulled his head against her shoulder.
"I'm not going anywhere."
He clutched her like a lifeline.
"…mine… Lyra…"
"Yes," she whispered. "And you're mine."
His glow steadied a little.
But the forest didn't.
THE FIRST SIGHTING
Arden stiffened.
"Something's moving through the trees."
Oren lifted his staff.
"Rune perimeter is active.
It'll glow if anything crosses it."
Lyra kept Zerrei close, whispering softly.
"You're safe. You're safe."
But Zerrei suddenly went rigid in her arms—
Every part of him freezing at once.
"…Lyra…"
"Yes?"
His eyes widened.
"…don't… look…"
She froze.
"Why?"
His voice was barely audible.
"…it's here…"
The air changed.
A coldness so sharp it felt like standing in the shadow of a mountain.
A shape emerged between the trees.
Not fully.
Not clearly.
Just enough for them to understand:
This thing was tall.
Too tall.
A silhouette that seemed to blend into the darkness—
a twisted figure that didn't move like a creature.
It moved like a presence.
Oren whispered:
"By the gods…"
Arden's grip whitened on his sword.
"What is THAT?"
The figure stopped outside the perimeter.
The runes carved by Oren flickered faintly.
A boundary.
A thin line between them and the darkness.
The creature didn't cross.
Not yet.
But it leaned forward—
observing.
Studying.
Zerrei pressed his face into Lyra's chest, trembling violently.
"…Lyra… no—no—no—…"
She held him tighter.
"It's okay—don't look—stay with me—"
He whimpered.
"…too strong… too big…
not like Vessel Four…
not like anything…"
Oren swallowed hard.
"This… must be Vessel Five."
Arden muttered:
"Well, it looks like death."
Lyra lifted Zerrei's face gently by the chin.
"Zerrei. Focus on me."
He blinked—eyes wet.
Terrified.
"…Lyra…"
"Yes."
He leaned close, voice tinier than she'd ever heard.
"…if… Lyra… tell Zerrei to run… Zerrei run with Lyra…"
Her heart squeezed.
"I would never leave you."
He pressed his forehead to hers.
"…never… leave Zerrei…"
"Never," she echoed softly.
VESSEL FIVE SPEAKS
The silhouette straightened.
The runes flared—
Warning.
It answered with a sound.
A deep, grinding resonance—
like stone dragged across stone—
like bones shifting under pressure.
Then a voice—
Not loud.
Not human.
But old.
Heavy.
"Vessel Two…"
Zerrei jolted.
"No—NO—NO—!!"
Lyra's arms tightened around him.
"Zerrei—look at me, not at it—"
Zerrei buried into her shoulder, sobbing.
"…Lyra… it see Zerrei… it see… it see—"
Arden yelled:
"HEY! Whatever you are, back off!"
The silhouette didn't move.
Didn't acknowledge him.
It spoke again.
"You… cost… us."
Lyra's breath caught.
"Cost?"
Oren's eyes widened.
"No—
NO—
The Creator is speaking THROUGH it."
Arden cursed sharply.
"Oh, perfect. The puppeteer found a microphone."
The voice continued:
"Four… broken."
"Three… unstable."
"Two… corrupted."
Zerrei cried out—
"…no… no… Zerrei… not corrupted… Zerrei… Zerrei…"
Lyra hugged him tighter.
"You're not corrupted. You're YOU."
The voice shifted—
deepening.
Hardening.
"Return, Vessel Two."
Zerrei screamed.
"NO—NO—NO—!!
LYRA—DON'T LET GO—!!"
"I'm here—!"
"…please… please… don't let them take Zerrei—!!"
Lyra cupped his trembling face.
"I won't. I won't. I promise."
The monster's head tilted—
as if sensing the bond.
Then—
A terrifying sound filled the air.
Laughing.
If laughing could be felt like a vibration inside the bones.
The creature leaned closer to the rune perimeter.
"Your bond weakens you."
Lyra's heart froze.
It wasn't mocking.
It was stating a fact.
Oren muttered:
"Zerrei's power surges with emotion…
but emotion also destabilizes him."
Arden snarled:
"Shut up—don't say that out loud!"
Zerrei was shaking uncontrollably.
"…Lyra… Zerrei… break… again… if scared…
Zerrei… weakness…?"
His voice cracked.
Lyra grabbed his cheeks firmly.
"No.
YOU.
ARE.
NOT.
A.
WEAKNESS."
He blinked—confused, scared.
She pressed her forehead to his.
"You are the strongest person I know."
He trembled.
"…but… emotions… dangerous…"
"Your emotions saved me."
He froze.
She continued:
"Your emotions gave you power."
He stared at her—
breathing hard.
"…Lyra… loves… Zerrei… emotions…?"
Her breath caught.
But she smiled.
"Yes."
His glow warmed.
Fragile.
But real.
"…then… not weakness…?"
"No," she whispered.
"Your emotions are your heart."
He softened—
leaning into her touch.
The monster outside the perimeter stepped closer again.
The runes sparked violently.
Oren gasped.
"It's testing the boundary—!"
Arden raised his sword.
"Let it try."
THE FIRST CRACK
Vessel Five pressed a hand against the barrier rune.
A soft hiss.
Then—
CRRRRRRRACK—
The rune flickered.
One line fractured.
Oren's face drained white.
"No—
NO—
The cradle won't hold it—!!"
Lyra tightened her hold on Zerrei.
"Zerrei—stay with me—!"
He clung to her desperately.
"…Lyra… don't… leave…"
The creature leaned closer—
And whispered:
"Vessel Two…
you cannot run
from your maker."
Zerrei's voice broke into a terrified cry.
"LYRA—!!"
He pressed his face into her neck.
She held him as if holding her own heartbeat.
"I've got you—Zerrei—listen—focus on me—only me—!"
Arden stepped between them and the monster, sword raised.
Oren's runes flickered—
Ready to break.
The forest held its breath.
A second crack formed.
CRACK.
Oren shouted:
"THE BARRIER HAS ONE MINUTE—!!"
The creature's single eye glowed.
Red.
Hungry.
Focused on Zerrei.
Lyra whispered fiercely:
"Zerrei.
We're leaving."
He lifted his face slowly.
Eyes wet.
Glow trembling.
"…together…?"
"Always."
He held her hand tightly.
"…Lyra… mine…"
"And you're mine."
The barrier cracked again.
The creature stepped forward—
Slowly.
Inevitably.
And the chapter ends with:
CRRRRRRACK—
The rune shattered.
CHAPTER 64 — WHEN THE EARTH TREMBLES BACK
The heartbeat continued.
Slow.
Heavy.
Too heavy.
BOOM.
…BOOM.
...…BOOM.
Each pulse rattled the moss under their feet.
Even the trees shivered—
roots pulling subtly away from the direction of the sound.
Zerrei clung to Lyra, shaking so hard she could feel every tremor.
"…Lyra… Lyra… no… no… too big…"
She held him tighter.
"I'm here. It won't touch you."
His glow flickered in panic.
"…it… feel… like chains… same… same…"
Arden stepped forward, planting his feet, sword drawn.
"Whatever this is, it's getting closer."
Oren's voice was a forced whisper.
"Closer… and larger."
Lyra stroked Zerrei's back.
"What do you feel, Zerrei?"
He squeezed his eyes shut.
"…cold… heavy…
not like Vessel Four…
not copy…
not empty…
it's… hungry…"
His voice broke into a whimper.
"…Lyra… please… please… don't go…"
She pulled his head against her shoulder.
"I'm not going anywhere."
He clutched her like a lifeline.
"…mine… Lyra…"
"Yes," she whispered. "And you're mine."
His glow steadied a little.
But the forest didn't.
THE FIRST SIGHTING
Arden stiffened.
"Something's moving through the trees."
Oren lifted his staff.
"Rune perimeter is active.
It'll glow if anything crosses it."
Lyra kept Zerrei close, whispering softly.
"You're safe. You're safe."
But Zerrei suddenly went rigid in her arms—
Every part of him freezing at once.
"…Lyra…"
"Yes?"
His eyes widened.
"…don't… look…"
She froze.
"Why?"
His voice was barely audible.
"…it's here…"
The air changed.
A coldness so sharp it felt like standing in the shadow of a mountain.
A shape emerged between the trees.
Not fully.
Not clearly.
Just enough for them to understand:
This thing was tall.
Too tall.
A silhouette that seemed to blend into the darkness—
a twisted figure that didn't move like a creature.
It moved like a presence.
Oren whispered:
"By the gods…"
Arden's grip whitened on his sword.
"What is THAT?"
The figure stopped outside the perimeter.
The runes carved by Oren flickered faintly.
A boundary.
A thin line between them and the darkness.
The creature didn't cross.
Not yet.
But it leaned forward—
observing.
Studying.
Zerrei pressed his face into Lyra's chest, trembling violently.
"…Lyra… no—no—no—…"
She held him tighter.
"It's okay—don't look—stay with me—"
He whimpered.
"…too strong… too big…
not like Vessel Four…
not like anything…"
Oren swallowed hard.
"This… must be Vessel Five."
Arden muttered:
"Well, it looks like death."
Lyra lifted Zerrei's face gently by the chin.
"Zerrei. Focus on me."
He blinked—eyes wet.
Terrified.
"…Lyra…"
"Yes."
He leaned close, voice tinier than she'd ever heard.
"…if… Lyra… tell Zerrei to run… Zerrei run with Lyra…"
Her heart squeezed.
"I would never leave you."
He pressed his forehead to hers.
"…never… leave Zerrei…"
"Never," she echoed softly.
VESSEL FIVE SPEAKS
The silhouette straightened.
The runes flared—
Warning.
It answered with a sound.
A deep, grinding resonance—
like stone dragged across stone—
like bones shifting under pressure.
Then a voice—
Not loud.
Not human.
But old.
Heavy.
"Vessel Two…"
Zerrei jolted.
"No—NO—NO—!!"
Lyra's arms tightened around him.
"Zerrei—look at me, not at it—"
Zerrei buried into her shoulder, sobbing.
"…Lyra… it see Zerrei… it see… it see—"
Arden yelled:
"HEY! Whatever you are, back off!"
The silhouette didn't move.
Didn't acknowledge him.
It spoke again.
"You… cost… us."
Lyra's breath caught.
"Cost?"
Oren's eyes widened.
"No—
NO—
The Creator is speaking THROUGH it."
Arden cursed sharply.
"Oh, perfect. The puppeteer found a microphone."
The voice continued:
"Four… broken."
"Three… unstable."
"Two… corrupted."
Zerrei cried out—
"…no… no… Zerrei… not corrupted… Zerrei… Zerrei…"
Lyra hugged him tighter.
"You're not corrupted. You're YOU."
The voice shifted—
deepening.
Hardening.
"Return, Vessel Two."
Zerrei screamed.
"NO—NO—NO—!!
LYRA—DON'T LET GO—!!"
"I'm here—!"
"…please… please… don't let them take Zerrei—!!"
Lyra cupped his trembling face.
"I won't. I won't. I promise."
The monster's head tilted—
as if sensing the bond.
Then—
A terrifying sound filled the air.
Laughing.
If laughing could be felt like a vibration inside the bones.
The creature leaned closer to the rune perimeter.
"Your bond weakens you."
Lyra's heart froze.
It wasn't mocking.
It was stating a fact.
Oren muttered:
"Zerrei's power surges with emotion…
but emotion also destabilizes him."
Arden snarled:
"Shut up—don't say that out loud!"
Zerrei was shaking uncontrollably.
"…Lyra… Zerrei… break… again… if scared…
Zerrei… weakness…?"
His voice cracked.
Lyra grabbed his cheeks firmly.
"No.
YOU.
ARE.
NOT.
A.
WEAKNESS."
He blinked—confused, scared.
She pressed her forehead to his.
"You are the strongest person I know."
He trembled.
"…but… emotions… dangerous…"
"Your emotions saved me."
He froze.
She continued:
"Your emotions gave you power."
He stared at her—
breathing hard.
"…Lyra… loves… Zerrei… emotions…?"
Her breath caught.
But she smiled.
"Yes."
His glow warmed.
Fragile.
But real.
"…then… not weakness…?"
"No," she whispered.
"Your emotions are your heart."
He softened—
leaning into her touch.
The monster outside the perimeter stepped closer again.
The runes sparked violently.
Oren gasped.
"It's testing the boundary—!"
Arden raised his sword.
"Let it try."
THE FIRST CRACK
Vessel Five pressed a hand against the barrier rune.
A soft hiss.
Then—
CRRRRRRRACK—
The rune flickered.
One line fractured.
Oren's face drained white.
"No—
NO—
The cradle won't hold it—!!"
Lyra tightened her hold on Zerrei.
"Zerrei—stay with me—!"
He clung to her desperately.
"…Lyra… don't… leave…"
The creature leaned closer—
And whispered:
"Vessel Two…
you cannot run
from your maker."
Zerrei's voice broke into a terrified cry.
"LYRA—!!"
He pressed his face into her neck.
She held him as if holding her own heartbeat.
"I've got you—Zerrei—listen—focus on me—only me—!"
Arden stepped between them and the monster, sword raised.
Oren's runes flickered—
Ready to break.
The forest held its breath.
A second crack formed.
CRACK.
Oren shouted:
"THE BARRIER HAS ONE MINUTE—!!"
The creature's single eye glowed.
Red.
Hungry.
Focused on Zerrei.
Lyra whispered fiercely:
"Zerrei.
We're leaving."
He lifted his face slowly.
Eyes wet.
Glow trembling.
"…together…?"
"Always."
He held her hand tightly.
"…Lyra… mine…"
"And you're mine."
The barrier cracked again.
The creature stepped forward—
Slowly.
Inevitably.
And the chapter ends with:
CRRRRRRACK—
The rune shattered.