The Ashen Cathedral stood at the edge of the Shattered Valley — a ruined basilica half-sunk into the earth, spires broken like snapped bones.
Miko and Kael reached it at dusk — after three days of hard travel, avoiding Mistborn scouts.
The building was massive — black stone, violet veins crawling up the walls like ivy.
The main doors were gone — only a gaping arch remained.
The seal pulsed — slow, reverent.
Here.
Miko stepped inside.
The nave was open to the sky — roof long collapsed.
Moonlight poured through, illuminating rows of shattered pews and a cracked altar at the far end.
On the altar — a single object.
A large obsidian tablet — cracked down the middle, crimson veins glowing faintly.
Kael's shadows probed — found nothing living.
They approached.
Miko touched the tablet.
The seal flared — hot.
Vision.
Not Lirien.
The first rift — massive, violent — tearing open in this very place.
No academy yet.
Just a group of robed figures — ancient, chanting.
One figure stepped forward — young woman, dark hair, crimson seal on her collarbone.
The first bearer.
She raised her hands.
Shadows poured — closing the rift.
But the seal didn't stop.
It consumed her — body dissolving into shadow.
The other chanters fled.
The rift sealed.
But the tablet remained — recording.
The vision ended.
Miko staggered.
Kael caught her.
"What did you see?"
Miko's voice shook.
"The first bearer.
She closed the first rift.
But the seal took her.
She was the beginning."
Kael looked at the tablet.
"Then this is where it started."
Miko nodded.
"And where it might end."
Kael's shadows tightened.
"We take it."
They lifted the tablet — heavy, cold.
As they turned — movement.
Mistborn.
Twenty — cloaked, violet-painted faces, spears ready.
The woman from before stepped forward.
"You found it."
Miko's shadows rose — crimson.
"You followed."
The woman smiled.
"We always follow."
Kael's shadows exploded — wall rising.
The Mistborn attacked.
Spears flashed — violet tips glowing.
Kael fought — shadows lashing, blocking, cutting.
Miko fought — crimson tendrils striking, piercing.
One spear grazed Kael's arm — blood bloomed.
Miko spun — spear through the attacker's chest.
He fell.
Another Mistborn lunged — blade aimed at Miko's throat.
Kael intercepted — shadows forming a shield.
The blade sparked.
Miko pushed — crimson storm exploding.
Mistborn staggered — some falling, some retreating.
The woman watched — calm.
"You're strong."
Miko glared.
"You're next."
The woman laughed.
"Not yet."
She raised both hands.
Violet mist surged — forming a dome around them.
Trapping them.
Kael's shadows battered — useless.
Miko pushed — crimson storm hitting the dome.
It cracked — slightly.
The woman's smile faded.
"You're growing."
Miko felt the seal surge — power flooding her.
Break.
She pushed harder.
The dome shattered — violet mist exploding outward.
The Mistborn retreated — vanishing into the mist.
The tablet pulsed — once, bright.
Miko lowered her hands.
Kael looked at her.
"You okay?"
Miko nodded.
"I think so."
Kael's voice was quiet.
"You scared them."
Miko looked at the tablet.
"Good."
They carried it out — heavy, humming.
The seal pulsed — satisfied.
Soon.
To be continued…