### **1. VAULT VII: THE MIRROR PRISON**  

Liora’s fingers trembled as she traced the seventh betrayer’s face—her own—etched into the vault door. The scar on her neck burned, its light aligning with the lock. With a groan, the door slid open, releasing a gust of frozen air.  

Inside, **Mirror-Kael** hung suspended in a Chrono-cage, his form flickering between solid and spectral. His eyes snapped open, a grin splitting his scarred face.  

*“Sister,”* he crooned. *“Took you long enough.”*  

Liora stepped back, clutching her dagger. *“You’re supposed to be dead.”*  

*“Death’s a loop, little prophet. Just like this vault.”* He pressed a hand to the cage, cracks spreading. *“You’ll free me. You always do.”*  

---

### **2. SERAPHINA’S BARGAIN**  

Jarek found Seraphina at the edge of the Wastes, Mira huddled beside her. His skin rippled with Time-Worms, their mandibles clicking in unison.  

*“A cure for the girl,”* he offered, holding a vial of swirling void-light. *“In exchange for the priestess’s location.”*  

Seraphina’s bow creaked as she aimed at his heart. *“Why her?”*  

*“The vault’s open. The Eater’s scared. We’re all just pawns, commander.”* He tossed the vial. It shattered at her feet, releasing a vision: *Mira, whole and laughing, free of worms.*  

Mira’s hand gripped Seraphina’s wrist. *“Don’t,”* she whispered, her voice clear for the first time in years.  

---

### **3. KAEL’S RECKONING**  

The Eclipse Beasts descended on Blackforge, their howls harmonizing into a dirge. Kael swung his hammer, its head cracking under the strain of a Beast’s skull.  

*“**Enough!**”*  

The hammer shattered, revealing the **Chrono-Blade**—its edge humming with dormant power. Memories flooded him: Liora’s dagger, Rylan’s betrayal, the Eater’s endless hunger.  

A Beast lunged. Kael moved on instinct, the Blade slicing through time itself. The Beast aged to dust mid-leap.  

*“What *am* I?”* he whispered, staring at his reflection in the Blade.  

*“Mine,”* hissed the Eater’s voice, echoing from the steel.  

---

### **4. RYLAN’S EQUATION**  

The raven circled Rylan’s hut, its feathers shedding oily smoke. Equations writhed under his skin, forming a map to the vault.  

*“She’s there,”* Jarek’s voice slithered from the raven. *“Stop her before she damns us all.”*  

Rylan plunged a knife into his forearm, scraping at the glowing symbols. Blood and light pooled as he deciphered the truth: *“The Seventh Betrayal isn’t a person—it’s a choice. *His* choice.”*  

---

### **5. THE EATER’S PLEA**  

Liora hesitated before Mirror-Kael’s cage. *“Why does the Eater fear you?”*  

*“Because I *win*,”* he spat. *“In every loop, I choose vengeance. And the Eater feasts on the carnage.”*  

The vault trembled. The Eater’s voice, fragile and human, whispered through the walls: *“Free him… and I will *end*.”*  

---

### **6. THE SEAL BREAKS**  

Kael found Liora in the vault, the Chrono-Blade drawn. Mirror-Kael’s laughter echoed.  

*“Kill me,”* Mirror-Kael goaded. *“Or let me loose. Either way, the loop continues.”*  

The Eater’s form materialized—a shadow with Liora’s eyes. *“Break the cage. Let him die *outside* time.”*  

Liora raised the Blade.  

Kael’s hand closed over hers. *“We choose *together*.”*  

The Blade fell.  

---

**TO BE CONTINUED…**