Kaelun led Nolan along a cliffside path that slanted downward like a broken spine. The hollow wind behind them continued to hum with those deep sounds that crawled under Nolan’s skin. Each tone felt like a memory tugging at him from somewhere he had not lived yet. The air ahead thickened into a strange fog that hovered close to the ground but drifted upward in occasional slow spirals.
The cliffs ended abruptly and the landscape opened into a valley carved from jagged stone. Pillars rose from the ground shaped like fallen shards of sky, each one reflecting faint streaks of silver light even though the sun was bright above them. Nolan stared at them with a mix of awe and warning.
Kaelun walked forward with careful steps.
This place is where the sky once cracked
Nolan blinked. Cracked
Yes Kaelun said A storm of energy thousands of years old struck here The wind fell downward and hardened into these stones
Nolan crouched beside one of the pillars and pressed a hand against it. The stone hummed faintly like an echo of thunder stored inside it.
This does not feel like normal stone
It is not Kaelun said It carries the memory of a storm that never stops even when the sky is calm
They continued deeper into the valley where the stones grew taller and denser. The fog moved between them like a soft ghost. Nolan had to stay close to Kaelun because the maze of sky stones made it easy to lose direction.
Kaelun paused suddenly.
The fourth echo is near
Nolan looked around but saw nothing different. Just the same pillars of sky stone glinting with cold silver strokes. The wind here was quiet too quiet like it was holding its breath.
Where exactly
Kaelun stepped sideways then lowered its nose to the ground.
Beneath us
Nolan stared at the stone floor. Beneath us
Yes Kaelun answered There is a chamber hidden under the valley used long ago by guardians of the wind They sealed something within it that reacts to your presence
So how do we get down there
Kaelun lifted its tail and struck the ground lightly. The stone cracked but instead of breaking it released a soft pulse of blue light. Cracks spread in circular patterns like ripples. Nolan stepped back as the ground slowly shifted downward forming a spiral opening large enough to descend.
Nolan exhaled. That is terrifying
It is simply the world remembering how to open Kaelun replied
They followed the spiral walkway downward until the air cooled noticeably. A faint glow came from the walls, not bright but steady, like moonlight bleeding from thin veins in the stone.
The chamber opened into a wide circular room supported by curved archways that reminded Nolan of ribs from some ancient giant. At the center of the chamber floated a sphere of shimmering dust frozen in midair.
Nolan felt pressure against his chest like something pushing him away and pulling him closer at the same time.
Kaelun lowered its voice.
This is the fourth echo It formed when the sky cracked and the memory of the storm condensed into itself
Nolan walked toward it slowly. The dust inside the sphere moved without wind, shifting in slow spirals that formed temporary patterns before dissolving.
He reached out and touched the surface. It rippled like water but did not break.
The world flashed.
Nolan saw himself again but not the same version. This time he was older standing in a place that looked like a mix of both worlds. He saw Kaelun beside him unchanged but behind Kaelun he saw others shapes that looked like guardians beasts with scales with feathers with horns each carrying a faint glow.
Then he saw a battle A storm of shadows rising like tidal waves The guardians charged forward and Nolan ran among them holding something bright in both hands but he could not see what it was.
The flash ended with a silent burst.
Nolan staggered back catching his breath.
Kaelun steadied him with its tail.
You saw a possibility
A possibility
Echoes show paths that could be not always what will be
Nolan looked up at Kaelun.
So I become some kind of guardian
Kaelun’s golden eyes softened.
Your path is not fixed But the forest chose you The echoes simply reveal the weight of your choice
Before Nolan could respond the sphere trembled violently. Cracks of light spread across its surface.
Kaelun roared.
The shadow hunts the echo
The sphere burst with a silent explosion sending dust spiraling into the chamber. A figure formed from the dust twisting into shape like it was drawing itself from memories not its own.
The shadow fragment had grown again. Now it stood taller its limbs long and jagged like broken branches. Its body leaked thin trails of black smoke that burned holes into the stone floor where they fell.
Nolan stepped back.
Kaelun moved in front of him preparing to strike.
The shadow lunged first.
Kaelun blocked with its tail sending the creature crashing into a stone arch. The impact shook dust from the ceiling.
Nolan shouted. Kaelun it is absorbing the echo
I know Kaelun growled We must destroy it quickly
Nolan ran toward the sphere remains scattering dust with his boots. The air shimmered around him as if reacting to his presence. The dust from the sphere floated toward him like drawn by a magnet.
Nolan reached his hands into the swirling dust.
Kaelun roared in alarm.
Nolan do not
But Nolan felt something inside the dust connecting to him like the echoes had been waiting for this moment.
The dust wrapped around his arms glowing brighter with each breath he took.
The shadow turned sharply sensing the change. It shrieked without sound.
Kaelun leaped toward it but the creature dodged moving faster than before.
Nolan gritted his teeth and thrust his hands forward.
The dust burst outward forming a wave of pale silver light.
The light hit the shadow like a hammer made of wind.
The creature’s body fractured, its limbs breaking into shards of smoke and light. It collapsed in on itself dissolving piece by piece until only a smear of fading darkness remained on the stone floor.
The chamber fell quiet.
Nolan collapsed to his knees breathing hard.
Kaelun rushed to him lowering its head.
Are you hurt
Just tired Nolan said
You pulled the memory of the storm into yourself Kaelun said That is not something mortals do easily
Nolan wiped dust off his face.
I did what I had to
Kaelun touched its forehead to Nolan’s shoulder.
Your spirit adapts faster than even the forest expected
Nolan exhaled heavily.
How many echoes left
Two Kaelun said The fifth beyond the stone ridges and the last in the land where darkness touches the horizon
Nolan pushed himself up.
Then let’s move Kaelun We are running out of time
Kaelun bowed its head acknowledging his resolve.
Then climb keeper We chase what hunts you

They ascended from the chamber and stepped into open air again
The shadow was growing
And so was Nolan