The climb out of the canyon felt longer than the descent. Nolan held tightly to Kaelun as they scaled stone ledges and narrow ridges. The sun above was bright again but the light felt different warmer, sharper, almost urging them forward.
Kaelun stopped near the canyon’s edge and looked north.
The path grows difficult from here
Nolan squinted at the land beyond.
The northern region stretched far until it blended into shimmering haze. It looked empty at first but the longer he stared the more he sensed shapes moving under the hazy light. Not clearly but like faint silhouettes drifting across the plains.
He whispered.
What is that
Forgotten light Kaelun answered Light that remembers what the world lost
Lost what
Creatures People Places Memories All swallowed by the ancient tear
Nolan’s stomach tightened.
And the tear is still there
Yes
They traveled north along winding trails carved between low hills. The ground changed texture again becoming smoother and pale like bleached bone. The air shimmered in waves as if heat rose from the earth but the wind felt cool against Nolan’s skin.
Kaelun moved cautiously.
Do not trust what you see here
Nolan scanned the path.
Why
Forgotten light reveals and distorts It shows truth mixed with memory and hides danger behind familiar shapes
So illusions
Not illusions Echoes misplaced
That somehow sounds worse
Kaelun rumbled low in amusement.
After an hour Nolan noticed faint outlines forming in the air. Shadows shaped like animals he recognized from earlier in their journey. A lumipuff glowing faintly. A driftstalker slithering across imaginary grass. Even the silhouette of the giant shadow they fought appeared briefly before fading into the haze.
Nolan shivered.
Are these memories
Fragments that wander until the tear mends
The wind shifted
Whispering
Nolan froze
Voices drifted through the air like distant echoes calling his name
Nolan
Nolan
Nolan
He stepped back instinctively pressing a hand to Kaelun’s side
Kaelun’s tail wrapped around him protectively
Do not listen They are not yours
They sound like they are
That is why it is dangerous
Nolan clenched his jaw
A shape formed ahead
A human shape
Walking toward them
Nolan’s breath caught
It looked like a man about his age though blurred around the edges like a memory not fully formed
Kaelun stepped in front of Nolan
Do not engage
Nolan watched as the figure approached slowly
Then it lifted its head
Nolan’s heart stopped
The face looked exactly like his
Exactly
A perfect copy
The echo Nolan stepped forward with slow unsteady steps
Nolan whispered
Is that me
No Kaelun said firmly It is a memory searching for an anchor Ignore it
The echo Nolan reached out a hand
Nolan felt something pull inside his chest like a string tugging on his echo
Kaelun’s voice thundered
Turn away now
Nolan forced himself to move stepping back behind Kaelun
The echo shifted
Its image flickered
Then it dissolved like smoke
Nolan hugged himself shaking
What was that
A lost memory searching for life Kaelun answered If you touched it your echo would have split
Split
Yes You would lose part of yourself
Nolan felt sick
Okay Let’s keep moving before this place tries to steal more of me
Agreed
They pressed deeper into the northern region. The forgotten light thickened into swirling bands rising and falling like slow waves. Nolan began seeing flashes of things he had never witnessed before
Large stone beasts walking through cities
A river filled with floating lanterns shaped like living birds
A sky cracked open with lightning that never ended
Kaelun spoke gently
These are memories of a world before the tear They are not visions of your future
Nolan nodded even though his mind struggled to process it all
After a long stretch the land opened into a wide basin. At its center stood a massive jagged structure rising like the remains of a shattered mountain.
A thin line of light pulsed across it
A crack
A tear
Nolan whispered
Is that
Yes Kaelun said The ancient tear lies ahead
The light around the crack shimmered sharply twisting the air.
Nolan felt the echo inside him pulse painfully
Kaelun pressed its forehead to Nolan’s shoulder.
Be strong keeper This is where the world will test you again
Nolan exhaled slowly
Then let’s see what the world wants from me this time

They stepped toward the tear
And the forgotten light swirled violently around them like waking storm