The great council chamber was a circular hall lined with tall stone columns and banners representing each of the major noble houses. At dawn the room filled quickly with council members advisors military commanders and high ranking guild officials. Their murmurs echoed like restless waves. Some stared with curiosity at the demon envoy. Others glared openly. A few whispered when Daniel entered whispering outsider and stranger with equal caution.

Daniel stood at the front beside Elara and the envoy. The regent took his place on the central dais. The air was thick with suspicion. Daniel felt invisible currents of tension pressing against his mind like a storm beginning to form.

The regent raised his hand. We meet today to discuss threats to the kingdom that reach beyond our borders. We stand with both human and demon representatives. This summit was attacked by something older than our histories. Something called the Echo.

Gasps rippled through the chamber. A few nobles scoffed. A commander crossed his arms muttering myths and children’s stories.

Daniel stepped forward. Every gaze locked on him. He felt waves of fear anger pride and uncertainty collide across the room. He breathed slowly grounding himself.

I know many of you do not trust me he began. You are right. I am from another world. I have no claim to your throne your history or your politics. All I have is what I witnessed.

He walked slowly toward the council members reading each expression.

We went into the forest. We saw the Echo. They attacked us by using our fears. They made us see memories we never wanted to revisit. They tried to split us apart. Humans and demons both. But we survived because we remembered our truth.

A noblewoman with sharp eyes stood. If these Echo creatures are real why show themselves now. Why not attack openly.

Daniel answered They do not need to attack openly. Fear is their weapon. Mistrust is their ally. When humans suspect demons and demons suspect humans the Echo grows stronger. They want war. They want chaos. They want us to break ourselves.

A general slammed his fist onto the table. You expect us to believe shadows are behind centuries of conflict. How convenient.

Daniel met the man’s glare. I do not expect belief. I expect listening.

The general stiffened.

Daniel continued Every conflict has roots. But the Echo twist those roots. They amplify fear so small misunderstandings become battles. They turn grief into rage. Silence into suspicion. Doubt into war.

The demon envoy stepped forward. My people have legends of them. Stories of creatures that whisper lies into the hearts of leaders. Our ancestors believed the Echo started the Great Rift War.

The hall erupted into noise. Accusations. Denials. Fear rising like a flood.

Daniel felt it instantly. A cold ripple sliding through the chamber. He whispered softly They are here.

At first no one heard. Then lights flickered. Shadows shifted unnaturally along the walls. Whispers filled the air like faint cries curling around people’s minds.

A noble clutched his head shouting My son was killed by demons. I saw it. I saw the flames.

A demon guard shouted back That memory is twisted. The Echo is showing you lies.

Chairs scraped. Voices rose. People stepped away from each other. Fear spread through the room faster than fire.

Daniel raised his voice Calm yourselves. Do not listen to the whispers. They are not truth.

But no one heard him. The fear was too loud. The Echo had been waiting for this moment. The council chamber filled with their influence.

Daniel stepped forward shouting louder Listen to me. These thoughts are not yours. These images are not yours. They are the Echo using your grief as weapons.

The shadows thickened. Daniel felt a wave of cold slam into his mind. He saw flashes of students he could not save. Faces he had tried to forget. The weight of failure pressed down on him like stone.

Elara grabbed his arm anchoring him. Daniel look at me. Do not let them in.

Her voice pulled him back. Daniel steadied himself forcing the visions out like pushing water from lungs. He shouted with all the calm strength he could gather Listen to your breath not your fear. Listen to the truth inside you not the voices around you.

A few council members froze mid panic. Their breathing slowed. The shadows shifted uncertain. Daniel pressed on.

Fear lies. Fear twists. Fear isolates. But truth grounds us. Truth tells us who we are even when we shake. Remember why you protect this kingdom. Remember your people. Remember your oaths. That is truth. Not these shadows.

The noblewoman closed her eyes whispering My duty is to my people. That is my truth.

A demon guard spoke My honor belongs to my tribe. That is my truth.

One by one voices rose not in panic but in clarity.
My truth is my family
My truth is my oath
My truth is my strength
My truth is my hope

The shadows recoiled shrieking without sound. The lights steadied. The whispers faded.

Daniel stood with trembling legs but unbroken resolve.

The regent stepped forward voice firm for the first time. I have seen enough. The Echo is real. They tried to break us today. But we stand united. Humans and demons both.

The demon envoy bowed his head. Then let us fight together instead of against each other.

Daniel felt the air lighten as the council members regained their grounding. Many looked at him with awe. Others with fear. But none doubted him anymore.

For the first time the truth had defeated the Echo in a hall of power.
But this victory felt like only the first small step in a much larger battle.

Daniel sensed a final whisper before the shadows vanished
You cannot save what does not want to be saved

He stared at the dark corners of the room.
The Echo would strike again.
And next time they would not come as shadows.
They would come for hearts.