The road narrowed into stone steps carved along the side of a mountain. The air grew colder the higher they climbed, until each breath stung with frost. By the time the monastery came into view, bathed in pale morning light, Noah could barely feel his fingers.
The Monastery of Liora wasn't grand, but it radiated an ancient weight. Weathered walls of white stone stretched around a series of tall spires, their tops lost in the mist. At the gate stood two monks, their robes plain but their eyes sharp, watching the travelers as though they had been expected.
Kaito placed a hand on Noah's shoulder. "Stay close. They won't be welcoming if they sense what's inside you."
Noah nodded, pulling his cloak tighter. Ava kept her blade within reach, though she didn't draw it.
The monks stepped forward, speaking in unison, their voices low and resonant.
"Three seekers. One marked. The Veil stirs."
Kaito's jaw tightened. "We've come for knowledge. Nothing more."
The monks regarded him in silence for a moment before opening the gates. "Then enter. But know this—the truth carries a weight heavier than steel. Once it is spoken, it cannot be undone."
Inside, the monastery was quiet, its halls lit by lanterns that gave off a steady golden glow. The smell of incense lingered in the air, mingling with the faint sound of chanting from somewhere deep within.
An elder monk, his beard long and white, approached them in the central chamber. His eyes fixed on Noah, and for a brief moment, Noah swore he saw both fear and pity reflected there.
"You carry the mark of the Veil," the elder said softly. "A burden no child should bear."
Noah's throat tightened. "I didn't ask for this. I just want to understand why me."
The elder gestured for them to follow. He led them down a winding corridor until they reached a library unlike any Noah had ever seen. Towers of books stretched to the ceiling, and scrolls bound with seals rested on pedestals. The elder chose one with trembling hands.
"This is the Codex of the First Guardians," he explained. "It speaks of the Shattered Veil, a rift between our world and another. When the Veil broke, it devoured entire legions. Some became the echoes you've already seen."
Kaito frowned. "And the mark?"
The elder's eyes darkened. "Long ago, it was said that a single soul would inherit the Veil's touch. Not to wield it as a weapon… but to either seal it or let it consume all."
Noah's breath caught. "So I'm supposed to choose? Seal it or destroy everything?"
The elder closed the codex gently. "Fate is not chains, child. But the mark binds you to crossroads. Whichever path you walk, the world will follow."
As the elder spoke, Ava wandered to another shelf. Her sharp eyes scanned the spines until one caught her attention. A black-bound tome, dust covering its cover. She opened it carefully, her expression shifting as she read.
"Kaito… look at this."
Kaito leaned over her shoulder. The text was faded, but the meaning was clear enough. "The Forgotten One."
The elder froze. "That name should not be spoken lightly."
Ava closed the book slowly. "It says the Forgotten One was once a Guardian. One who sought to control the Veil instead of protecting against it. He failed, but in failing, he left his will imprinted within the rift itself."
Kaito's blood ran cold. "So he's not dead. Not really."
The elder's silence was answer enough.
That night, the three were given a small chamber to rest. But none of them slept easily. The monastery's chanting grew louder after sundown, echoing through the stone halls as if the walls themselves trembled with unease.
Noah sat awake, staring at the mark glowing faintly on his arm. His thoughts spiraled. Seal it or destroy it? Free the echoes or erase them? Every choice felt like a trap.
Ava's voice broke the silence. "They're hiding something."
Kaito glanced up. "You think so too?"
She nodded. "The monks know more about the Forgotten One than they admit. That chanting—it's not prayer. It's containment."
Noah's chest tightened. "Containment? You mean… he's here?"
Before Ava could answer, a sudden boom shook the monastery. Dust rained from the ceiling. The chanting faltered, replaced by panicked shouts.
Kaito leapt to his feet, sword in hand. "Something's broken through."
The door burst open, a young monk stumbling in, his face pale with terror. "The seals! They're unraveling! The Forgotten One's will—it's leaking into the halls!"
Noah's mark burned white-hot, pain shooting through his veins. He dropped to his knees, gasping. Whispers filled his ears, too many to count, all speaking the same word:
"Return…"
Ava pulled him up, eyes blazing. "We need answers now, or we're all dead."
Kaito nodded grimly. "Then we fight our way to the truth."
END OF CHARPTER 40