The Throne with Her Name
The wind screamed.
Not whispered. Not blew. Screamed across the ivory cliffs like a beast let loose. Cold, sharp, endless. The Scarlands weren't meant for living things. They were bones left by gods who forgot how to die.
Tsukihana stood at the edge of the ravine, staring down into the mouth of a cave that had no light. No end. Just black.
The mark on her hand was burning again.
"It's here," she said.
"He's underneath."
Kira shivered beside her, arms tight to her chest.
"This place feels wrong. Like it's watching us."
Renjiro nodded grimly.
"Because it is. The Scarlands aren't dead. They're dreaming."
Descent
They climbed down a path cut into the cliffside, barely wide enough for feet. Renjiro led the way with a lantern made of soulglass — flickering with blue fire that only showed spiritual presence.
Every once in a while, it flickered violently.
"We're being followed," he muttered.
"By what?" Tsuki asked.
"Not what. Who."
Echo in the Dark
As they entered the cave, sounds started changing.
Their footsteps didn't echo anymore.
Their voices got swallowed up by the stone.
And then came the whispers.
Faint. Constant. Like wind through water. But it wasn't wind.
It was names.
Thousands of names.
Tsukihana heard her own.
"…Tsuki… Tsukihana… Ashborn…"
She stopped walking.
"Did you hear that?" she asked.
Kira shook her head slowly. "No. Nothing."
Only Renjiro looked back, eyes shadowed under his hood.
"The Hollow Vein remembers. That's how it hunts."
A Throne with Her Name
Hours passed.
Or maybe not. There was no time down here.
Just walking. Down and deeper.
Until finally, the tunnel opened into a massive hollow chamber carved by hands that weren't human.
Pillars of bone reached up into nothing.
Statues of faceless kings lined the walls.
And in the center, surrounded by black candles and silence — stood a throne.
A single word carved across it:
"TSUKIHANA."
The Mirror Flame
She stepped closer, drawn by something she couldn't explain. Her flame sparked at her fingertips, reacting without her will.
The mark on her hand glowed again.
Kira grabbed her shoulder. "Don't sit on it, please—don't even touch it."
"I wasn't going to—"
But her voice cut off.
Because now she saw the reflection.
Hovering just behind the throne… was a figure that looked like her.
Same face. Same hair.
But her eyes burned with wild fire. Her smile was sharp, cruel. Her arms were covered in chains.
"What is that?" Kira whispered.
"That's me," Tsuki said.
"If I lose."
Renjiro's Secret
Before anyone could move, Renjiro stepped forward. His lantern shattered against the ground, flames flickering and dying.
"You need to leave," he said to them. "Now."
"What?" Tsukihana spun around. "What are you talking about?"
He didn't look at her. Not really.
His eyes were locked on the throne.
"I've been here before," he said quietly.
"This place showed me my throne, too."
Kira's breath caught. "What happened?"
"I ran," he said.
But then he looked at Tsukihana.
"You won't. You're stronger than I ever was."
"That's why it wants you."
Cliffhanger: The Throne Wakes
The ground began to shake.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
The throne in the center cracked — not from damage, but from movement.
It was breathing.
Stone and bone shifted.
The name TSUKIHANA glowed red, pulsing in time with her heartbeat.
And from the base of the throne, hands began to crawl out. Not one, not two — dozens. Clawed, skeletal, reaching.
Kira screamed.
Renjiro stepped in front of her, sword drawn.
But Tsukihana… didn't move.
She stepped forward.
Eyes locked on her reflection in the flame.
"I won't run," she said.
And then—
The throne opened its eyes.