đź“– Chronicles of the Watchers
Chapter 13: The Voice in the Fracture
Kairo's dreams did not wait for sleep.
As he stumbled through the Shattered Vale beside Selene and Liora, the glow from his mark spread, curling up his arm like veins of fire. His vision blurred—then split—showing him two worlds at once.
In one, the Vale was empty stone and broken chains.
In the other, everything was drowned. Black water lapped against the crystal spires, and in its depths, something vast and winged moved.
"Kairo!" Selene's voice broke through, pulling him back. She pressed the lantern against his arm. "Stay with me. Don't let it take you."
But it was too late.
The Bell tolled—deep, heavy, endless—
and Kairo fell inward.
He stood in a place without sky. Only endless water stretched in every direction, reflecting a storm that did not exist. The air smelled of salt and blood.
From the depths rose a figure.
At first, it was only wings—vast, endless, feathered with light that burned like dying suns. Then came a face, beautiful and terrible, too perfect to be human. Its eyes were storms themselves, swirling with eternity.
"Kairo…" the voice thundered, though the being's lips did not move. It was inside his head, inside his bones.
"You carry me. Do you know my name?"
Kairo staggered back. "You're the Watcher. Azariel."
The being smiled, though it was a smile without warmth.
"Good. The chains remember me, even if the world does not."
"Why me?" Kairo demanded, fear and anger lacing his voice. "Why mark me? I never asked for this!"
Azariel's wings unfurled, blotting out what little light there was.
"Because you were born between seconds. A fracture. A mistake in time itself. In you, I found a vessel strong enough to awaken again."
Kairo shook his head. "I don't want you. I don't want this!"
The Watcher leaned closer, and the water trembled.
"You have no choice. Either wield me… or be devoured by those who hunt you. The Keeper will not stop. None of them will. They fear what I am, what we can be."
The Bell tolled again. Azariel's form flickered, breaking into shards of light.
"But remember this, little vessel: when you bleed, I rise. And when I rise… the flood returns."
Kairo gasped, wrenching back into himself. Selene was clutching him, chanting, her lantern burning bright. Liora stood over them, sword raised, watching the shadows move in the Vale.
"You saw him, didn't you?" Selene whispered, pale.
Kairo's lips trembled. "Azariel. He's inside me. And he… he wants the flood to rise again."
Before Selene could answer, a deafening roar shook the Vale, rolling across the broken spires. Something massive crawled between the chains, eyes burning red.
And for the first time, even Liora looked afraid.
⚡ End of Chapter 13.