The wind howled over the shattered rooftops of Vaelith's Hollow, carrying shards of rain that stung the skin and whistled through the cracks of the Veil. Eryndor Thal clutched his dagger tightly, every nerve screaming that tonight was far from ordinary. The alley they had fled to moments ago seemed impossibly small now, dwarfed by the sprawling city above and the chaos creeping closer with every flicker of violet lightning.
Kaelis Vyrn's shadows clung to her like living armor, twisting and writhing over her arms as if eager to strike. Her sharp eyes scanned the jagged horizon where the echoes, those horrifying fragments of memory and fear, were multiplying. Each one pulsed with unnatural energy, and Eryndor could feel their presence pressing into his mind like icy fingers.
"This isn't just an attack," Kaelis murmured, voice low but urgent. "It's a signal. Someone is calling them. Someone is tearing the Veil deliberately. And these aren't random fragments—they're hunting us."
Eryndor shivered. He had spent years studying the Veil, theorizing about its cracks and the dangerous energy that seeped through, but never had he witnessed its power unleashed in such an organized, malicious way. He had thought it abstract—a puzzle of physics and arcane law—but now it was alive. Hungry.
"Then why me?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the roar of the storm. "Why us?"
Kaelis didn't answer immediately. Her gaze softened for the briefest of moments, and Eryndor thought he glimpsed something vulnerable beneath the practiced calm. "Because you're… special," she finally said. "You carry something the echoes recognize. Something buried deep in your mind. Something you don't remember."
Eryndor's stomach twisted. His memory was a fragmented maze. Names, faces, moments… all scattered. He had thought he had lost them in some random tragedy years ago, yet Kaelis spoke as if his past had a direct connection to the Veil itself.
Before he could ask more, the ground beneath them trembled. Violet light seared through the cobblestones, forming a jagged vein that cut across the city like a river of energy. An echo surged from the crack—a creature taller than any man, its body made of writhing shadows, eyes burning like molten gold. It roared, a sound that seemed to tear through Eryndor's chest.
Kaelis leapt forward, shadows streaming from her fingertips like black fire. She didn't just fight—it was as if she were bending reality itself. The shadow tendrils wrapped around the echo, striking with precision and force that defied natural motion. Sparks of Veil energy collided with the creature's form, causing it to stagger.
"Focus on controlling the energy, not just attacking!" she shouted, glancing at Eryndor. "You're too reactive—you have to understand it!"
Eryndor's mind raced. He had studied this energy for years, yet he had never tried to manipulate it. The Veil had always been an object of observation, not interaction. But now, instinct screamed at him, and he closed his eyes.
He reached out, hands trembling, and tried to sense the crack, the pulse of the energy. A cold, electric awareness flooded his senses. The echoes weren't just creatures—they were pieces of memories, thoughts, and fear. They obeyed patterns. They responded to recognition. Slowly, almost reluctantly, the pulse bent toward his will.
The echo froze mid-lunge. Its golden eyes widened, and then, with a shattering sound like broken glass, it dissolved into a cloud of faintly glowing ash.
Kaelis exhaled sharply. "Finally… you can touch the Veil. Good. But it's only the beginning." Her shadows receded, coiling back toward her like living smoke. "We need to move—there's a place I know, deep beneath the city. It's… safe, at least for now. And I'll explain what's really happening."
The alley they sprinted through twisted unnaturally, as if the city itself was reacting to the cracks. Buildings leaned at impossible angles, and the shattered cobblestones seemed alive, thrumming with residual energy from the dissolved echoes.
When they reached the edge of the city's underbelly, a massive iron door carved with arcane symbols and ancient runes blocked their path. Kaelis pressed her hands to the carvings. The shadows responded, slipping into the etchings and causing the door to hum. It opened silently, revealing a dimly lit network of tunnels. The smell was damp and metallic, and faint blue light glimmered from veins in the stone.
"This place has been untouched for decades," Kaelis explained as they descended. "The Veil is weaker down here, but at least it won't be disturbed by the echoes… not yet. We'll have time to plan."
Eryndor glanced around, awe and suspicion warring in his mind. The tunnels were lined with ancient carvings, depicting people and creatures interacting with the Veil in ways that were both familiar and alien. Some carvings seemed almost alive, shifting subtly as if watching him.
"Explain. Now," he demanded, urgency sharpening his voice.
Kaelis studied him for a moment before speaking. "The Veil isn't just a barrier—it's a prison. It holds fragments of thought, memory, and consciousness that shouldn't exist in the material world. When it breaks, those fragments escape as echoes. Most are harmless… but the ones we just faced are different. They're intelligent, organized, and hunting specific targets. You, Eryndor, are one of them."
Eryndor felt his knees weaken. "Hunting… me? Why?"
Kaelis's expression was grim. "Because your past… is tied to the Veil. To its very origin. Whoever is tearing it wants you alive, or wants to destroy the part of the Veil you unknowingly carry. And if they succeed…" She trailed off, the tunnel seeming to grow colder around them.
Eryndor swallowed hard. The fragments of his memory stirred, flashes of fire, screams, and someone whispering his name in a voice both familiar and foreign. The realization hit him—everything he had lost, every memory erased or hidden, was connected to the Veil. And now, it was catching up.
A sudden rumble shook the tunnels. Dust fell from the ceiling. Kaelis's eyes narrowed. "They've found us. The echoes are coming. And this time… they won't stop."
Eryndor gripped his dagger again, determination hardening his chest. He had no memory of why, but he knew one thing: survival wasn't enough. Tonight, he would start reclaiming what was stolen from him.
And as the shadows thickened around Kaelis, swirling with anticipation, the first true battle for the city—and for the Veil—was about to begin.