Lunareth's bells rang again before midday, this time not with preparation, but with warning.
The deep toll echoed across the elven city as guards rushed across the bridges, archers lined the crystalline towers, and mages filled the outer ring with shimmering barriers. The sky above the forest darkened even though no clouds were present.
Shoko stood beside Ariandel on the southern wall, peering past the trees. "What is happening out there?"
Velion approached them, armored in silver plate that pulsed with runes. "Our scouts tracked the disturbance. Something moves through the forest that does not belong to this world."
Elyndra joined them, her expression unusually pale. "Velion… how close is it?"
Before the King could answer, the ground vibrated. Birds fled the upper branches in flocks. A low, unnatural hum rattled the leaves.
Ariandel subtly moved in front of Shoko. "Stay behind me."
Shoko gently pushed forward again. "Ariandel… I am not hiding."
She opened her mouth to argue, then stopped when she saw the determination in his eyes. She exhaled slowly. "Just stay close."
Velion raised a hand. "There. Look."
Through the shifting mist of the trees, dozens of shapes began to emerge. At first they looked like silhouettes. But as they stepped into the light, the elves gasped.
They were not creatures.
They were not humans.
They were empty.
Pale, hollow figures shaped like scorched glass. Cracked bodies, faceless heads. They moved stiffly, silently, as if guided by strings.
Shoko felt his heart hammer. "What… are they?"
Velion answered, "Phantoms. Manifestations of raw magic. They form when something powerful tears through the boundaries of our world."
Elyndra whispered, "They were not supposed to appear yet…"
Shoko's head snapped toward her. "What do you mean 'yet'?"
Elyndra froze. "I… I meant… not in this region."
Velion didn't question it, too focused on the threat. "These phantoms are drawn to powerful magic. They will seek to devour whatever created the disturbance."
Shoko's eyes widened. "Me."
Ariandel tightened her grip on her staff. "They will not touch you."
The phantoms opened their mouths soundlessly, and the forest floor cracked under their steps.
Then they charged.
Velion shouted, "Archers!"
Arrows rained down from the towers, shattering several phantoms into shards of energy. But more reformed instantly, rising like liquid glass stitched back together by unseen force.
Ariandel stepped forward, slamming her staff into the wall. "Brace yourselves! Shoko, get ready!"
Shoko raised his hands, threads spiraling forth. Silver and gold light surrounded him.
Three phantoms leapt toward the wall.
Shoko swiped downward, sending a wave of cutting threads that sliced through them. They exploded into shimmering dust.
He blinked in shock. "I… got them."
Ariandel smiled. "Good! Again!"
More phantoms swarmed from the trees.
Velion drew a blade of light and leapt from the wall, slashing through the front line with incredible speed. "Hold the barrier steady!"
Elven mages raised both hands, summoning a transparent dome. Phantoms struck it, cracking the surface with each hit.
Shoko stepped to the edge of the barrier. "I can reinforce it!"
Ariandel grabbed his arm. "No. You will target the ones that break through. Do not overreach."
Shoko nodded, though frustration pricked at him. "Understood."
The barrier buckled.
A phantom smashed through one spot and lunged straight toward Elyndra.
"Elyndra!" Shoko shouted.
She stumbled backward, panic flashing across her face.
Without thinking, Shoko sprinted, diving in front of her. He slammed both palms forward.
His threads erupted, forming a cross-pattern shield.
The phantom struck the barrier and shattered completely.
Elyndra caught her breath and grabbed his arm. "Shoko… thank you."
He smiled faintly. "I told you I would not hide."
She blushed lightly but quickly looked away. "Still… please do not scare me."
A much larger phantom climbed over the crumbling wall, its limbs twice as long, its body flickering with golden cracks.
Ariandel cursed. "That one is infused. Everyone, fall back!"
Velion called out, "Shoko, do not engage that one alone!"
But the moment Shoko saw it, he felt a pull in his chest.
A familiar whisper slid into his ears.
"You are not ready."
Shoko's eyes widened. The masked entity's voice again.
He swallowed hard. "No. Not now."
The massive phantom charged straight at him. Ariandel shouted his name, but Shoko stepped forward, raising his hands.
The phantom swung its fractured arm. Shoko dodged, sliding beneath it. His threads wrapped around the creature's limb, tightening sharply.
He pulled.
The limb cracked, then shattered like glass.
Ariandel cried out, "Shoko, fall back!"
But he shook his head. "I can fight."
The phantom hissed silently and lunged again. Shoko crossed his threads, slicing through its torso. It staggered but continued moving, its body reforming.
Velion shouted, "These larger ones need resonance disruption!"
Shoko closed his eyes.
Resonance.
He felt the runes beneath Lunareth. The forest. The air. The threads tying everything together.
He gritted his teeth and let the power climb.
His threads glowed with dual color. Silver swirling with gold.
He thrust both hands forward.
A wave of resonant light shot from him, passing through the phantom. It froze. Trembled. Cracked.
Then shattered into a thousand glittering fragments.
Silence fell across the wall.
Ariandel stared at him, chest rising and falling quickly. "Shoko… you did it."
Velion nodded with respect. "Impressive."
Shoko lowered his hands, breathing heavily. "Are there more?"
Before anyone could answer, the forest beyond the wall lit with golden fire.
A figure appeared among the trees.
Tall.
Winged.
Masked.
The Echoed Herald.
Ariandel's voice trembled. "Not him… not now…"
Elyndra stumbled backward. "He is not supposed to show up here. This is wrong. This is all wrong."
Shoko felt a cold chill crawl up his spine. "Why is he here?"
The Herald raised a hand, and every phantom turned toward him before crumbling into dust.
Velion readied his blade. "Everyone, prepare yourselves."
The masked being stepped forward, its presence so powerful the air seemed to bend around it.
Its voice echoed across the battlefield.
"So you have awakened the second thread. Good."
Shoko stepped forward despite Ariandel grabbing his arm. "What do you want from me?"
The Herald tilted its head.
"To see if you survive what comes next."
Ariandel shouted, "Stay away from him!"
The Herald raised his other hand.
The barrier the elves had conjured shattered instantly.
A shockwave threw soldiers backward.
Only Shoko remained standing.
The Herald pointed at him.
"You are the axis. The turning point. And the world will break itself to shape you."
Shoko clenched his fists, eyes burning.
"I am not your tool."
The Herald's mask glowed faintly.
"We will see."
The figure glided backward, fading into golden dust that drifted into the sky.
As the last of it disappeared, Velion gave a single order.
"Everyone to the council hall. Now."
Ariandel pulled Shoko close, her voice trembling. "Are you hurt?"
Shoko shook his head. "No. Just tired."
Elyndra approached slowly, staring at him with awe and fear. "Shoko… everything is changing faster than it should."
He looked at her carefully. "You said that earlier. Elyndra… what do you know?"
She froze. "I… I…"
But before she could answer, Velion called them.
"Shoko. Ariandel. Elyndra. We need you."
Shoko held Elyndra's gaze for a moment longer.
Then he turned toward the palace.
A storm had begun.
And he was standing in the center of it.