The Ravager kept circling the barrier like a starving predator denied its prey
Each step it took shook the ground
Its twisted horns scraped the invisible wall leaving ripples of dark energy in the air
Kian watched it pace muscles still trembling from the run
His shirt clung to his skin with sweat dirt and dried blood
He had never felt so useless
Nyra remained standing blades crossed behind her back eyes fixed outward
Her breathing was steady cold disciplined
As if she had seen creatures like the Ravager a thousand times before
Kian swallowed hard
"You said you said the barrier depends on me What does that even mean"
Nyra did not answer immediately
She walked to the edge of the glowing lines on the ground and crouched pressing two fingers on one of the symbols
The light flickered in response
"It is reacting to your Echo" she said
"This sanctuary was designed long before either of us were born It protects those who carry the Sigil if they can control it"
Kian frowned
"Control it I barely understand what it is"
Nyra stood and faced him fully
"Kian the Echo Sigil is not a mark It is a binding A bond between you and something ancient"
He stiffened
"Ancient like magic"
"Ancient like a force that predates magic"
Her words slid into him like ice
"But why me I am not special I was a nobody I did not train for anything I did not sign up for this"
Nyra walked closer with slow measured steps
"You survived the fall from the Vein Storm You awakened the Echo without dying You killed a Shadehorn on your first breath You resisted the pull of the hunters"
She paused
"And you triggered this sanctuary marker without being taught"
Kian looked down at his trembling hands
"I did not do any of that on purpose"
The Ravager slammed into the barrier again
The pillar pulsed with brighter light
Nyra lowered her voice
"That is the problem Power without control is worse than weakness"
Kian leaned back against a stone running a hand through his hair
"Then explain it to me Everything What am I What is this place What do you want from me"
For the first time Nyra seemed hesitant
Her cold eyes softened slightly
"This place is the Shadow Realm One of the fractured worlds left after the Collapse Here everything is driven by instinct and hunger Creatures spirits even the land itself"
She paced slowly
"And you you are an Echo Bearer A rarity A danger A miracle Depending on who you ask"
Kian's chest tightened
"And the Sigil"
Nyra glanced at his chest
"The Sigil chooses its host Not the other way around"
Kian blinked
"Chooses"
"Yes The Echo is an entity A will It sleeps inside you If it awakens fully before you are ready you will lose yourself Forever"
Kian's jaw locked
"Lose myself As in die"
"No
As in become something worse than death"
Before he could respond the Ravager outside released a deep snarl
Its eyes glowed brighter
Nyra's head snapped toward it
"No Not now"
"What is happening"
The Ravager's body began to swell
Bones crackled twisting and splitting
Black energy leaked from its skin like smoke
Its horns stretched longer sharper
Kian stumbled back
"It is changing"
"It is evolving The presence of your Sigil is forcing it to mutate faster"
Kian felt his stomach drop
"Because of me"
"Yes The stronger your Echo grows the stronger your hunters adapt"
The Ravager roared with a deeper voice that vibrated in Kian's bones
The barrier flickered
Nyra's eyes widened
"The sanctuary is weakening"
Kian's pulse spiked
"You said it depends on me What do I do"
"Calm your Echo Your panic is stirring it"
"That is like telling me to calm down while a demon wolf wants to kill me"
The barrier flickered again
Black lightning formed cracks across the invisible wall
The evolving Ravager lowered its head preparing to charge
The ground trembled
Nyra stepped in front of Kian blades raised
"Kian Focus Breathe"
"I am trying"
"Your heart is reacting to the Echo Slow it down"
Kian shut his eyes forcing breath into his lungs
The pounding in his chest was wild chaotic full of the strange force that had helped him kill the Shadehorn
The Sigil under his skin throbbed hot and alive
The Ravager charged
The barrier shuddered
Kian gritted his teeth gripping the ground
"STOP"
A shockwave burst outward
The sanctuary exploded with white light
The Ravager was thrown backward as if struck by a mountain
Kian collapsed forward gasping for breath vision blurring
Nyra caught his shoulders
"You stabilized it The barrier is full again"
Kian looked up weakly
"I did not mean to I just"
"You reacted Not with fear With will"
The Ravager limped away its evolution incomplete but still dangerous
Nyra stood slowly studying Kian with a new kind of intensity
"Listen If you want to survive this world if you want to learn why you were chosen your training begins now"
Kian stared exhausted
Yet something fierce stirred inside him
A spark of determination
"Then teach me"
Nyra nodded
"In the next light cycle we begin"
Outside the barrier the Ravager watched them with burning eyes
Waiting
Studying
Evolving