The alarm rang once.
Deep. Low. Ancient.
The sound rolled through Dawnreach like a warning from the bones of the world itself.
Ethan flinched as the crystal lamps along the guild hall flared red. Knights moved instantly, discipline snapping into place as weapons were drawn and spells whispered into existence.
Lyra grabbed Ethan's arm. "Stay with me."
Ghost-Ethan hovered close, unusually quiet. "Okay… yeah… this is officially bad."
Guildmaster Selene strode toward the open balcony overlooking the city. Ethan followed, legs shaky, heart pounding. From the high vantage point, Dawnreach spread below them — and beyond the walls, the hills glowed with molten cracks.
Something massive moved in the distance.
Not the Lavabear.
This thing was taller. Thinner. Its shape twisted like smoke wrapped around a skeleton of fire. The ground blackened wherever it stepped, and the air around it warped, bending light itself.
"What is that?" Ethan whispered.
Selene's jaw tightened. "A Cinder Wraith."
Ghost-Ethan inhaled sharply. "Oh. Oh no. That's… that's bad-bad."
Lyra glanced at him. "You know what it is?"
"I know what it means," Selene said before Ethan could answer. "Cinder Wraiths hunt fractured souls."
Ethan's blood went cold.
"Fractured… like me?"
Selene nodded once. "Yes."
Ghost-Ethan floated directly in front of Ethan, no jokes now, no grin. "Told you something was hunting you."
The creature howled — a sound like metal screaming as it melted — and surged forward. Dawnreach's outer runes blazed to life, shields of golden light forming above the walls.
The Wraith struck them.
The barrier held — barely. Cracks of dark fire spread across the magic like veins.
Knights shouted. Mages raised their staffs. Spells collided with the barrier, reinforcing it.
But the Wraith didn't attack again.
Instead, it turned its hollow gaze toward the city… and then directly at Ethan.
Selene's eyes widened.
"It can see you."
Ghost-Ethan cursed. "Yeah. That's not supposed to happen unless—"
"Unless what?" Ethan demanded.
"Unless it knows exactly where your soul is broken."
The Wraith raised one long, burning arm and pointed.
At Ethan.
The ground shook violently. A shockwave tore through the air, ripping part of the barrier open like tearing cloth.
"Lyra!" Selene shouted. "Get him inside — now!"
Lyra pulled Ethan back as flaming debris rained against the shield. They ran through corridors as the city trembled, alarms blaring, people shouting prayers and commands.
Ghost-Ethan kept pace beside him. "Listen to me," he said urgently. "I didn't split off from you by accident."
Ethan stumbled. "What do you mean?"
"You weren't just dying back on Earth," the ghost said. "Something interfered. Something tried to take you."
They reached a sealed chamber deep beneath the guild hall. Selene slammed her hand against the door, runes locking them inside.
The shaking muffled, but didn't stop.
Ethan turned to Ghost-Ethan, fear clawing at his chest. "You're saying this thing… this Wraith…"
"Was sent," Ghost-Ethan finished. "And now that you're here, it wants to finish the job."
Lyra stared at Ethan, eyes wide. "Finish what?"
The lights flickered.
The ghost met Ethan's eyes, voice low and deadly serious.
"The death you were never supposed to survive."