Chapter 9: The Ring of Echoes

The Vault had been untouched for centuries. At least, that was what Karl had told her. The dust-laden murals, the worn stone floors, the dim glow of the ancient glyphs—everything pointed to a place forgotten by time.

And yet, as Karima wandered deeper into its hidden corridors, something called to her. A whisper against her skin. A pulse in the air.

She found it in a small alcove, nestled within the cracks of an old pedestal. An ordinary ring, silver and unremarkable, lying in the dust as if it had been left there yesterday.

Frowning, she picked it up. The moment her fingers brushed the metal, a chill ran down her spine.

Karl had told her that no one had stepped inside this Vault for generations. But then how had this ring gotten here?

She turned it over in her palm. There were no inscriptions, no jewels embedded in its band—just a plain, unassuming loop of silver. And yet, something about it unsettled her.

She slid it onto her finger. Nothing happened.

Still, unease crawled beneath her skin.

She tucked the ring into her pocket and turned back to find Karl. The Vault's air felt heavier now, its silence pressing down on her like a warning.

Karl was waiting in the central chamber, arms crossed, his expression troubled. The dim blue light from the Vault's walls reflected in his eyes, making him look older, more worn.

"There's been movement near the borders," he said the moment she stepped in. "The Council's forces are tightening their grip. We don't have much time."

Karima hesitated, her fingers brushing the ring in her pocket. "Then what do we do?"

Karl looked at her for a long moment before he spoke. "We separate."

Her stomach lurched. "What?"

He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I have to go."

Panic flared in her chest. "Where?"

Karl sighed. "Your mother and sister—"

Karima's breath caught. "They're in danger?"

"They were visiting another country when the Council's purge started," he said. "I thought they'd be safe there, but I was wrong. If the Council realizes who they are, they'll be hunted just like us."

A heavy silence stretched between them. Karl's face was unreadable, but Karima could see the weight pressing down on him. He wasn't just leaving—he was heading into danger.

She clenched her fists. "Then I'm coming with you."

"No." His voice was firm. "You need to find Haytham."

Karima scowled. "Why? Why can't I—"

"Because you're not ready for this fight." Karl's voice softened, but his eyes were filled with something close to desperation. "You need more time, Karima. More training. Haytham will help you."

She swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. "And what if you don't come back?"

Karl smiled then, tired but warm. "I will."

She shook her head. "You can't promise that."

His grip on her shoulder tightened. "But I will. And when I do, I want to see the warrior I know you're meant to become."

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "Where do I find Haytham?"

"He was heading toward Elaris," Karl said. "If he's still alive, that's where he'll be."

Karima nodded, forcing herself to accept it. "And when do we meet again?"

Karl exhaled, looking at her like he was memorizing every detail of her face. "Soon."

But she could hear the uncertainty beneath the word.

They left the Vault before dawn, their steps echoing in the empty corridors as they made their way to the surface. The desert air was crisp and cold, the sky still streaked with the last remnants of night.

A single vehicle was waiting outside, its engine humming quietly in the stillness. Karl turned to her before he climbed in. "Take the northern path," he said. "It'll be safer."

Karima nodded, barely trusting herself to speak.

And then, without another word, Karl got into the vehicle and drove off into the darkness, leaving her standing alone beneath the vast, endless sky.

For the first time since this nightmare had begun, she was truly alone.

She took a deep breath, pressing a hand against the ring in her pocket. The air around her felt heavy, charged with something she didn't understand.

Then she turned, set her sights on the distant horizon, and began to walk.

She had a long journey ahead.

And she would not fail.