Chapter Eleven: Into the Depths

The stairs spiraled downward, their uneven stone steps slick with moss and condensation. Lyra clutched the lantern tightly, its warm glow casting flickering shadows on the damp walls. Rowan followed close behind her, while Kieran took the lead, his movements confident despite the oppressive darkness pressing in around them.

The hum of Echo energy grew stronger the deeper they descended. It thrummed in Lyra's chest like a second heartbeat, resonating with the stone in her pocket. She resisted the urge to reach for it, afraid to draw more attention to the strange power within her.

"How far down does this go?" Rowan asked, her voice a nervous whisper.

"Far enough," Kieran replied, his tone clipped. "Stay close. These ruins are a maze. One wrong turn, and you'll be lost for good."

Lyra swallowed hard, glancing over her shoulder. The light from the central hall had long since disappeared, replaced by the suffocating weight of the unknown.

At last, the staircase opened into a wide chamber. The walls were carved with intricate symbols that seemed to pulse faintly with Echo energy, their glow illuminating the room in soft, shifting hues of blue and gold.

"This is it," Kieran said, stepping into the center of the chamber. "Shardkeeper architecture. They didn't hold back, did they?"

Rowan moved closer to one of the walls, her fingers brushing the carvings. "It's beautiful," she said softly. "But what does it mean?"

"Who knows?" Kieran said. "The Harmonium's done a good job of erasing anything they didn't want people to remember."

Lyra approached the center of the room, her gaze drawn to a circular pedestal that stood at its heart. It was smooth and unmarked, its surface reflecting the faint glow of the carvings. She felt the hum of energy intensify as she drew nearer, the stone in her pocket growing warmer.

"This place…" Lyra murmured, placing a hand on the pedestal. "It feels alive."

Kieran frowned. "Be careful. Echo remnants are unpredictable at best. At worst, they'll tear you apart."

Before Lyra could respond, a low rumble shook the chamber. The carvings on the walls flared brightly, and a sudden gust of wind swept through the room, extinguishing the lantern.

"Lyra!" Rowan cried, her voice rising in panic.

"I'm fine," Lyra said quickly, her heart racing.

A faint, eerie light filled the chamber, emanating from the walls themselves. The hum of energy grew louder, almost deafening, as a figure began to coalesce in the center of the room.

It was translucent and faintly blue, its form shifting like smoke. It resembled a human, but its features were indistinct, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

"An Echo remnant," Kieran muttered, stepping back. His dagger was already in his hand, its edge flickering with Echo energy.

The figure turned its head, its gaze locking onto Lyra. She froze, the stone in her pocket pulsing in time with her racing heartbeat.

"Why is it looking at me?" she whispered.

"Because it knows you're different," Kieran said grimly. "Stay back. These things don't reason. They don't feel. They just—"

The remnant lunged.

Lyra stumbled backward, throwing up a barrier instinctively. The translucent shield shimmered into existence, but the remnant passed through it effortlessly, its form rippling like water.

"Lyra, move!" Rowan shouted.

Before Lyra could react, the stone in her pocket flared with heat, and a wave of energy surged outward. The remnant froze mid-strike, its form flickering as if caught in a violent storm.

"What the—" Kieran started, his voice cut off as the energy intensified.

Lyra fell to her knees, the force of the energy pulling at her like a tide. The remnant let out a soundless cry, its body disintegrating into a flurry of glowing fragments that dissolved into the air.

Silence fell, heavy and disorienting.

"What just happened?" Rowan asked, her voice trembling.

Kieran approached cautiously, his dagger still at the ready. "That wasn't normal. Whatever you did, Lyra, it wasn't just a barrier."

Lyra pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. "I didn't mean to… it just happened."

Rowan knelt beside her, her hands glowing faintly as she placed them on Lyra's shoulders. "Are you hurt?"

Lyra shook her head. "No, I… I'm fine. I think."

Kieran's gaze hardened. "Fine or not, we need to figure out what that was. That remnant didn't just attack you—it reacted to you."

"What does that mean?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It means you're not just Sorrow," Kieran said. "And whatever you are, this place knows it."

The words sent a chill through Lyra. She glanced at the pedestal, its surface now glowing faintly with the same energy that had surged from the stone in her pocket.

"This isn't over," Kieran continued. "The remnants will only get stronger the deeper we go. If you're not ready for that—"

"I am," Lyra said, cutting him off. She pushed herself to her feet, determination flickering in her eyes.

Kieran studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Good. Then let's keep moving."

Rowan hesitated but followed as Kieran led the way deeper into the ruins. Lyra lingered for a moment, her fingers brushing the pedestal.

The hum of energy pulsed faintly, almost like a heartbeat.

Trust yourself—and your Echo.

The elder's words echoed in her mind as she turned and followed the others into the darkness.