Chapter Fourteen: Unity’s Test

The remnant lunged forward, its massive, jagged form pulsing with volatile energy. Lyra barely had time to react as Kieran darted in front of her, his dagger shimmering with shadowy Echo energy.

"Stay back!" he snapped, slashing at the creature. The blade struck true, but like before, it passed through the remnant's form, leaving ripples in its wake.

"This isn't working!" Rowan called, her hands glowing with golden light. She threw a radiant burst of energy at the creature, forcing it to falter for a moment before it began advancing again.

Lyra's heart raced as she reached for the stone in her pocket. The hum of energy around her was deafening, and the pulsing in her chest matched the creature's movements. She could feel it—some deep connection between herself and the remnant, as if they were part of the same thread.

"Lyra!" Rowan shouted.

The remnant lashed out, its claws raking across the ground as Kieran pulled Rowan out of the way. Lyra clenched the stone tighter, the warmth spreading through her hand.

"I have to try," she muttered.

"What?" Kieran yelled, dodging another strike.

Lyra stepped forward, her chest tight with fear. The stone in her hand flared to life, its light reflecting in the creature's glowing eyes. She didn't know what she was doing—she could only feel the pull of her Echo, the fractured power within her begging to be released.

The creature lunged again, and this time, Lyra raised her hand. A translucent barrier erupted between them, jagged and pulsing with raw energy. The remnant slammed into it, but instead of shattering, the barrier absorbed the impact, rippling outward like a living thing.

The energy surged, and Lyra felt it pulling at her, guiding her movements. The barrier shifted, wrapping around the remnant like chains.

"Lyra, what are you doing?" Rowan called, her voice tinged with awe.

"I don't know," Lyra admitted, her voice shaking. "But it's working!"

The remnant thrashed against the chains, its form flickering violently. Lyra gritted her teeth, the strain of holding the energy almost too much to bear. She closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythm of her breathing, the hum of the energy, and the stone's warmth in her palm.

Trust yourself—and your Echo.

The elder's words echoed in her mind as the energy surged one final time. The remnant let out a soundless cry, its form dissolving into a flurry of glowing fragments. The chains vanished, and the room fell silent.

Lyra dropped to her knees, her chest heaving. The stone in her hand was cold now, its glow extinguished.

Rowan rushed to her side, her hands glowing faintly as she checked for injuries. "Are you okay?"

"I think so," Lyra said, her voice weak.

Kieran stood nearby, his expression unreadable. "What the hell was that?"

Lyra shook her head, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her. "I don't know. But… it felt like it was part of me. Like I wasn't just stopping it—I was… connecting with it."

Rowan frowned. "Connecting?"

Kieran's gaze darkened. "That's not normal. Whatever your Echo is, it's not like anything I've seen before."

Lyra didn't respond. She couldn't. The memory of the remnant's energy, the way it had resonated with her own, lingered in her mind like an unanswered question.

The voice from the orb echoed faintly in her thoughts: You are the bridge.

She didn't know what that meant. But she was beginning to understand that her journey was only just beginning.