A Truth Unveiled

The storm had passed, but its weight lingered in the air. Emma stood frozen, staring at the spot where the Eclipse King had vanished.

His words still echoed in her mind.

"Find the next stone… and when you do, you'll come to me."

She gritted her teeth. Never.

Rahi sheathed his dagger, his jaw tight. "What the hell was that?"

Emma shook her head, still trying to catch her breath. "I don't know. He—he didn't even try to take the stone."

Rahi's silver eyes narrowed. "No, he didn't. Because he doesn't need to."

Emma turned to him, frowning. "What do you mean?"

Rahi hesitated. "Think about it. He knew we were coming. He had the Nightborn ready. But instead of fighting, he lets you walk away? Tells you to find the next stone?"

Emma's stomach twisted. "He's… waiting for me."

Rahi's silence was all the confirmation she needed.

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The Sapphire Stone's Warning

The Sapphire Stone pulsed in Emma's hand, its cool energy thrumming in time with her heartbeat. It had already given her one warning—"The storm follows the tide."

She closed her eyes, focusing on the stone's energy, hoping for more guidance.

A whisper filled her mind.

"The past and the future are bound. To break the cycle, you must first see the chains."

Emma's breath caught.

Chains? What cycle?

She opened her eyes, pulse racing. "The stones… they know something we don't."

Rahi folded his arms. "Great. Another riddle."

Emma ignored him, her thoughts spinning. The Eclipse King wanted her to find the stones. That meant—

She looked down at the Sapphire Stone, realization dawning. "He needs me."

Rahi's head snapped toward her. "What?"

Emma turned to him, heart pounding. "The prophecy said uniting the stones would unmake the world, right? But what if they can only be united by someone… chosen by them?"

Rahi's expression darkened. "And the stones have already chosen you."

A heavy silence settled between them.

Emma swallowed hard. "Which means… I might be the only one who can give him what he wants."

And that meant one thing.

The Eclipse King didn't want to take the stones from her.

He wanted her to bring them to him willingly.

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A New Path Forward

Rahi let out a slow breath. "Then we need to stop playing his game. We find the next stone before he expects us to."

Emma nodded, gripping the Sapphire Stone tighter. "The Topaz Stone. It's in the Labyrinth of Veil."

Rahi groaned. "Right. A labyrinth. Because why would anything be easy?"

Despite the tension, Emma smirked. "You're not scared, are you?"

Rahi scoffed. "Of course not. But I do like knowing where I'm going, and labyrinths don't really allow that."

Emma took a deep breath. They had no choice. If they could reach the Topaz Stone before the Eclipse King made his next move, they might finally gain an advantage.

She turned toward the path ahead. "Then let's get moving."

As they left the ruins of Eldrin behind, a single thought burned in Emma's mind.

She would not be his pawn.

No matter what it took, she would find the stones—and stop him before it was too late.