Echoes of the Forgotten

The cold stone beneath Liora's fingers sent a shiver up her spine. Dust and decay clung to the air, thick and oppressive, as she peered through the dim light of the underground tomb. The carvings on the walls stretched into the darkness, their meanings lost to time. Kael remained motionless beside her, his golden eyes scanning the inscriptions with a wary intensity.

She wrapped her arms around herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "What does it say?"

Kael traced a hand over the worn stone, his expression unreadable. "It speaks of the last king's fall… and something else."

Liora leaned closer, her pendant pulsing faintly against her skin. "Something else?"

Kael's lips tightened. "A warning."

A sudden gust of wind howled through the chamber, though there were no visible openings. Liora stiffened as the torches that lined the walls flickered to life, igniting in a cascade of blue flame. Shadows twisted against the stone, shifting unnaturally. The hairs on the back of her neck rose.

Kael drew his sword, his stance rigid. "We're not alone."

From the darkness, figures began to emerge—statues that had stood still for centuries now moved with unnatural grace. Their hollow eyes glowed with spectral light, their skeletal hands gripping rusted weapons. Ghostly remnants of ancient warriors, long forgotten by time, now stirred from their slumber.

Liora's breath hitched. "The shades followed us?"

Kael shook his head. "No. These are different. Guardians of the tomb."

The nearest warrior lunged, its blade slicing through the air toward Liora. She barely had time to react before Kael intercepted, his sword clashing against rusted steel. The resounding clang echoed through the chamber.

"Stay behind me," he ordered.

Liora clenched her fists, frustration curling in her chest. She wasn't helpless. She couldn't afford to be.

Her pendant pulsed again, the warmth intensifying. Almost instinctively, she grasped it, and the moment her fingers curled around the gemstone, a surge of energy rushed through her veins. The ground beneath her trembled, cracks snaking through the stone.

Kael hesitated for half a second before blocking another strike. "What are you doing?"

"I… I don't know!" Liora gasped as the blue flames flickered brighter, their glow intensifying. The carvings along the walls seemed to respond, shifting as if alive. A deep rumbling filled the chamber, and the ghostly warriors hesitated, their hollow gazes turning toward her.

Then, a voice—whispering, echoing, ancient and full of sorrow—filled the chamber.

Heed the call of the forsaken king.

The warriors froze. The blue flames surged higher before suddenly extinguishing, plunging the tomb into near darkness once more. The only illumination came from the faint glow of Liora's pendant.

Silence stretched between them.

Kael exhaled sharply, lowering his blade. "That was… unexpected."

Liora's heart pounded as she slowly released the pendant. "What just happened?"

Kael stepped closer, studying her with something akin to wariness. "That voice—it recognized you. Or rather, it recognized the pendant."

Liora swallowed hard. "What does that mean?"

Kael sheathed his sword, his gaze still locked onto her. "It means that whatever is buried here was meant for you."

The weight of his words pressed against her chest. She had spent her life thinking the pendant was merely a keepsake, a relic of her mother's love. But now, it was clear—it was a key. A guide. And, perhaps, a curse.

She turned back to the carvings, her fingers trailing over the depiction of the last king holding a pendant much like hers. Beneath the image, words had been etched in an ancient script.

Liora whispered the translation, her voice steady despite the unease curling in her gut.

"Only the heir of the fallen shall awaken the slumbering throne."

Kael's expression darkened. "We need to move."

Before she could question him, the walls groaned as if the tomb itself were awakening. The ground beneath them trembled, and from the depths of the chamber, something stirred.

A deep, resonant growl reverberated through the space.

Liora's blood ran cold. "Tell me that's not what I think it is."

Kael turned, his hand tightening around his sword. "That depends. Do you think it's an ancient, slumbering beast that just woke up?"

A massive shape emerged from the shadows, its form barely visible in the dim light. Scales shimmered like obsidian, sharp ridges running along its spine. The creature's eyes gleamed—a molten gold that mirrored Kael's own.

Liora took an involuntary step back. "That's a dragon."

Kael's jaw clenched. "No." He raised his sword. "That's a guardian."

The dragon let out another growl, low and rumbling, before its wings flared. Dust and debris scattered through the air as it rose to its full height, its enormous frame barely fitting within the chamber's walls. Its gaze locked onto Liora, unblinking, knowing.

And then it spoke.

The heir has come.

Liora's breath caught in her throat. The beast's voice echoed through the chamber, ancient and heavy with power.

Kael moved swiftly, positioning himself between her and the dragon. "I don't suppose you want to tell us why you're waiting for her?"

The dragon exhaled, sending a wave of warm air toward them. The bloodline calls. The throne stirs. The fallen king's will has not yet faded.

Liora's fingers curled into fists. "I don't understand."

The dragon lowered its massive head, its gaze piercing through her. You are the last of his line.

Silence followed.

Liora felt the world tilt beneath her feet. "That's not possible."

The dragon rumbled, shifting its massive claws against the stone. Your mother knew. That is why she hid you.

Liora shook her head. "She was just a healer. She—" Her voice wavered.

Wasn't she?

Kael was watching her carefully, his expression unreadable. "If this is true, then we're in far more danger than I thought."

Liora forced herself to breathe. She had come here searching for answers, but the truth threatened to shatter everything she had ever known.

The dragon lifted its head, its wings unfurling slightly. The world will soon remember what it has forgotten.

Kael's grip tightened on his sword. "And if we refuse to play our part?"

The dragon's gaze flicked toward him, unreadable. Then the shadows will rise.

Liora closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. There was no turning back now. Whatever fate had been set in motion the moment she picked up her mother's pendant, she would see it through.

She opened her eyes and met the dragon's molten gaze. "What must I do?"

The dragon's lips curled slightly, almost in amusement. Prove yourself.