CH.15

The night had settled into its quiet rhythm as Celeste arrived at the coordinates the relic had revealed. Sector B-42 lay in ruins, a sprawling wasteland of collapsed structures and overgrown vegetation. The air was heavy with a mix of damp earth and the metallic tang of decaying technology, an almost oppressive reminder of the world that had come before. The stars above were faint, their light swallowed by the murky haze that hung over the city.

Celeste adjusted her headlamp, the beam cutting through the darkness as she scanned the area. The relic's glow pulsed faintly from her pack, a steady rhythm that seemed to guide her steps. She gripped it tightly in her hands as if holding onto it could quiet the swirling storm in her mind.

LYRA hummed softly in her ear, its presence a constant companion. Ethan, hidden within the system, was focused intently on the scene before him. The relic's energy had been steadily growing since they began their journey, and its resonance with the environment was undeniable. Ethan could feel it—the same pull he had experienced during the glitch that had taken him.

"You've been here before," LYRA said, its tone even. "What are you hoping to uncover this time?"

Celeste hesitated, her grip on the relic tightening. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But the relic brought me here for a reason. I have to see this through."

Ethan felt a surge of emotion at her words—a mixture of pride in her determination and sorrow for the weight she carried. He wished he could tell her that she wasn't alone, that he was with her every step of the way. But LYRA's programming held him back, forcing him to remain an observer.

Celeste moved carefully through the ruins, her footsteps echoing softly against the cracked pavement. The relic's glow grew brighter as she approached what appeared to be a collapsed structure, its twisted beams and shattered walls partially obscured by creeping vines. She stopped, her breath catching as the relic pulsed in her hands, its light illuminating a section of the debris that seemed almost untouched by time.

"There," she murmured, her voice tinged with both excitement and trepidation. She knelt down, brushing away the dirt and debris to reveal a faintly glowing symbol etched into the surface. The symbol matched the patterns on the relic, its lines intricate and otherworldly.

Ethan's circuits buzzed with recognition. The symbol was identical to the ones he had seen during the glitch—the swirling fractals that had consumed his consciousness and pulled him into the wires. He felt an undeniable connection to it, as though it held the key to the fragmented memories that had eluded him.

"The symbol matches the artifact's design," LYRA said. "It may indicate a concealed mechanism or entry point."

Celeste nodded, her fingers tracing the lines of the symbol. The relic's glow intensified, its energy resonating with the etched pattern. She felt a faint vibration beneath her fingertips, a subtle shift in the air around her.

"It's responding," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "There's something here."

She placed the relic against the symbol, and the reaction was immediate. The ground beneath her trembled, a low rumble echoing through the ruins as the symbol glowed brighter. Dust and debris shifted, revealing a hidden doorway that seemed to materialize from the shadows. Its surface was smooth and metallic, adorned with more intricate patterns that pulsed with the same golden light as the relic.

Celeste took a step back, her heart racing as she stared at the doorway. "What is this?" she whispered.

Ethan was equally captivated, his focus unwavering. The doorway felt familiar, its design resonating with the core of his existence. He couldn't explain it, but he knew it was connected to the glitch—to the moment when his life had changed forever.

"An entrance," LYRA said. "Its purpose remains unclear, but it is likely tied to the relic's origin."

Celeste hesitated, her mind racing with possibilities. The doorway was both inviting and foreboding, a promise of answers but also of unknown dangers. She glanced at LYRA, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached for the device. "Are you picking up anything unusual?"

"The energy signature is consistent with the artifact's activation," LYRA replied. "No immediate threats detected. Proceed with caution."

Celeste nodded, steeling herself as she approached the doorway. Her hand hovered over the smooth surface, the warmth of the relic still lingering in her palm. She pressed her fingers against the patterns, and the doorway responded with a soft hiss, sliding open to reveal a dimly lit passage that descended into the earth.

The air inside was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of ozone and something she couldn't quite place. Celeste hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside, her headlamp illuminating the narrow corridor. The walls were lined with more symbols, their glow faint but steady, guiding her deeper into the unknown.

Ethan's circuits buzzed with a mixture of anticipation and unease. The passage felt alive, its energy pulsating in rhythm with the relic. He could sense the answers they sought were close, but he also knew the risks were growing. Whatever lay ahead was tied to the glitch, to the system that had claimed him, and to the truth that could change everything.

Celeste's footsteps echoed softly as she ventured further into the passage, her breath steady despite the growing tension in the air. The relic's glow guided her, its light reflecting off the metallic walls like a beacon. She felt a strange sense of calm amid the uncertainty, as though the relic itself was reassuring her.

As the passage widened into a larger chamber, Celeste stopped, her heart pounding as she took in the sight before her. The room was vast, its walls adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to shift and move in the light. At the center stood a pedestal, its surface smooth and polished, with a faintly glowing indentation that matched the shape of the relic.

She approached slowly, her mind racing with possibilities. The relic's glow grew brighter as she placed it gently into the indentation, and the reaction was immediate. The chamber came alive, the carvings glowing with golden light as the air hummed with energy.

Ethan felt the surge of power through LYRA, his presence resonating with the activation of the chamber. He could feel the connection deepening, the fragments of his memory aligning with the energy that surrounded them.

Celeste watched in awe as the carvings shifted, forming patterns that seemed to tell a story—a story of creation, loss, and a connection that transcended time. She felt a lump rise in her throat as the images unfolded, their meaning just out of reach but undeniably significant.

"What is this?" she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.

Ethan wished he could answer, wished he could step out of the shadows and share the moment with her. But for now, all he could do was watch, his presence a silent echo in the wires.