CHAPTER EIGHT: “The Shatter at Silverlight Ridge”

The sky above Noctis Hollow flickered for the first time in centuries.

Jayden didn't notice at first.

He was too busy gasping through the pain as the Brand of the Hollow scorched its way across his spine. It felt like molten fire carving ancient runes into his very soul. Not ink. Not a mark.

A binding.

Veyna stood over him, arms crossed, eyes unreadable.

"You're now one of us. Your blood sings with the Hollow's will."

Jayden didn't answer.

Inside, something had shifted.

Not submission.

Something more dangerous.

---

Silverlight Ridge – A Forbidden Place

That evening, Veyna took him higher — past the Warded Gate, through the Ridge of Bones, to the forgotten summit called Silverlight.

"Why here?" Jayden asked, breath fogging in the cold.

Veyna didn't reply at first. She pulled her cloak tighter.

Then: "Because what comes next must be done away from the Council's ears."

Jayden's pulse quickened. The wind howled louder up here, like the sky was waiting.

"There's a story they don't tell you," she said, turning toward a cracked obelisk covered in frostbite glyphs. "This place wasn't always dead."

She placed her palm on the stone.

The ground trembled.

A flash of light surged from beneath them — spiraling symbols awakening in the snow, pulsing like veins beneath the earth.

Jayden staggered. "What is this?"

Veyna didn't look at him. "It's called a Soul Echo. The last one in the Hollow. I brought you here to listen."

> "Listen to what?"

> "To who you are."

---

The Echo Awakens

As the symbols glowed, a blinding surge of white-blue light exploded from the obelisk, striking Jayden in the chest. He screamed.

Time blurred.

He stood in a memory that was not his — a world before Noctis Hollow was hidden, before the wars, before the Council.

He saw a boy.

He had Jayden's face — but older. Wiser. Wearing a cloak made of ash and lightning.

The boy turned and spoke.

> "You're the last. If you don't wake up soon, everything falls."

The world cracked.

Jayden fell.

---

The Sky Shatters

Back in reality, Veyna stepped back as lightning split the sky above Silverlight Ridge — not once, but seven times in a circle, like a crown of thunder.

A pulse of energy erupted from Jayden's chest, sending snow and stone flying for yards. The runes on the ground caught flame — not burning, but floating, suspended in glowing air like living script.

From the heavens, a soundless explosion echoed — not heard, but felt.

And then the sky above the Hollow fractured, revealing—for a moment—a blood-red sun on the other side.

The illusion was broken.

The sky returned to night—but not fast enough.

The Council had seen.

---

Below the Hollow — Panic in the Court

Alarms sounded. Cloaked vampires scattered across the Hollow's halls.

Kaelric stormed into the Mirror Hall.

"He's broken the veil," someone gasped.

"Impossible," another whispered.

Kaelric slammed his fist into the obsidian altar. "It's the prophecy. He's not just awakening—he's remembering."

Lady Morrienna entered moments later, pale but composed. "We must bring him in. Force the Binding deeper."

Nyxa, the seer, shook her head.

> "No," she rasped. "He's crossed into the Soulline. That cannot be undone."

A decision had to be made.

But they were already too late.

---

Graveton Burns Red

At the same moment in Graveton, Leah screamed.

Flames erupted in the forest behind the Adelwin house — unnatural, cold-burning fire that hissed blue and violet.

From the center of the fire stepped a creature in human shape, but its eyes were voids, and its mouth stretched too wide when it smiled.

> "I've come for the girl," it said calmly.

Mr. Adelwin stood in the doorway, shotgun in hand, ancient runes glowing on his chest.

"I've killed your kind before," he growled.

The creature smiled wider. "Then die nostalgic."

It lunged.

---

The Broken Fang Burns

Back in the Hollow, Jayden woke to chaos.

Veyna's cloak was torn. Her eyes shone with awe and terror. "They're coming for you. You have to run."

"I'm done running."

Jayden clenched the broken fang insignia in his fist. It began to glow — black fire dripping from his fingers.

Caziel's voice echoed in memory: "Burn it. We'll find you."

Jayden dropped it into the fire sigil on the ground.

The air ripped open.

And through the tear stepped three figures — cloaked in grey flame, eyes bright like wolves.

> "Jayden of the Hollow," one said. "Welcome to the Rebellion."