t o

nd its way through darkened forests and hollowed towns. Emma sat near the window, watching raindrops str

, the journal, the burned crest, and a weapon Kael had given them befo

his gaze darting toward every shadow. He hadn't spoken si

ly broke t

they're alread

. "If they are, we'l

hts fli

heart s

ntly on his fe

ting the next car, slowly op

her hand. "If an

ro thing alone," she said

ally looked at her -

lights flickered a

dark

th

cre

ard the rear of the train. The scream had come from that direction

ext car stood aja

hesit

pushed

ows here were fogged from the inside. Sha

tumbled in - bleeding, limping

asped. "They k

im as he fell fo

more. I took one down. The

ounded. "What

. "Sentinel... masked

door behind th

hidden behind a gold mask etched with flames. Her hair -

he ring on her fing

s ground. "You'r

an tilted her

Emma - and flames

ront of her as the fire ex

knife drawn, and c

hed into the smoke, leaving only

sping. "What...

Order's highest hunters. She didn't

. "She nearly burned t

have if she wanted to. But she d

the ring still pulsing

eded," she

y on this train. She marked it. By dawn

the window. "We're m

Then we get off befor

s she talking about - 'not ye

tated. "T

ou said wa

the Old Temple, where your ancestors made the pact. The ring opens its gates

e's waiting until we're st

dded. "

and low, a mournful soun

looked

e next stop. No m

ause the ring was no

s bur

Part Two: As

ispering woods. It wasn't on any map Kael recognized. No signs. No lights. Just cracked stone pla

l said, stepping off with h

"The Sentinel marked the train.

ing a mist in the cold air. The ring on her finger continue

gn barely hanging on rusted bolts

mmer's Hollow. One

" she

the second house. Some say by accide

overgrown path leading away from

es north," Kael said. "Built into the c

anches swaying like warning fingers. Her boots crunched over dead leaves and charred stone. Every now and then

d them, one hand never lea

destroy an entire tow

ry," he said. "O

ind of

ncient flashed in his eyes. "The la

ait - you said that hadn't

llow. They tried to open the Vault before the Order was ready. Before

lking. "And now it

idn't

ks, revealing a stone slab embedded in the ground. With a whispered incantat

ended int

passed. Dust covered old furniture, and maps faded with age lay pinned to corkboards. Emma shi

etly. "The last bearers. Their names

tifacts, journals, weapons. At the center of the chamber, on a pedestal, rested

slowly, placing he

den f

longer in t

ed gold with sunset, and people bustled about, unaware of the fire to come

n the Vault - sa

f memory. Voices that spoke

n f

The town. The people. And sil

mm

voice pull

mbling back fro

her. "What d

ey found the Vault. But something went

gends were true. The Vault tests i

troyed," Emm

close. "We won't

we train. Here. Tonight. We unlock the rest of

lowing ring - now pulsing

running,"

faintly. "Th

art Three: Sp

d across from him, tension etched into their features. The quiet hum of the chamber seemed to grow louder wit

ng it carefully at the center of the circle. "The runes you see around you don't just prot

the nerves clawing up he

ngth. She channels memory. Together, you

forward. "We t

said, "are not

very glow across the walls. A sudden weight pressed down

opped. "Emma. C

ob

Don't force it.

her breath

e felt th

.. vo

ren't words exactly, more like emotional

man sobbing ove

g a ring tow

in a room full of

voice broke throug

ened h

ber had

looked newer, alive, glowing with golden roo

.. is

ened a memory seal. This is

t the glowing ro

he ring pulled her hand forward and gen

. Then

. The two of them older, changed, scarred but w

l pulled he

pped back to it

swa

er. "That's eno

her quickly. "Yo

. Together. We're supposed to find

uld happen - or it could be a warning. Either way, the Vault

ned to Kael

Dagon. The last Temple of the Watchers is hidden in

ring, still glowing but

ady," s

d guard by the entrance. "Sleep while you

she settled beside the war

Michael whispered, "You'

Or maybe I just finally h

le silence, but the firelight remained - a sin