Ashar and Elara moved swiftly through the twisting backstreets, the sounds of the city swallowed by the silence of the deserted pathways. Their footsteps echoed softly in the dark, and Ashar felt the weight of exhaustion settling into his bones. Every inch of him ached, and his mind buzzed with too many thoughts, too many fears.

They finally reached a small stone archway, half-hidden by overgrown ivy and a sagging iron gate. Elara pushed it open, and they slipped inside, finding themselves in a quiet, walled garden. The moonlight filtered through the branches above, casting faint silvery shadows across the worn cobblestone path. For the first time, they could take a breath.

Elara glanced around, scanning the area before she lowered herself onto a stone bench, gesturing for Ashar to sit. He sank down beside her, his head still reeling.

"What... was that?" Ashar asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Elara looked away, tracing a finger over a faint scar on her hand.

"They're called Seekers. They're bound to the Void, servants of those who hunt anyone touched by the Veil."

Ashar shivered, the memory of the Seekers' dark cloaks and piercing stares still too vivid.

"And this... Echo inside me, why does it draw them?"

Elara turned to face him, her gaze serious.

"The Echo isn't just a power. It's a connection to the Void—a force that draws those who crave control, those who see it as a weapon or as a threat. If they think you're not strong enough to handle it, they'll come after you."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Ashar clenched his fists, staring at his hands as if they could offer some kind of answer. He could still feel the remnants of that dark energy coursing through his veins, alive and waiting, as if daring him to try again.

"I don't even know what I'm doing,"

He admitted, a flicker of shame in his voice.

"I barely held onto it back there. I almost..."

"You almost lost control,"

Elara finished for him, nodding in understanding.

"It's normal, Ashar. The Echo is part of you, but it's something that takes time to master. If you fight it, it'll slip through your fingers. If you surrender completely, it'll overwhelm you."

He took a steadying breath, absorbing her words. They felt right, even if he didn't fully understand them yet.

"So... what am I supposed to do?"

He asked, glancing at her, the weight of uncertainty heavy in his voice.

Elara offered a small, encouraging smile.

"Learn. Train. I know a place where we can go—a place hidden from the Seekers, where you can practice without fear. But it'll mean leaving everything behind for a while."

Ashar hesitated. He had already left so much behind, but hearing the choice laid out so starkly made his heart pound. "And if I don't... if I don't learn to control it?"

She shook her head slowly.

"If you don't, then the Seekers won't stop until they have what they want. And believe me, Ashar, they don't take prisoners."

He shivered, the memory of the Seekers' cold voices still whispering in the back of his mind. His whole life had already been turned upside down, and he knew there was no returning to what he once knew. The only path forward was the one Elara was offering.

"Alright,"

He said finally, looking up at her with a new determination.

"I'll go with you. Whatever it takes, I need to understand this... this Echo, this power inside me."

Elara's gaze softened, and she gave him a reassuring nod. "We'll take it one step at a time. Together."

For the first time since his life had been torn apart, Ashar felt a flicker of hope. It wasn't a solution, not yet, but it was a beginning. A chance. And with Elara beside him, maybe—just maybe—he wouldn't have to face the darkness alone.