Chapter 3: Echoes of the Hollow

than’s footsteps echoed as he and Kaelan moved through the empty, desolate corridors of the Syndicate’s underground stronghold. The cold metallic walls, lined with veins of flickering light, reflected the sterile glow of the Sigil still faintly pulsing on Ithan’s chest.

Despite the surreal events of his awakening, he forced himself to stay focused, to stay grounded. But questions plagued his mind.

“Kaelan,” he began, his voice barely more than a murmur in the stillness. “What is the Hollow King, really?”

Kaelan’s gaze didn’t waver as they walked, his voice calm and steady. “The Hollow King is a being of pure darkness, a remnant from a world that once thrived beyond the Veil. Ages ago, before the Veil separated realms, the Hollow King ruled a world of shadows, consuming life until nothing remained.”

Ithan’s chest tightened. “And you think he’s… here? In our world?”

Kaelan nodded. “The Sigil awakened because the Hollow King’s presence now threatens this realm. It’s as if the Veil itself senses the danger and has chosen you as its sentinel.”

The words settled heavily over Ithan. He had no desire to be anyone’s chosen anything, yet here he was, bound to a fate he didn’t understand.

“I don’t know if I can face something like that,” he admitted, the doubt in his voice palpable.

Kaelan paused, turning to face him with a rare glimmer of understanding. “Strength lies in what you’re willing to protect, not in who you think you are.”

They continued walking, Kaelan’s words lingering in Ithan’s mind. The corridor widened into a large, domed chamber filled with strange, holographic displays that projected the Syndicate’s vast network. Maps, city layouts, and strange, ever-shifting symbols floated in the air.

In the center of the chamber stood a slender woman with sharp, calculating eyes. Her posture radiated authority, and as Ithan’s gaze met hers, a jolt of recognition struck him.

“Raelle,” Kaelan said, nodding toward her. “Our intelligence master. She’s been waiting.”

Raelle’s eyes narrowed as she took in Ithan’s appearance. “So, this is the one the Sigil has marked?”

Ithan shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, but he held her gaze. “I don’t exactly know what that means yet.”

“You’ll learn,” Raelle said briskly, tapping a sequence into a panel beside her. “The Sigil’s power will help us find the Hollow King’s manifestations before they consume more of our world.”

A holographic map of the city sprang to life, displaying a web of red points. Each point pulsed, irregular and ominous.

“These are sightings,” Raelle explained. “Places where reality itself is warping—echoes of the Hollow King breaking through.”

Ithan’s eyes widened, his stomach churning as he took in the map. The red points were everywhere, scattered across the city like a plague.

“We need to stop him before he destabilizes the Veil entirely,” Raelle continued, her tone cold and focused. “If we don’t, our world will collapse into chaos.”

Kaelan’s gaze hardened. “And that’s where Ithan comes in. With the Sigil’s power, he can locate and neutralize these distortions before they spread.”

The weight of his words sank in, pressing down on Ithan’s shoulders. He was no hero, no warrior destined to save worlds. But if the Veil had chosen him, there had to be a reason. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

“Where do I start?” he asked, forcing the uncertainty out of his voice.

Raelle’s lips curved into a small, approving smile. “Good. There’s an echo reported in the lower districts. People have been disappearing. Shadows move where they shouldn’t. It’s as good a place as any to test your power.”

Kaelan placed a hand on Ithan’s shoulder. “I’ll guide you, but it’s up to you to wield the Sigil’s energy. No one can do that but you.”

Ithan’s pulse quickened, a mix of fear and anticipation building within him. He looked back at the pulsing map, the twisted points calling to him like an unfinished symphony.

“Alright,” he said, squaring his shoulders. “Show me the way.”

As he turned to leave the chamber, he felt the Sigil’s energy respond, a quiet whisper of power stirring within him. He couldn’t see the full path ahead, but he knew one thing—he had taken the first step into a world from which there was no turning back.