Chapter 20: The Veil Unraveled

The landscape shifted as Ithan and Lyra approached the edges of the ancient ruins. The once-overgrown forest gave way to crumbling stone pillars and shattered archways, remnants of a long-forgotten civilization. The air here was different—heavier, charged with an energy that prickled at Ithan’s skin.

Within the ruins, strange symbols adorned the walls, glowing faintly as if they had been waiting for their arrival. Lyra moved with caution, her eyes scanning the environment with a mixture of wariness and familiarity.

“The Hollow King’s influence is stronger here,” Lyra murmured. “This place is close to the source of his power.”

Ithan felt it too. The Sigil hummed against his chest, resonating with the eerie energy of the ruins. For a moment, he thought he could hear faint echoes of voices, distant and fragmented. They seemed to call his name, beckoning him forward.

As they ventured deeper, Lyra stopped abruptly, her hand raised to signal caution. In the center of a grand chamber stood a massive stone obelisk, its surface covered in intricate carvings that pulsed with a faint, golden light.

“This is a Memory Spire,” Lyra said, her voice tight. “It records the past… but only for those who dare to see it.”

Curiosity and apprehension warred within Ithan. Lyra’s expression was unreadable as she stepped back, giving him space.

Tentatively, Ithan approached the obelisk and placed his hand on its surface. A surge of energy coursed through him, and the world around him dissolved.

He found himself standing amidst a battlefield, watching the Hollow King unleash devastation with a power that seemed limitless. Among the chaos, Ithan saw a figure bearing a Sigil—one identical to his own—fighting valiantly but ultimately falling.

The vision ended abruptly, and Ithan staggered back, gasping for air.

“That’s what awaits you,” Lyra said quietly. “The Hollow King is no ordinary foe. And if you’re not ready, history will repeat itself.”

Her words only fueled Ithan’s determination. He tightened his grip on the Sigil, knowing that the challenges ahead would demand every ounce of strength he could muster.