Chapter 32: The Voices of the Past

The spectral figures surrounded the group, their translucent forms flickering like dying flames. Their words echoed in Zeryn’s mind, weaving a tapestry of sorrow and despair.

“We were the first to stand against the Eclipse,” one spirit said, its voice tinged with regret.

“And we failed,” another added, its form bending unnaturally as it spoke. “The spires are our tombs.”

Zeryn stepped forward, her shadows curling protectively around her. “If you’re trapped here, then destroying the spires will set you free. Won’t it?”

“No,” a third spirit replied, its tone harsh. “The spires bind us, but they also bind the Eclipse. Break them all, and its full power will awaken.”

The leader stepped forward, his blade gleaming in the eerie light. “If the spires are holding the Eclipse back, why do the shadows grow stronger with each one we destroy?”

The spirits twisted as though in pain. “The spires were not built to last. Their energy corrodes over time. The shadows seep out, twisted fragments of the Eclipse’s essence.”

“So you’re saying there’s no right answer,” Zeryn muttered, her frustration mounting. “We destroy the spires, we unleash the Eclipse. We leave them, the corruption spreads anyway.”

“Not entirely,” the first spirit said. It turned its hollow gaze toward Zeryn. “The shadows respond to you because you hold their key. You can reshape them.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances.

“What does that mean?” Zeryn asked, her voice trembling.

The spirit’s form began to dissolve. “You must decide… light or dark… creation or destruction. Only you can—”

Before it could finish, the ground trembled violently, and the spire began to pulse with blue light.

“They’re coming!” the leader shouted.