"My shadow is not your burden. It's your warning."
— Rahul (Memory Echo, classified seal)
Scene 1: The Chamber That Shouldn't Exist
Kaien stood locked within the soul-reactive chamber — built centuries ago to contain gods.
But it wasn't meant for Rahn.
It was meant for Rahul.
Etched into the walls were runes — not to trap him…
But to test him.
"He made this," Kaien whispered.
"For himself…"
And then the mirror cracked.
From the shadows, a figure stepped out — wearing Rahul's face.
But colder. Too perfect. Too still.
"You wear his crown," it said.
"But do you understand why he never smiled while wearing it?"
Kaien clenched his fists.
Voidflame reacted — fierce, protective, angry.
Scene 2: The Clone Attacks
The clone moved like a blur.
Rahul's stance.
Rahul's blade.
Rahul's precision.
Kaien barely blocked the first strike.
Every movement the clone made was familiar — like training against the ghost of greatness.
"You fight like him," the clone taunted.
"But you don't carry his weight."
Kaien growled:
"I carry his memory. That's heavier."
They clashed. Again. Again.
Every punch Kaien threw felt like defiance.
Every strike the clone returned felt like a reminder.
"You're trying to prove you're not him," the clone said.
"But what if the universe only respects you because they think you are?"
Scene 3: Olivia Breaks the Seal
Outside the chamber, Olivia — standing beside Valenya and Vaeyra — pressed her palm to the barrier.
The Bloomlight creature hovered at her shoulder.
"He's in pain," it whispered.
"But not from wounds."
"From fear."
Valenya: "Then let's burn the door down."
Olivia's wings unfurled.
Light tore through the symbols.
"Kaien doesn't need to win this fight."
"He needs to remember who he is."
Scene 4: Kaien's Breaking Point
Inside the chamber, Kaien was on one knee.
Voidflame sputtering. Not failing — refusing.
The clone raised Rahul's blade.
"You're not like him."
Kaien looked up — tired. Breathing hard.
Then…
He laughed.
"Good."
"Because I love my family too loudly."
"I smile too much when my little sister calls me annoying."
"I say 'thank you' when my brother invents something that nearly kills me."
"And when I protect Olivia…"
"It's not because it's expected."
He stood.
"It's because I choose to."
Voidflame erupted — not in rage.
In clarity.
Scene 5: The Clone Dissolves
The clone stepped back.
Its face cracked.
And then — it smiled.
Rahul's real smile.
"That's what he needed to hear," the clone said.
"That he wasn't wrong to stop. That you'll go further… not by becoming him—"
"But by never needing to."
The clone dissolved into light.
And a final phrase echoed:
"The true heir of the Voidflame… is the one who dares to burn a new path."
Final Scene: The Siblings Wait
Outside, Kaien stepped through the collapsing seal — burnt, scraped, exhausted.
Aeyra ran to him first.
"Don't die. It's annoying."
Aren (just reappeared via emergency teleportation device): "I told them you'd live. I bet five credits."
Valenya tossed him a towel. "You look like a storm chewed you up."
Kaien smiled.
"Let's go home."