The Death Reaper watched Anna closely, his gaze fixed on the two shards of the Blade of Time now glowing with an intense blue light. A low hum filled the air, and the faint aura surrounding the shards pulsed like a heartbeat, echoing through the silence of the chamber.
Anna felt a chill crawl up her spine under his stare, but she stood her ground.
The Death Reaper took a slow step forward, his tattered cloak whispering against the cold stone floor. "Those shards," he rasped, "they're waking up. The blade remembers."
His empty eye sockets seemed to burn into her. "Fine," he said finally, the words heavy with old bitterness. "I will tell you where the third shard lies… but know this—once you find it, the rest will be on you. No more help. No more mercy. You must gather them all before time unravels around you."
Anna swallowed hard, her hand instinctively tightening around the glowing shards.
"You're running out of time, girl," the Death Reaper added, his voice dropping to a whisper as if the truth itself feared being spoken. "Every breath you take brings the Void closer. And once it awakens fully… not even the gods will be able to stop it."
He turned slowly, shadows curling at his heels, then paused as if reconsidering.
"The third shard lies buried in the ruins beneath the Vale of Echoes. Guarded by silence. Watched by the dead. If you wish to retrieve it… be prepared to sacrifice something."
His gaze flicked briefly toward Kai and Alex, then settled on Anna again.
"Something… or someone."
A cold knot twisted in Anna's stomach as the Death Reaper's final words echoed in her mind:Something… or someone.
Her breath caught in her throat. The glow from the shards in her hand, once a source of hope, now felt heavier—like they were burning her with the weight of what was to come. Sacrifice. The word pierced her deeper than any blade could.
She looked toward Kai and Alex. Her heart ached just seeing them standing there—her bond with Kai growing stronger with every trial, and the complicated, lingering thread that tied her to Alex like a shadow from another life. The thought of losing either of them, of choosing between them, made her chest tighten until it was hard to breathe.
"I didn't come this far to lose everything," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
But the vision she'd seen earlier, the one that struck her like a dagger in her sleep—it flickered behind her eyes again. Flashes of fire. A scream that sounded like Kai. A hand slipping from hers into the dark.
She staggered back a step, one hand pressed to her temple as the headache returned like a sudden wave.
"No," she said aloud, shaking her head. "There has to be another way."
The Death Reaper gave no answer. Only silence.
Tears burned at the edges of her eyes, but she blinked them away. She couldn't afford to break. Not now. Not in front of them.
Instead, she drew a shaky breath and steadied her voice. "If the third shard is in the Vale of Echoes… then that's where I'm going. No matter what it costs me."
She looked up at the Death Reaper with defiant resolve.
"But I'll find a way to gather the rest without losing someone I love."
The Death Reaper's expression didn't change. But for the faintest moment, Anna thought she saw something in the darkness beneath his hood—a flicker of pity… or perhaps regret.
Then he vanished into smoke.
The blue light from the shards pulsed softly in my hand, steady and alive, like they understood what I was about to do. I could feel Kai and Alex behind me—ready to move, ready to follow. But deep down, I knew they couldn't.
Not this time.
I turned around slowly, facing them both. My gaze landed on Kai first, his golden eyes filled with determination and fear he was trying to mask.
"You can't come with me," I said quietly.
His brows furrowed. "What?"
"You have to stay behind," I said again, this time louder, firmer. "Both of you."
Alex stepped forward, frowning. "Anna—"
"No," I cut in, heart racing. "Listen to me. The village needs you both. You said it yourself, Alex—the Ash Sentinels need leadership if the Void spreads. They trust you. They'll follow you. And Kai…"
I stepped closer to him and rested my hand over his chest, feeling the strength and warmth that always made me feel safe.
"You're more than a fighter. You're hope to these people. If we all leave, and something happens while we're gone, this place… these people… they'll fall."
Kai's jaw clenched. "I won't let you walk into that place alone."
"I'm not asking you to let me," I whispered. "I'm choosing to do this. You two have carried so much for me—let me carry something for you now."
A heavy silence filled the space between us.
Alex looked away, running a hand through his hair. "You realize how stupid this sounds, right? You expect us to just stand here while you walk into whatever hell is waiting at the Vale?"
"No," I said softly. "I expect you to trust me. Like I've always trusted you."
Kai stepped even closer, his hands gripping my shoulders, his eyes intense. "Then promise me," he said. "Promise me you'll come back."
I met his gaze and placed my hand over his heart again.
"I promise," I said. "Safe and sound. I swear it."
I turned to Alex next. "You have to keep them safe. The Sentinels. The village. Kai. All of it. Hold the line until I come back with the shard."
He stared at me, silent for a few seconds too long. Then finally, he nodded. "If you're going to do this, Anna… do it fast. And don't you dare die on me."
A small laugh escaped me, sharp and shaky. "Wouldn't dream of it."
I stepped away from them, my heart aching with every breath. The path to the Vale stretched ahead of me like a wound in the land—cold, quiet, waiting. But my steps didn't falter.
Behind me, two men who held pieces of my heart stood still, forced to let me go.
And I walked into the unknown, carrying their faith like armor.