"Some locks are not made of stone or steel — but of silence, sacrifice, and forgotten names." — The Codex of Echoing Waters
🌊 River Nandhira — Whisper's Bend
The Hollow had whispered a single word before it vanished:
> "Nandhira."
So the trio followed the forest's breath to a place where the river bent like a question mark through ancient rocks.
The water shimmered — not reflecting the sky, but something beneath it.
Meera closed her eyes, letting her Spirit affinity reach below the surface.
> "There's something down there. But it's sealed. Old."
Shiva stepped forward.
> "Then we unseal it."
He placed his hand on the river. The water recoiled — or perhaps bowed.
Symbols emerged from the current. One, two, three — forming a triangle.
🗝️ The Trial of the Triune Key
Aarav, Meera, and Shiva each stepped to a point.
Suddenly, the water froze, then shattered upward — forming a dome of liquid light.
A voice, neither male nor female, rang out:
> "What is the Key that unlocks what was broken?"
> Aarav spoke first: "Truth." Meera answered: "Memory." Shiva said nothing. Then finally: "Loss."
The water pulsed.
Then, the dome collapsed — and in its place, a small stone floated up from the riverbed.
A sigil glowed on its surface: 🜂🜃🜄 — Fire. Earth. Water.
But it flickered.
> "There's a fourth," Meera whispered. "It's not complete."
> "We're missing the Breath," Shiva said.
🕯️ The Vault of Embers
The fourth figure turned from the living gate.
> "They've found the fragment. The Key is forming."
> "But without the Breath, it is just a shard," one of the veiled murmured.
> "Then send the Woken. Let them test the flame."
Far above, shadows stirred — and began to descend.