Kael could not tell how long he had been running. The tunnels all looked the same — narrow, damp, endless. His chest hurt, his legs were shaking, and he was sure his heartbeat was louder than his footsteps. The air felt thick, full of dust and old air that had not moved for years.
He slowed down finally, resting his hand against the rough wall. The stones were cold and wet. He breathed hard, trying not to think about the sound of boots echoing somewhere far behind him. The Enforcers were not far.
"Brilliant," he muttered, his voice rough. "Run straight into a maze underground. That will help."
The echo of his words came back to him — faint, delayed, mocking.
He stood there for a moment, eyes half closed, until he saw it — a faint light ahead, soft and golden. It did not flicker like firelight. It just… glowed. Warm, still, steady.
Kael followed it without thinking. The tunnel opened slowly into a vast space, so wide his steps sounded small. He stopped, blinking at the sight in front of him. The place looked like an ancient hall, buried deep below the world. The ceiling was lost in shadows, but tall pillars stretched up like trees. Strange carvings filled the walls — circles, stars, and shapes he could not name.
At the center was a pool. Not deep, not wide, but bright — glowing with that same gold light that had led him here.
Kael walked closer. The water was perfectly clear, so still it almost looked like glass. When he leaned forward, he could see his reflection — a tired man, face dirty, eyes dull with exhaustion.
And then it changed.
The reflection shifted into someone else — older, calmer, eyes shining silver. The same man from his visions.
Kael froze. "You again," he whispered. "Why do you keep showing up?"
The reflection did not move its lips, but he heard a voice, soft and deep."You are asking the wrong question."
Kael frowned. "Then what should I ask?"
"Why did you forget?"
Before he could answer, the water rippled. Images appeared — towers burning red against the sky, soldiers shouting, that same silver-eyed man raising his hand with the ring glowing on his finger. Kael felt something stir inside him — not fear, but recognition. He had seen this before. He had been there.
The memories hit him like waves. Too many. Too fast. He staggered back, clutching his head. "Stop! I do not want this—"
"You must remember," the voice said. "If you do not, you will repeat it again."
Then the vision faded. The pool turned still and dull, its light dimming.
Kael fell to his knees, breathing hard. His mind felt heavy, full of half-remembered faces and places that did not belong to him — or maybe they once did. He could not tell anymore.
When he finally looked up, the pool was silent. The golden glow was fading fast, as if the place was going back to sleep.
He pushed himself to his feet, legs trembling. "So this is not just about me," he whispered. "It never was."
From somewhere far behind, he heard metal striking stone — the Enforcers. They were close again.
Kael turned, took one last look at the quiet pool, and then ran. Not away this time — but toward something he could not name yet. Toward truth.