The doors of the sanctum opened with a deep, echoing hum that rolled through the ruins like thunder. Warm light spilled out, cutting through the darkness. The group stepped inside cautiously, their footsteps echoing against the polished stone floor.
Unlike the rest of the ruined palace, the sanctum was untouched. Pillars of crystal lined the hall, glowing faintly with energy. A great mural stretched across the walls, depicting scenes of the ancient world — the rise of the First Oracle, his victories, and finally the burning of the capital.
Lyra's eyes widened as she ran her fingers along the carvings. "This place looks like it hasn't aged a day. How is that even possible?"
Selene examined the walls carefully. "Preservation magic. Very strong, very old. Whatever happened outside, the sanctum was protected."
Kael's voice was low and alert. "Protected for what?"
Eiji walked toward the center of the hall where a raised platform stood. On it rested a single crystal sphere, floating above a shallow pool of water that shimmered with faint blue ripples. The medallion on his chest began to glow again, resonating with the sphere.
He could feel something — not just power, but emotion. A lingering sorrow, heavy and familiar.
"Another seal," he murmured. "But it feels… different."
Selene nodded. "This one holds memory. The kind that lives inside the soul."
As Eiji stepped closer, the sphere began to hum. The reflection in the water shifted, showing not their faces but a vast battlefield. A man stood at its center, cloaked in white, holding the same medallion Eiji now wore. His eyes burned with a light that was both divine and terrifying.
Lyra stepped back. "That's him, isn't it? The first Oracle."
Eiji didn't answer. His heart was pounding. He could feel the man's emotions as if they were his own — rage, grief, and a strange, cold clarity. The sphere's light expanded, and the sanctum around them vanished.
They stood in the vision. The sky above was burning, the ground cracked open, and towers fell into rivers of fire. Soldiers screamed in the distance. The Oracle raised his hand, and everything went silent.
The medallion glowed in his palm, and with a whisper, the world turned to ash.
Eiji fell to his knees as the vision faded. His chest burned, the medallion pulsing violently. "I… did that?"
Selene knelt beside him. "Not you. Him. But he's part of you. His choices shaped the power you carry."
Kael clenched his fists. "He destroyed his own city. Why?"
The Keeper's voice echoed faintly, though she was no longer there. "Because he believed it was the only way to save the world from something worse."
The light in the sphere dimmed, and the pool of water stilled. In its place appeared a glowing sigil that hovered above Eiji's hand. He felt it sink into his skin, leaving a faint mark that matched the runes on his medallion.
Lyra tilted her head. "Did it just brand you?"
"Not a brand," Selene said softly. "A bond. The third seal recognizes him."
Eiji stood slowly, his breathing unsteady. "If every seal connects to a part of him, then restoring all of them means restoring everything he was… including the part that became the Echo."
Selene nodded gravely. "Yes. That's why the Keeper called it a burden."
Before anyone could speak further, the sanctum shuddered violently. Cracks formed along the crystal pillars, and the mural began to glow.
Kael drew his sword instinctively. "What now?"
From the far wall, a massive statue began to move. Its stone eyes flickered open, burning with red light. The voice that came from it was deep and distorted.
"Unworthy vessel. You awaken what should remain sealed."
Eiji stepped back, shielding his eyes as the statue's body broke free from the wall. The air filled with magic, heavy and choking.
Lyra groaned. "Why does every secret room come with a monster?"
Selene's voice was calm but urgent. "It's a guardian construct. It activates when someone completes the seal. It's meant to test the Oracle's resolve."
Kael took a battle stance. "Then we pass the test the old-fashioned way."
The statue swung its massive arm, scattering debris. Eiji ducked, his instincts screaming. The medallion glowed brighter, reacting to the energy in the air. Without thinking, he raised his hand, and a wave of golden light shot forward, clashing against the construct's attack.
The impact sent a shockwave through the hall. Kael and Lyra joined in, striking from both sides while Selene reinforced them with a barrier of light. The construct roared, its form cracking under the pressure.
Eiji focused the medallion's power, channeling it through his palm. "Please… just stop!"
A burst of pure light engulfed the statue, and when it faded, nothing remained but scattered fragments of stone. The room fell silent again, the hum of the seal fading into calm stillness.
Eiji dropped to his knees, exhausted. Lyra leaned against a pillar, panting. "Okay, next time, let's pick a job that doesn't involve ancient death traps."
Kael sheathed his sword and offered Eiji a hand. "You did well."
Selene looked toward the now-dark sphere. "The third seal is complete. But the cost is growing heavier."
Eiji looked at his hand, where the glowing mark still faintly pulsed. "How many more of these do we have to go?"
Selene's gaze shifted to the mural. "Four more seals remain. And the last one… lies at the heart of the Echo itself."
Eiji nodded slowly, a mix of fear and determination in his eyes. "Then we'd better get ready. The next time we meet my other self, I want to be strong enough to face him."
As they turned to leave, a single fragment of the broken statue glowed briefly before dimming. For a moment, it seemed to whisper in the wind — a sound only the medallion heard.
"He's watching."