The journey to the Whispering Citadel took three days across barren plains. The wind howled constantly, carrying faint voices that made sleep nearly impossible. Even the stars above seemed dimmer here, as if the sky itself feared the ground below.
By the fourth night, the citadel appeared — a fortress of black stone rising from the earth like the spine of some long-dead god. Its towers were twisted, reaching for the clouds but never touching them. Strange runes flickered across its walls, pulsing faintly with a heartbeat-like rhythm.
Eiji stopped at the edge of the valley, staring up at it. "So this is where the sixth seal sleeps."
Selene nodded, her expression tense. "This place wasn't built by men. It was grown — shaped by the echoes of those who once guarded the Flame."
Lyra shivered. "Fantastic. Living architecture. Can't wait to see the bathrooms."
Kael smirked faintly but didn't respond. He was too busy scanning the area, his hand resting on his sword. "Something feels wrong. Like we're being watched."
Eiji felt it too. The mark on his hand tingled faintly, reacting to the air around the citadel. "We should move. Standing still here feels like an invitation."
As they approached the gates, the runes on the walls brightened. The air grew heavy, pressing against their skin. Then, without warning, the gates opened with a deep groan that echoed for miles.
Lyra whispered, "Please tell me that means 'welcome.'"
Selene glanced at her. "More likely 'enter and be unmade.'"
Inside, the citadel was enormous — a maze of shifting corridors and halls filled with ancient statues. The walls whispered softly, fragments of sentences that faded before they could be understood.
Kael frowned. "They're speaking… but not to us."
Selene touched one of the walls, closing her eyes. "They're memories. The stones themselves are remembering."
Eiji turned toward the largest chamber at the center of the hall. "Then the seal must be where those memories converge."
They moved deeper, the whispers growing louder, more frantic. Faces flickered on the walls — shadowy figures pleading, arguing, screaming. Eiji recognized some of them from his visions.
"The first guardians," he said quietly. "The ones who helped build the seals."
Selene nodded grimly. "And who died trying to contain what they created."
At the end of the hall stood a massive circular door, etched with the same golden runes as the canyon seal. The air around it shimmered with power.
Eiji stepped forward, but before he could touch it, a voice echoed from above.
"You shouldn't open that."
They turned. Arin stood on the upper balcony, his cloak trailing behind him like smoke. His golden eyes glowed faintly in the dim light.
Kael's hand went to his sword instantly. "You again."
Arin jumped down lightly, landing without a sound. "I told you this path would cost you. You've already awakened five seals. The balance is cracking."
Eiji took a step forward. "You said the seals divide the Oracle and the Flame. I need to know which one I am."
Arin's gaze softened slightly. "You're both. You always were."
Selene frowned. "Explain."
Arin sighed. "The Oracle believed he could destroy the Hollow Flame. Instead, he absorbed it. His soul split — one side became the Echo, the will to end everything. The other… the heart that wanted to save it. You, Eiji, are that heart. But each seal you break draws you closer to merging again."
Lyra's eyes widened. "So the more he saves the world, the closer he gets to destroying it."
"Exactly," Arin said quietly.
Kael stepped forward, his tone sharp. "Then why help us? Why follow us if you don't want him to finish?"
Arin looked down at the floor. "Because I was there when he made the choice. I helped him build the seals… and I couldn't stop him. Maybe this time, I can."
Eiji studied him. "You were one of the seven?"
Arin hesitated. Then, slowly, he nodded. "The last one left."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Eiji finally spoke. "If what you're saying is true, then there's no point in stopping now. If the Flame wakes, I need to be ready to face it — both sides of me."
Arin's golden eyes met his. "Then you'd better be ready to lose yourself."
He stepped aside, gesturing toward the door. "The sixth seal awaits. I won't stop you. But know this — the moment you open it, the world will feel it. And so will he."
Eiji placed his hand on the door. The mark on his palm blazed with light. The runes flared in response, and the entire citadel trembled.
Lyra shouted, "Eiji! The walls!"
The whispers around them turned to screams. The statues cracked open, releasing streams of shadow that spiraled into the air. The citadel began to collapse from within.
Eiji pressed harder, shouting over the roar. "Almost there!"
A final pulse of light erupted, consuming everything.
When the brightness faded, the citadel was silent again. The door was gone, replaced by a glowing circle on the floor — the sixth seal, shattered.
Eiji staggered back, his breathing ragged. His eyes glowed faintly for a moment before dimming. "It's done."
Selene helped him stand. "What did you see?"
Eiji's voice was quiet. "Not a memory this time. A warning. He's awake."
Lyra frowned. "Who?"
Eiji looked toward the horizon, where dark clouds began to gather. "The Echo. He's coming."
Arin's face was unreadable. "Then there's no more time."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword. "So what now?"
Arin met Eiji's eyes. "The last seal lies where it all began — the city you burned a thousand years ago."
Eiji's chest tightened. "The city of Dawnfire."
The wind howled through the ruins of the citadel, carrying a faint whisper that almost sounded like laughter.