The Last Echo Of Eternity

s he and Philip walked in silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them. The city, which once felt like a place of mystery and aw

he crystal. The voice that spoke to him from the dark. There was no denying it now- he

handle this? How was he supposed to protect them all when the fate

ould sense the storm brewing inside Toby's mind. "You're thin

words was still fresh, haunting him like a ghost. "I don't know how to stop it, Philip," he muttered,

surance from his usually stoic companion. "None of us do, Toby. Bu

e can figure out. The city-it's alive, Philip. The crystal is... the key. And it's not just Nox we're up against. There's so

se-something deeper, more understanding. He kept walking, his foots

he figure from his vision-the shifting shadows, the voice that had told him he was the key to awakening the city. He felt

id after a moment, his tone calm but firm. "Maybe there's someth

dread gnawed at the pit of his

Start with what you know. There's a place beneath the city-the archives. They're said to be full of know

e-a library of forgotten knowledge, locked away for centuries, buried deep beneath the city's surface. M

id, his voice dete

f distant voices mingling with the rustle of the wind. The city, it seemed, was alive in a way that Toby couldn't quite

ient, covered in ivy and worn with age. A single, flickering torch illuminated the path ahead, casting

ew. The air grew damp, and the walls seemed to close in around them as they walked deeper into the darkne

ietly, his voice barely a whisper. "T

e deeper they went, the more it felt like the city itsel

surface engraved with intricate symbols that Toby couldn't decipher. The faint glow of th

ushing lightly over the symbols. "This

nknown loomed before them, a place where

what we're looking

thick with dust, and the faint scent of old paper and ink lingered. The room was vast, with towering shelves filled with ancient scrolls and tome

t of recognitio

hat had called to him. His heart raced in his chest as h

owing louder with each passing second. The crystal pulsed with energy, its light fli

arp jolt of energy coursed through him

me there was no void. No emptiness. There was only light-a brillia

rough the li

yours, Toby. Th

ift, the light pulsing in rhythm with his own heartbeat. A feeling of

much. He

ht blin

he crystal. The room was silent again, and the cold had d

hrough the silence. "T

"I... I don't know what just happened. B

d. "Real? Wha

n. He felt a shift in the air-a presence, cold and

here," Toby

ps echoed in the dis

look to know they

rm was

to run, to escape, but there was nowhere to go. The entrance to the archives had closed behind them, the door sealing itself s

s eyes scanned the shadows, his fingers subtly brushing the hilt of the dagger at his si

that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The hum that had filled the room earlier was now a distant whisper in h

s came to an

r eyes glowed- an unnatural, otherworldly gleam that seemed to pierce through the dim light of the room. To

sement, one that made Toby's stomach twist with unease. The being's v

said. "The boy who thi

e was something painfully familiar about it. Something in the voice, in the way it spoke, that made his bloo

s voice a silky rasp. "It is always the same, isn't it? The fools

oser to Philip. "Who are you?" he demanded, hi

w. I am... a keeper of sorts. A steward of the city's ancient power. And as for what I want?" It paused, its eyes narrowing, the smile widening in

sh it," he said, the words a whisper of r

to free it. Free the city from the chains that bind it. Free the power that lies beneath i

ve what he was hearing. "That's madnes

othing but a fleeting illusion. The power of the crystal, the energy within it, is the true force of this world. The rest of this-" It gestured around the ro

subtle squeeze. "Don't listen to it," he whisp

g felt like a web of lies and truths interwoven, with him at the center, unable to see t

n't run from your fate. The city is awakening. The time is now

igure's gaze snapped toward the source of the noise, its eyes flashing with ann

rush the air around them. This one was human, though their presence felt anything but. A long cloak trailed

s narrowing in suspicion. "What

ir voice low and menacing. "I would

ognition. The voice, the p

by began, but his word

hand falling to the hilt of

hood, revealing the face of someone

as K

tory light, and his usual warmth was gone, replaced by something darker, more dan

tep back, his heart hammer

nto a thin smile. "Surp

e didn't rea

ed, his tone cold. "I'm here to make

anger. "You think you can stop me? You are not

dening as he slowly raised his hand. "You shou

rly knocked Toby off his feet. A force collided with the figure, sending it crash

was. Whatever had taken hold of him was powerful, and it was clear now that the choices

, his voice tight with barely con