The throne groaned back to life, the stone beneath it grumbling as if it had awoken from some deep slumber. Thalyn’s eyes fluttered open, but she remained still, staring at the glyphs pulsing faintly before her, their light a reflection of the ancient power humming beneath.
Korr stood at a table littered with relics of the Elders, his hands moving with precision, the dim light sculpting the lines of his face. He turned an artifact over, his fingers tracing runes worn by time. The air buzzed with the thrum of machinery, low and steady, like a heartbeat echoing in the chamber.
Thalyn inhaled sharply, the last taste of the memory still heavy on her mind. She rose and staggered a step, finding her balance, her gaze drifted to Elara who peered out at the world beyond the window her brow furrowed, her fingers tapping a rhythm against her thigh.
Outside, commander Hurst stood like a sentinel, mask hissing with his breath. His grip tight on the rifle, eyes scanning the treeline, the mist-choked plateau, the cliffs clawing at the sky. Something moved in the underbrush, drawing his eye.
The rifle barked, a sharp report. A group of Nether beasts staggered into view, twisted forms with glowing eyes. They snarled but held, wary of the ruins. Hurst waited, steady, until they retreated into the dark, then holstered the rifle with a grunt of satisfaction.
He stepped back into the chamber, eyes cutting to Thalyn. “Ka’el, you back with us?” His voice rumbled through the mask.
Thalyn nodded, slow. “Yes, commander. But it’s... strange.” She said. “When I’m there… I don’t remember myself. I become him.”
Hurst pulled off his mask, eyes narrowing. “Interesting, what did you see this time?”
Thalyn’s gaze unfocused, recalling vivid memories. “I found a plasma rifle, half-buried beneath a broken droid. The city was a labyrinth—turrets malfunctioning, spitting fire without aim. And the beasts…” Her voice caught, the memory clawing at her throat. “They were relentless. The air, it was like breathing dust and ash.”
Elara's head tilted, an eyebrow arched. “You fought them? With the rifle?”
Thalyn’s hand touched her side, where the rifle had hung. “I did. It kept them at bay, but it was low on charge.” A pause. “Still… gave me confidence.”
Elara’s fingers twitched to hold a plasma rifle, a hunger in her eyes. “But Thalyn, how long were you there?”
Thalyn hesitated. “From midday to twilight. Maybe longer. The sun was dipping when I emerged.”
Korr froze, a piece of tech half-raised in his hand. He looked up sharply. “Midday to twilight?” His voice carried an edge. “That’s not right. You weren’t gone that long.”
Thalyn’s brow furrowed, her gaze narrowing. “No… it was long.” Her voice carried a strained edge. “Almost a whole day.”
Silence settled like a heavy fog. Korr’s lips moved, a muttered string of words lost to himself.
“We need to keep going,” Thalyn said, breaking the quiet. “There’s more to uncover. I have to go back.”
Jaxon’s jaw clenched, but he nodded. “Careful, Ka’el. We don’t know what it’s doing to you.”
Thalyn gave him a tight smile. “I know.” She turned to the throne, feeling its cold grip even before she sat, her fingers brushing the crown’s edges.
As she placed it on her head, the chamber began to slip away. The hum of the machines softened to a distant murmur, the lights bending and twisting. Her senses blurred, the air thickening with the onset of another life.
A whisper brushed against her thoughts. “Ready for more, Thalyn?” The voice carried a weight beyond the tease.
“Yes,” Thalyn whispered back, her resolve firm. “I’m ready.”
And then, everything vanished, replaced by another world, another life blended with hers.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wK7t0fukD
