Chapter 27: Echoes of the Forgotten City
Scene One: Whispers in the Dust
The air shimmered as Rayan stepped through the dimension gate. The familiar pull of disorientation washed over him, but this time it was different—smoother, almost welcoming. When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing atop a crumbling stone platform, suspended above what looked like the ruins of an ancient city buried in golden sand.
The sky above was a dim blend of violet and amber, with twin suns low on the horizon. A soft wind stirred the dust around him, carrying faint echoes—whispers that seemed almost human.
"Another forgotten world," Rayan murmured, brushing sand off his coat.
But the city below was more than just ruins. Towers of fractured glass and twisted steel pierced through the sand, and somewhere in the distance, a bell chimed faintly.
He descended from the platform, each step releasing soft puffs of sand. As he moved through what once must have been a grand avenue, murals carved into walls seemed to come alive with light, glowing briefly before fading again.
Then he saw it—etched into the largest wall: a mural of himself, cloak billowing, eyes glowing.
"What the…?" Rayan stepped closer. "I've never been here before. How do they know me?"
Behind him, the wind whispered louder. Something was watching.
Scene Two: The Jester and the Locked Door
While searching through what appeared to be an old marketplace, Rayan found an odd companion: a tiny automaton shaped like a jester. Its brass body was dented, but its emerald eyes glowed with life. It spun around and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, O Confused Traveler! You look lost, and slightly dusty," the jester chirped, its voice cheerful.
Rayan blinked. "What are you?"
"I am Jinko, Keeper of Keys and Occasional Joke Teller."
"Keys?" Rayan asked, intrigued.
The jester's chest popped open, revealing a mess of glowing keys and one very suspicious rubber duck.
"Don't ask about the duck," Jinko said with a wink.
Despite his confusion, Rayan couldn't help but smirk. "Fine. Can you help me get into that tower?"
Jinko clicked dramatically. "Ah, the Tower of Eclipsed Memory! Many have tried, all have failed… and also tripped on the third step."
"Third step?"
Jinko nodded solemnly. "Very slippery. We don't talk about it."
Together, they approached the massive door of the tower. It pulsed with a strange energy. Above it, a symbol glowed: an infinity spiral wrapping around a single eye.
The jester pulled out a shimmering key. "This might open it… or summon a swarm of ghost bees. Fifty-fifty chance."
Rayan hesitated. "You're joking, right?"
"Only slightly."
The key slid in—and the door creaked open.
Scene Three: Shadows That Remember
Inside, the tower was hollow and dark. No stairs, no rooms—just a cylindrical void stretching infinitely upward. And floating in the middle was a massive orb of light, around which ghostly figures circled in silence.
Jinko floated up beside him. "These are Echo-Watchers. They guard memories that were erased."
Rayan frowned. "Why would memories be guarded?"
"Because some truths are too dangerous to remember."
Suddenly, the orb pulsed, and a beam of light shot down, enveloping Rayan.
He saw flashes—visions of himself fighting in wars he never remembered, standing atop burning cities, whispering ancient words that tore the sky open.
Then… he saw her.
A woman with silver hair and piercing eyes. She placed a glowing crystal in his hands.
"You must never forget who you are," she said. "Not again."
The vision faded. Rayan fell to his knees, breathless.
"What was that…?"
Jinko floated down beside him, unusually quiet. "The truth is beginning to surface."
Rayan stood, fists clenched. "I need to know everything. No more secrets."
Before Jinko could respond, a massive crack echoed through the tower. From the orb above, a fissure spread—and something started to descend from the rift: a shadowy figure cloaked in broken light.
Jinko screamed, "Oh no. That's not supposed to wake up yet!"
Rayan's eyes narrowed. "Then we wake it up properly."
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[End of Chapter 27]