The Crownless camp was in chaos.
The moment Kairo uttered her name—Rena—the wind shifted.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
Every lantern flickered with red flame. The ashes rose from the ground like smoke in reverse. And all across Lucentia, those attuned to the Echoes heard the same note.
A low, haunting violin chord that sounded like a love song played at a funeral.
---
Kairo stood beneath the throne of masks.
His hands still trembled from the Echo surge. Visions of burning cities and a red-haired girl wrapped in white kept flashing before his eyes.
> "I saw her," he muttered.
> "Describe her," Ayleth said.
> "Red hair. White bow. Wears a smile like it's armor."
Ayleth stiffened.
> "That's her," she whispered. "The one who doomed the First Crown."
> "Rena?"
> "No." She turned. "Velvara. The Crimson Bride."
---
SCENE SHIFT – HOLLOW CHOIR
In a floating cathedral stitched together by chains and bone, dozens of robed figures sang a hymn of rebirth.
And in the center…
A girl danced barefoot across shattered glass.
Long crimson hair. Pale skin. Violin in one hand. No shadow beneath her feet.
Every step she took made the glass bleed.
She wasn't human.
Not anymore.
> "He remembers," she said, eyes glowing behind stitched eyelids.
> "He's alive."
"And this time… I won't let them have him."
Her voice echoed louder than the Choir's song.
And the glass floor beneath her cracked into a heart shape.
---
SCENE SHIFT – OBSIDIAN ORDER
Meanwhile, within the depths of a canyon that knew no light, the assassins of the Obsidian Order stirred.
One in particular—Zayne Arkveil—read the updated scroll with a crooked grin.
> "Mirrorblade survived," he said.
> "And he remembered her?"
He licked the edge of his blade.
> "Then it begins again. Just like last time."
---
BACK TO KAIRO
He stared at his reflection in a pool of Echo-water.
> His eyes glowed faintly red.
His aura, once flickering and raw, now pulsed with stability.
And behind him, the First Echo—Tyrant Kairo—stood with arms crossed.
> "She's your trigger," the Tyrant said.
"Your sin, your power, your downfall."
> "I loved her," Kairo said.
> "She loved you too."
"That's why she became the Violin Heart."
---
Gix, arms folded behind her head, looked over.
> "Alright, lovebirds. If you're done staring into your trauma like it's a pretty sunset, we've got a problem."
> "What now?"
> "Your memory flare woke up a lot more than Velvara. You've just been invited to the Summit of Six."
> "The what?"
> "All six factions want to meet you… in neutral territory."
> "And if I don't go?"
> "Then they'll come to you."
"With armies."
---
> "Quest Activated: The Summit of Six"
"Faction Leaders Will Arrive in 3 Days"
"Rena (Velvara) has started her journey to meet you"
"New Companion Available: Lyria Fenvale – Add to Party?"
---
As Kairo turned away from the throne, a girl leaned against the archway.
Red eyes. A dagger between her teeth. Black dress cut above the thigh.
She smiled like chaos itself.
> "Heard you're gathering waifus."
> "Name's Lyria Fenvale. Hunger Brand."
"I bite when I'm bored."
> "So…" She licked her lips.
> "Wanna make this interesting?"