Shattered Echoes

The forest seemed quieter after the temple crumbled into nothingness, as though it, too, had let out a breath it had been holding. Lucas felt the silence settle in his chest, a strange mix of satisfaction and unease. They had emerged from the temple victorious, but Althea's words weighed heavily on his mind. The path ahead would not be any easier, and there was no map, no clearly defined goal. Only the unknown.

They walked in silence for a while, the forest around them dense with the sounds of nature—the rustling of leaves, the distant calls of unseen birds, the crunch of their footsteps over the underbrush. Lucas glanced over at Althea, her face serene, her gaze fixed ahead. She seemed unaffected by the exhaustion that weighed down on his body, the fatigue that had built over what felt like days of trials and near-death experiences.

Eventually, she slowed, turning toward Lucas. “We stop here,” she said, her voice gentle, yet carrying a note of finality that made Lucas’s heart sink.

He frowned, looking around. They had come to a clearing, the trees framing a circle of sunlight that spilled across the mossy ground. He could sense something about this place—something significant.

“What's next?” he asked, his voice uncertain. “Another trial?”

Althea shook her head, her gaze softening. “No more trials, Lucas. Not for now. You’ve proven yourself capable, but there is still much more to learn—much more to understand about the Echo and about yourself.”

Lucas let out a breath, half relieved and half frustrated. “So, what do I do now? Wait for someone to tell me what to do next?”

Althea smiled faintly. “The next part of your journey will not involve me. The Echo has seen something in you, Lucas, but now, you must go forth and prove that worth in the real world.” She reached into her robes, pulling out a small pouch. She handed it to Lucas, who took it with a frown. It was light in his hand, the fabric worn but sturdy.

“Supplies,” Althea said, nodding at his questioning expression. “Basic things to get you started. Food, a few herbs, some coins for barter. The world beyond the forest is vast, and it won't be easy. But you've already proven your strength, and I trust that you'll find your path.”

Lucas looked down at the pouch, then back up at her. “So that’s it? I just… go?”

“Yes. The next trial is about survival, Lucas. It’s about discovering who you are when you’re out there, without guidance. This Echo has its own ways of knowing when someone is ready, and you must trust that the time will come when you’ve proven yourself.”

Lucas felt a mixture of frustration and anxiety bubbling within him. “How am I supposed to prove anything if I don’t even know what the Echo wants?”

Althea stepped closer, her gaze meeting his with an intensity that surprised him. “The Echo wants you to live, Lucas. To truly live. Not just survive day to day, but to find purpose, to understand yourself, and to see what you’re capable of when no one is watching, when no trial is set before you.”

Lucas swallowed, the weight of her words settling over him. It was daunting—being left to his own devices in a world he barely understood. But at the same time, there was a glimmer of something else. Freedom, perhaps. The chance to discover himself beyond the trials, beyond the expectations of others.

Althea reached out, placing her hand gently on his shoulder. “You will face danger. The world is not kind to those who wield Echoes, especially when their powers remain untamed. But remember what you have learned here. Remember the connection you felt. And remember that you are not alone, even when it feels like you are.”

Lucas looked down, his hand moving unconsciously to the shard in his pack. It felt warm, reassuring. He took a deep breath, nodding. “Alright,” he said, his voice steadying. “I guess this is where we say goodbye.”

“For now,” Althea said with a small smile. “Our paths may cross again, Lucas. But until then, trust in yourself, and trust in the Echo.”

She stepped back, her hands folding into the wide sleeves of her robe. Lucas hesitated, the words caught in his throat. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind—gratitude, fear, questions he wasn't sure he wanted answers to. Part of him felt the weight of everything he had learned, and yet, he was stepping into a future that was entirely unknown. What if he failed? What if he wasn’t ready? He wasn't sure he had all the answers, but he had come this far—survived this much. And if he turned back now, he'd never forgive himself. He nodded, the motion slow and deliberate, and then turned towards the edge of the clearing. He could see the forest path stretching ahead, winding its way out of the trees and into the unknown beyond.

He took a step forward, then another, the weight of the pouch in his hand feeling oddly grounding. He walked slowly, each footfall carrying him farther from the safety of the forest, farther from Althea and all that had transpired between them. He didn’t know where he was going, but he knew he had to keep moving.

When he reached the edge of the clearing, something made him stop. He turned, looking back, expecting to see Althea still standing there, watching him. But what he saw made him freeze. The forest was gone. The trees, the underbrush, the clearing—all of it had disappeared, replaced by a vast expanse of plains that stretched endlessly beneath the blue sky. There was no sign of the clearing, no sign of the path he had walked moments before.

Lucas’s breath caught, and he felt the shard pulse gently in his pack, as if it, too, acknowledged the change. He blinked, his mind struggling to grasp what he was seeing. The realization washed over him like a wave—the forest, the trials—had any of it even been real? It was all so perfectly arranged, almost as if it had been constructed to test him. But for what purpose? And where was he now?

A strange mix of emotions flooded through him—awe, confusion, and something like hope. He looked out over the plains, the wind brushing against his face, and he smiled. Whatever came next, he was ready to face it.

He turned, the plains before him open and waiting, and Lucas Reed began to walk. Into the unknown, into whatever lay beyond, the shard warm against his side, and the promise of something greater guiding his steps.

"Well, dropped into the middle of nowhere with no map, no clue, and absolutely zero idea of what to do next. Maybe I'll end up saving the world, or maybe I'll just be the guy who tells a half-decent story over a questionable drink. That is, if this place even has something close to alcohol... fingers crossed."