Chapter 15 - Echo XII — Resonance and Fragments

Kael, caught off guard, suddenly realized he had gone too far...…and that his actions had consequences.He froze.His heart pounded harder.The energy swirling around him vibrated in the air.The danger was no longer a threat.It was a warning. Immediate. Tangible.He tried to steady himself, to regulate the inner flow.But one question lingered.The same one since the beginning:— How am I supposed to find the living being who carries a fragment of your memories, then?A whisper. Almost to himself.Even before she replied, the entity let out a genuine laugh.A soft, amused sound, tinged with irony.Kael, surprised, didn't understand.His question seemed absurd to her.But she kept laughing.— Why are you laughing?What did I say that was funny?Kael frowned.Irritated.Frustrated.Misunderstood.He flicked his fingers toward the empty space in front of him.Where he imagined she hovered.A reflex more than a gesture — not meant in anger.She paused for a moment.Then, with a gentler burst of laughter, she answered:— You don't need to search anymore.Kael straightened suddenly.His eyes narrowed.— What do you mean, I don't have to search? Are you giving up? Did I go through all this for nothing?She laughed louder.A comforting, radiant laugh.— No… you… absorb… also… in… you… so… no… need… search… now… hihi…Kael blinked.His mind hesitated.But the truth hit him.He had absorbed it.By mistake.By accident.And with it……the memories.A long silence followed.Then, a flash.— …Living… thing… family… me… not… hurt… it… please…Those words… he'd heard them.Before.He bowed.Slightly.Sincerely.— Did I hurt your family?His throat tightened.Worry rising.A strange devotion.He understood what it meant.The loss.The pain.She replied gently.A warm hand brushed his cheek.— No… you… not… worry…just… absorb… not… hurt…now… it… obey… you… in… future…but… that… speak… later…because… world… here… becoming… unstable…because… time… outside… not… move…She paused.Then added:— And… Kael… is… also… family… me.The words sank into Kael.A familiar warmth.Deep.Unexplainable.He looked away.The emotion was there.Fleeting.But she had seen it.She had noticed the flicker in his gaze.A soft laugh.Almost silent.Then, she took a deep breath.Her voice grew more serious.— Listen…Three… things…Know… before… leave… here…Very… important…Kael listened.Each word seemed suspended in the air.— First… you… have… Three… Flames… in… you…Each… has… purpose…She let the silence linger.Then continued:— Flame… stomach… acts… as… filter… and… converter…You… already… experienced… with… absorption…Another silence.Kael furrowed his brow.— Next… Flame… near… heart…to… circulate… energy… through… body…Purifier… too… if… corruption… inside… you…And finally:— Last… Flame… important!It… in… head…allows… sharing… energy…between… you… and… me…She waited.Let the words settle in.Then:— Now… you… begin…Take… small… masses… of… energy… from… vessel…then… try… circulate… through… body…to… Flame… head…Modify… speed… and… density…with… Flame… heart…Pause.— When… Kael… succeed… that…Then… can… send… memory…like… energies… stored… in… vessel…The words etched themselves into space.The world seemed to hold its breath.Kael closed his eyes.He focused.A pain…A fine burn in his veins.But nothing compared to the Trial.He felt her help.A gentle, light hand on his cheek.She was guiding.The energy coursed through his body.Dense.Its weight grew.The pressure rose.He held on.But…The energy wasn't rising to his head.It stopped in his bones.Absorbed.A silence.She spoke again, softly:— Kael… not… worry… me… help…— New… skeleton… storage… energy…me… help…You… move… energy… from… skeleton… to… Flame… head…— Kael… trust… me…because… family…He nodded.Closed his eyes.Let himself be guided.A lightening.A transfer.The pain faded.And suddenly…A condensation of energy.A black star.Glowing with a dull brilliance.It appeared.Before him.Small.Almost childlike.Pale whiteness.White hair, darkened at the tips.Her eyes: two abysses.Each adorned with an ouroboros.Kael nearly lost himself in them.A shiver.She spoke.Clear.Fluent.— Kael, thank you.I finally remember my name…and it's thanks to you.He fell to his knees.Under the weight of the moment.She reached out.Held him.Tenderly.Like a mother.He whispered:— Thank you.She loosened the embrace slightly.A gentle gaze.— My name is Thanatos…but you…you may call me Thana.