The group advanced through the undergrowth, leaving the battle with the Order of the Eternal Night behind. Azrael's presence still weighed heavily on them, as if his shadow followed them even as they fled. No one spoke, for words seemed fragile in the face of the echo of the oblivion they had faced.
Kael, breathing heavily, checked his device. "We're getting close to the shelter. If the coordinates are correct, it should be ahead."
"I won't let my guard down," Helena replied, wiping the blood off her metal spear. "Azrael didn't come alone. The Order might follow us."
Isabella looked at Akihiko with concern. "Ever since the attack, you've been strangely quiet. Do you feel anything?"
Akihiko frowned, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his katana. "It's not something I can explain with certainty, but... it's as if an echo lingers in my mind. I can't shake the feeling that something is watching us, even now."
Thalos nodded, his expression grave. "It's a vestige of Azrael's power. His influence doesn't disappear immediately. It leaves a mark on the mind, a shadow in the memory." He paused, then added, "If so, we need to strengthen our perception before he tries to attack us again."
The Lost Refuge
Finally, they reached an ancient structure hidden deep within the forest. The ruins of the shelter appeared to have been devoured by nature, with vines covering the stone walls and the partially collapsed entrance. There were no obvious signs of recent activity, but the energy emanating from the place was unsettling.
Aria reached out, feeling the air. "This place... there's something here, something that's been dormant for a long time."
Kael scanned the area. "There's no sign of active traps, but the structure seems to be swaying. Let's not make any sudden movements."
The group entered cautiously. The darkness was thick, but they soon noticed inscriptions on the walls, similar to those they had seen in the previous enclave. However, these were incomplete, as if someone had tried to erase them.
"Someone tried to hide this information," Isabella said, running her hand over the damaged inscriptions. "Perhaps because something too dangerous was kept here."
Thalos looked toward the center of the room. There was a dust-covered pedestal, holding an object that looked like a fragment of black stone. He approached cautiously and took it in his hands.
"This is no ordinary artifact..." he murmured. "It's a fragment of an ancient seal. If the Order was trying to protect or destroy it, it means its contents are vital."
The Awakening of Lost Memory
The moment Thalos touched the fragment, a vibration rippled through the room and an ethereal cry echoed in the air. The temperature dropped sharply, and a shadow materialized before them. It was no ordinary specter, but an entity trapped in the flow of time.
His eyes shone with a spectral blue, and when he spoke, his voice was like an echo of a thousand mingled voices.
"You... aren't the first to come here. But you'll be the last if you don't listen."
Akihiko drew his katana, but the figure showed no intention of attacking. Instead, he raised a hand, and the room lit up with a series of floating images, fragments of lost memories. Among them, a dark-haired person with a stern gaze could be distinguished. His presence commanded respect, but also something else... Fear?
"That person..." Isabella whispered. "Is it... The Key?"
The entity nodded. "The fate of everything you know revolves around it. But it's no longer where you think it is. It's been hidden, shrouded in a veil of forgetfulness. And you... you have drawn the attention of those who wish to erase your existence forever."
Kael swallowed. "You mean Azrael?"
"Not just him," the entity replied gravely. "There are others who watch in the shadows. And now that they've touched this fragment, they've seen them as well."
The room began to shake, and the shadow vanished in a whisper. "Find the truth before it's too late."
The Enemy is Approaching
Before they could fully process the warning, a loud crash shook the shelter entrance. Whispered voices filled the air, and the darkness began to move as if of its own volition.
Helena prepared for combat. "We're not alone."
Akihiko gritted his teeth. "Then let's end this quickly. I'm not going to let them erase us from history."
Outside, in the thick forest, hooded figures bearing the symbols of the Order of the Eternal Night loomed. And among them, a motionless silhouette, whose mere presence made the air tremble.
Azrael had returned.
"The echoes of memory have been disturbed," his voice echoed in their minds, devoid of emotion. "You do not belong in this world of memories. Soon... no one will remember you."
The battle for the secret of The Key was about to begin.