As Kenichi took hold of the first fragment, the stone path beneath his feet shifted. The very floor rippled like disturbed water, reshaping into something new. The dim, stony corridor of the Hall of Echoes dissolved, replaced by a bright, ethereal trail of light and moss-covered stones. Trees began to rise in the distance, and the scent of damp earth filled the air.
A radiant portal formed ahead, its frame woven from threads of silver and light. Beyond it, a swirling veil of mist.
Kenichi stared, breath caught in his throat. It was beautiful, serene—but he knew better than to trust appearances here.
Still, he stepped forward. But just as he was about to enter, doubt clutched his chest.
Even after facing his past, part of him still screamed in regret. His sister… the only person who had seen him, understood him. Loved him. That pain hadn't left. It merely slept beneath the surface.
Then, the voice returned. Calm. Deep. Resonant.
"Your past was a stone in the path you must walk. Step forward—and do not look back."
It felt like the stars themselves were speaking.
Kenichi glanced up into the misty sky. "Who are you? Why won't you show yourself? Are you with the white entity?"
No reply.
But he understood something now. This journey wasn't about receiving answers. It was about choosing to walk despite not having them.
He nodded to himself and stepped into the portal.
Mist consumed him.
The world on the other side was blanketed in fog. Towering trees surrounded him, their trunks wide as boulders, their leaves hidden in the mist above. The light was soft, diffused through the white shroud.
Kenichi walked slowly, each step cautious. The ground was soft and damp. Shadows shifted in the haze, but never came close.
Then, footsteps behind him.
He turned. Nothing.
Except—a small figure. A little girl, barely visible through the mist. She looked familiar, her presence oddly comforting and strange all at once.
Kenichi furrowed his brows. "You… again?"
She said nothing, just followed.
He wanted to question her, but something told him this wasn't the time.
As he moved deeper into the forest, the mist grew thicker. Time blurred. How long had he been walking?
Fatigued, Kenichi sat at the base of a massive tree. Silence engulfed the woods.
Then—a sharp gust of wind.
It roared through the forest like a blade. Trees trembled. The mist tore open.
A powerful slash cut across the clearing, splitting trees as if they were paper.
Kenichi's eyes widened. If he hadn't sat down, it would have cut straight through him.
The girl stood a few steps behind, completely unfazed.
Something stirred in the mist.
A creature emerged—vague, tall, and twitching. Made of fog and bone, its eyes glowed an eerie green. It stepped slowly, its form shifting, impossible to focus on fully.
Kenichi stood up, fists clenched. He could feel something in the air—an instinct beyond logic. He wasn't just supposed to fight—he had to learn.
As the creature lunged, Kenichi dodged, barely avoiding the swipe of a long, smoky limb.
The girl finally spoke.
"They do not attack weakness. Only doubt."
Kenichi's heart pounded. The creature circled. His mind flashed back to his sister, to the fire, to the guilt.
Doubt.
Another strike.
He rolled, landed hard, and groaned. But something within him began to shift. Resolve.
"I know what I've lost!" he shouted, staring at the creature. "But I'm still here!"
He focused. Trusted his instincts. Waited.
The creature struck again—predictable now. Kenichi ducked and countered with a focused punch that hit its core. The creature screamed as its form unraveled into the mist.
Silence.
The forest stilled.
Kenichi breathed heavily, looking down at his scraped hands.
The mist parted slowly, revealing a patch of clear light.
The girl stepped forward.
"You're stronger now… aren't you?"
Kenichi turned toward her, frustration mixed with confusion. "That doesn't matter. Just tell me who you are. Why were you following me?"
She smiled softly, her expression unreadable.
"Just another echo."
And like the fog itself, she vanished.
Kenichi stood alone in the clearin
g, a strange calm settling over him.
He had survived the Forest of Mist—but the echoes still followed.