The Emberfang pulsed again that night.
Lucian couldn't sleep the sword kept humming in his hand, glowing faintly. Rhen said it was reacting to the Vault's energy growing stronger. But Lucian knew what it really meant. She was close.
At dawn, Kia and Jace went scouting for food near a riverbed while Rhen stayed behind to update old maps.
Lucian walked alone down the stone path lined with glowing roots, deeper into the forest ruins. And that's when he heard it.
A soft footstep. A shift of air. He spun with his sword raised.
And there she was. Marinette! They stared at each other. No weapons. No movement. Just silence. Lucian's voice was low. "You're following us again."
"I came alone," Marinette said.
"And?" he replied, staring at her with a sharp gaze. Her eyes burned. "To warn you." Lucian hesitated. "Why would I trust you now?"
"You shouldn't," she whispered. "But you need to hear this."
Marinette told him everything.
How the Shochers were closing in. How Director Veyne had already found a way to force the Vault open but needed Lucian's blood to do it.
"They're using artificial siphons now," she said. "Clones. Failed ones. They'll keep trying until they make something that works."
Lucian felt sick. "They don't need you," Marinette said. "They just need what's inside you."
Lucian stepped closer. "Why are you helping me?" she looked away. "Because I didn't sign up for genocide. And because…"
She didn't finishand he didn't ask.
At the camp, Kia and Jace returned to find Marinette sitting by the fire. Jace immediately grabbed his knife. "What the hell is she doing here?"
Lucian stood between them. "She's not our enemy right now."
"Are you kidding me? She nearly killed Kia!"
"She also just gave us everything we need to stay ahead of the Shochers," Lucian said. "And she came alone."
"She could be lying"
"She's not," Lucian snapped. "I'd know."
Jace stepped back, eyes cold. "You're getting too close." Lucian didn't answer.
But Kia did. "Let her stay." Everyone turned.
Kia shrugged. "If she tries anything, I'll deal with her." There was something steely in his tone that hadn't been there before.
That night, Lucian sat beside Marinette under the stars.
He glanced at her. "Why didn't you kill me that night? When you had the chance."
She looked at him. "I think you already know."
Lucian didn't speak for a while. Then he asked "do you regret choosing them?" Marinette's voice cracked. "Every day."
The next morning, Rhen gathered the group.
"I found something in the map room," she said. "There's a second access point to the Vault. Not through the main Shocher gates but underground, through the old Solvahr tomb."
"Tomb?" Jace raised an eyebrow.
Lucian nodded. " I heard that my ancestors. We used to bury our dead in hidden catacombs beneath the river caves."
"That's where the Shochers are headed now," Rhen said grimly. "If they get there first, they'll breach it from the bottom."
"We need to move."
Marinette stood up. "I can lead you through the shortcut. I remember the path." Jace scoffed. "Of course you do."
But Lucian nodded. "We leave in an hour."
The shortcut was brutal. Steep cliffs. Slippery ledges. Ancient sensors that sparked when you stepped too loud.
They crossed a broken bridge using only ropes and an old hoverboard Kia reprogrammed from a damaged Shocher drone.
Halfway through the tunnel system, they reached a wall of cracked symbols.
Lucian touched the Emberfang to the stone and it opened.
Behind it was a chamber of light.
The chamber was circular, made entirely of blackglass and golden stone. In the center stood a pedestal.
Lucian stepped forward the Emberfang glowing hotter. He placed it on the pedestal.
A soft click then a sound like breathing.
The room shifted and then a soft, female voice that's familiar somehow.
"Lucian... my son." It was a memory. A hologram triggered by the blade
A woman appears her features were glowing.
Sira. Lucian's mother. She spoke calmly, but her voice trembled.
"If you're seeing this, then the seal has weakened. The Vault is close to waking. And you... you have grown."
Lucian didn't move.
"I always knew you'd be the one to finish what we started. But you must never open the Vault willingly. Not even to stop the Shochers. If you do…"
Her voice wavered. "You'll become the next vessel." Lucian's breath caught. Then the message flickered out.And silence sipped through the hall.
Rhen whispered, "She knew. All along." Kia looked at Lucian. "What does she mean? Vessel?" Lucian's voice was hollow. "If the Vault opens with my blood… I don't just unleash Vel'Kar."
"I become him."
Outside, they heard footsteps. Not one, not two but an army. Jace ran to the entrance. "They're here."
Shochers,At least thirty. Climbing down from the cliffs. Kia pulled Marinette aside. "You said they couldn't trace us." "They couldn't. I swear."
"Then someone led them here." Everyone turned.Their eyes landed on Rhen.
She stepped back. "No. No, I didn't" But Jace pointed to her pack. "What's that blinking light?" Lucian rushed forward and pulled out a small chip. A Shocher tag. Active. Rhen looked stunned. "I didn't put that there"
"Then who did?" Jace growled. But Marinette's face had already gone pale. "…Veyne," she whispered. "He used me. Tracked my biometrics the second I left. That wasn't a compass… it was a beacon." Lucian's stomach dropped. "We have to run," Kia said. Lucian shook his head. "No. We finish this."
They barricaded the entrance with stone and flame. Jace using his shield grid, Kia boosting it with tech pulses.
Marinette pulled out two short blades. Rhen stood silently beside Lucian. "I believe you," he told her quietly. She looked up, eyes Then ,the Shochers arrived.
The fight was chaotic flash charges ,smoke bombs, energy fire through the stone.
Lucian moved like the Emberfang had become part of him slicing through attackers with terrifying precision.
Jace shielded Kia from a blast, then took out a soldier with a shock baton.
Rhen threw herself into the fray, defending the inner corridor.
But then a flashbang was heard. Lucian turned but it was too late.
Marinette had disappeared.