Echoes Of The Hidden Gate

Kieran's vision of Elara haunted him. Though unclear, it was enough to reignite his determination. He had spent weeks in grief, blaming himself for losing her, but now, there was a glimmer of hope—Elara wasn't completely gone.

As the three sat in Kieran's dimly lit room, Rebel crossed his arms, skepticism evident on his face. "Kieran, I want to believe you, but you've been through a lot. What if this is just your mind playing tricks on you?"

Andrea shot him a glare. "Rebel, we can't ignore this. You saw what happened—Natuka is in danger. If there's even the slightest chance that Elara is alive, we owe it to her to try."

Kieran exhaled, rubbing his temples. "I know what I saw. The vision was blurry, but she was there. And there was something else—something wrong with Natuka."

Andrea leaned forward. "Then we need to figure out what's happening in Natuka. If it's connected to Elara, we might find a way to bring her back."

Rebel hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But we need a plan. We can't just march into Natuka blindly."

Kieran nodded. "I know where we need to start. The place where I last heard Elara's voice-the portal"

The morning sun barely pierced through the thick clouds as they approached the hidden portal. It stood there as it always had, rippling faintly as if waiting.

Kieran placed his hand against its surface, closing his eyes. The vines that usually surrounded the portal were oddly silent today. No tricks. No whispers.

Then, faintly, a voice echoed in his mind.

*"Kieran… Natuka… unraveling… help me…"*

His breath hitched.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered.

Andrea and Rebel exchanged glances. "Hear what?" Andrea asked.

Kieran clenched his fists. "Elara. She's still reaching out."

Rebel took a deep breath. "Then let's go."

Without hesitation, they stepped through the portal.

---

The moment they emerged on the other side, they knew something was wrong.

The once-vibrant realm of Natuka looked… dimmer. The sky, which used to swirl with iridescent hues, was now muted, almost gray. The plants, once lively and full of energy, drooped as if struggling to stay alive. The mischievous vines didn't play their usual tricks. Instead, they coiled around themselves, shivering.

Andrea shivered. "Something is definitely wrong here."

A gust of wind carried a chilling whisper through the air. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but Kieran swore he heard Elara's voice again.

*"Find the Threads… before they break…"*

Rebel's eyes darkened. "Threads? What does that mean?"

Kieran clenched his jaw. "I don't know. But I intend to find out."

Andrea pointed toward the distance. "Then we start with the Keeper of the Echoes. If anyone knows what's happening to Natuka, it's him."

Without wasting another moment, they set off toward the Keeper's domain.

---

The Keeper of the Echoes was a towering figure draped in flowing silver robes, his form seemingly shifting like mist. His eyes, ancient and knowing, locked onto them as they entered his chamber.

"You return," the Keeper said in a voice that seemed to echo from every direction. "And you come with questions."

Kieran stepped forward. "We need answers. Natuka is falling apart, and I've been hearing Elara's voice. We think she might be trapped somewhere."

The Keeper was silent for a long moment before speaking.

"The balance of Natuka has been disrupted. When Elara sacrificed herself, she did not simply vanish. She became part of the Veil—the space between existence and oblivion. But the Veil is breaking."

Andrea's eyes widened. "Breaking?"

The Keeper nodded. "The energy that once sustained Natuka is unraveling. Something—someone—is tearing at the fabric of this world, pulling at the threads that keep it whole. If they succeed, Natuka will collapse."

Rebel clenched his fists. "Who would do this?"

The Keeper's expression darkened. "I do not know. But if you wish to find Elara, you must follow the unraveling threads before it is too late."

Kieran swallowed hard. "Where do we start?"

The Keeper's eyes seemed to pierce through them.

"You must seek the Forgotten Temple. There lies the first thread… and a truth you may not be ready to face."

A cold chill ran down Kieran's spine, but he forced himself to nod. He had come too far to turn back now.

With the weight of Natuka's fate on their shoulders, Kieran, Rebel, and Andrea prepared for the journey ahead.

They had a long to go.

---