Chapter 13:Resonance

  “Ren?”

  The voice didn’t echo.

  It cut through him.

  The red sea shifted.

  Blue spread across the water like ink in reverse.

  Ren closed his eyes for half a second.

  “She remembers.”

  The beast roared.

  He stepped forward anyway.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The broken ring in his hand burned cold.

  Light gathered around his right arm.

  Not black.

  Not gold.

  Clear.

  Like deep water.

  The monster’s fist stopped inches from his face.

  Not blocked.

  Held.

  The sea answered him.

  Ripples moved outward in perfect circles.

  The corpses began to dissolve.

  “…brother…”

  “…thank you…”

  The fragments faded into blue.

  The girl bound in rings screamed.

  “You chose her again.”

  Ren didn’t deny it.

  “She called my name.”

  That was enough.

  The rings shattered.

  She reached for him—

  And vanished in light.

  —

  The sea split.

  A path of glass formed.

  A woman walked toward him.

  Warm voice.

  Familiar.

  “You did well, Ren.”

  She touched his arm.

  Gold pulsed beneath his skin.

  “Go. Before her heart grows cold.”

  —

  Steel.

  Heat.

  Machinery.

  Ren crashed back into the world.

  Below the tower—

  A furnace.

  And in its center—

  Mira.

  Barely conscious.

  “Ren…”

  Behind him—

  A vast ring of light began to turn.

  End of Chapter 13.