Ethan's head felt like it had been struck by lightning and then politely asked to continue functioning.
He leaned heavily against a stone pillar, breathing hard. The world looked… sharper. Colors deeper. Sounds louder. He could hear Lyra's heartbeat. The hum of magic in the walls. The distant, furious howl of the Cinder Wraith above the city.
And inside his head—
Wow, Ghost-Ethan said. Okay, yeah, this is weird. I can feel your left foot.
Stop touching things, Ethan thought back.
No promises.
Lyra stared at him. "You're talking without speaking."
Ethan blinked. "Oh. Uh. Yeah. New feature."
Selene watched closely, eyes glowing faintly. "The tether is stable," she said. "For now."
Another explosion rocked the guild hall. The ceiling cracked wider, molten light spilling through like veins of fire.
"It's breaking through," Lyra said.
Ghost-Ethan's tone shifted—focused, sharp. Ethan. I can feel it now. The Wraith. It's not just hunting you.
"What do you mean?" Ethan asked aloud.
"It's angry," Selene said. "The Binding denied it its claim."
"And now?" Ethan asked.
Selene's grip tightened on her staff. "Now it will try to tear the city apart to reach you."
A deafening crash echoed overhead. Stone screamed. Magic flared and failed.
Lyra drew her sword. "Then we can't stay here."
Selene nodded. "Agreed. Ethan, you must leave Dawnreach. Immediately."
Ethan stared at her. "What? I just got here."
"And you brought death with you," Selene said gently, not accusing—just stating fact. "If you stay, hundreds will die."
Ghost-Ethan didn't argue.
That scared Ethan more than anything.
"There is a way out," Selene continued. "An old path beneath the city. It will mask your presence for a short time."
"How short?" Ethan asked.
Selene hesitated. "Minutes. Perhaps an hour."
Ghost-Ethan chimed in his head. Better than zero.
Lyra stepped forward. "I'll go with him."
Selene turned sharply. "Lyra—"
"He doesn't know this world," Lyra said firmly. "He won't survive alone."
Ethan opened his mouth to protest, but another massive impact silenced him. Part of the outer wall collapsed.
The Cinder Wraith's scream echoed through Dawnreach—closer now. Hungrier.
Selene closed her eyes for a heartbeat. Then nodded. "Very well. Lyra, your duty is now to the Bound Fracture."
She placed a glowing mark on Ethan's wrist. It burned briefly, then cooled.
"This sigil will guide you," Selene said. "Follow it. Do not stop."
Ghost-Ethan murmured, Cool tattoo. Almost worth the near-death trauma.
Lyra grabbed Ethan's hand. "Come on."
They ran.
Through narrow corridors. Down spiraling stairs. Past doors sealed with ancient locks. The city shook around them, magic failing in pulses.
Ethan stumbled as a roar thundered above them—so close it rattled his bones.
It knows, Ghost-Ethan said quietly. It can feel the tether.
They reached a massive stone door carved with symbols older than the guild itself.
Lyra pressed her palm to it. The sigil on Ethan's wrist flared.
The door opened.
Darkness yawned beyond.
Selene's voice echoed faintly from above, carried by magic.
"Run, Ethan Harper. Live. And when it comes for you again—"
The city shook violently.
"—be ready."
The door slammed shut behind them.
The darkness swallowed them whole.
And far above, the Cinder Wraith tore into Dawnreach, screaming Ethan's name.