Mia and Mo arrive in front of Phanteea's castle. The sky is gray.

  The towers are cracked.

  The windows look like eyes watching them. Mia:

  can't believe we're coming back here... Mo:

  Me neither.

  But the piece is inside.

  We're not leaving without it. The main door opens on its own, creaking. A cold wind hits them.

  Mia:

  The castle.. it's breathing.

  Mo:

  It's not the castle.

  It's Phanteea's magic. It's still here.

  Come on.

  They enter.

  The hallways are empty, but their footsteps echo as if multiplied

  as if someone else is walking with them. Mia stops.

  Mia:

  Mo... did you hear that? Mo:

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Yeah.

  But it's not who you think.

  The Generals are injured.

  They can't be here.

  Mia swallows hard. But something is following them. They reach the throne room. Phanteea's throne is covered in dust, but the air is thick with blue magic. Mia touches the arm of the throne. A wave of visions hits her:

  Phanteea crying

  Drake screaming

  Raynor trying to save her The cursed sword

  Samson watching in silence

  Mia collapses to her knees. Mia:

  Mo... this is where she died. This is where... everything broke. Mo lifts her up.

  Mo:

  know.

  But we can't stay here. The piece is close. Behind the throne, a faint light pulses. Mo lifts a slab of marble. Under it, a small hidden compartment. Mo:

  This is where the Generals hid it... But when he opens the compartment, the piece isn't there.

  Instead, there's a burned message, written in magical blood:

  "If you want the piece... seek the Hall of Echoes!"

  Mia trembles.

  Mia:

  The Hall of Echoes...

  That's where Phanteea hid her secrets. Mo clenches his teeth.

  Mo:

  Then that's where we're going. The Hall of Echoes is a massive circular chamber with crystal walls. Every step they take multiplies into thousands of sounds.

  Echoes:

  Mo...

  Mia...

  You are not ready...

  You do not deserve the piece... Yuko suffered because of you... Mia covers her ears.

  Mia:

  No.. don't listen... they're just echoes.. But Mo lifts his head.

  Mo:

  They're not just echoes.

  They're the castle's memories. In the center of the hall, the piece floats inside a vortex of blue light. Mia takes a step.

  The echoes grow louder.

  Echoes:

  Mia... you ran...

  You left Yuk...

  You are not the chosen one... You are not enough...

  Mia trembles.

  Mo grabs her hand.

  Mo:

  Don't listen.

  You're not alor

  Not anymore.

  Mia takes a deep breath.

  Another step.

  She reaches out and touches the piece. The light dies.

  The echoes vanish.

  Mia:

  We.. we did it...

  Mo smiles for the first time in a long while.

  Mo:

  One more.

  One step closer to revenge. The room darkens.

  The castle lets out a deep, mournful sound like a sigh.

  Castle:

  Leave...

  Do not return...

  Mia and Mo run out of the hall. The door slams shut behind them with a final echo.

  The castle has spoken, the echoes have quieted, and Mia finally has the piece... but nothing about this victory feels clean. If you're still breathing after this chapter, congratulations.

  More revelations are coming.