The sun rose slowly over the burned forest line.
Harvie stood on a hill, looking at the ruins of Embervale. Smoke still curled from the broken houses, but the people were safe. He had saved them… again.
But he didn't smile.
He held his hands in his pockets, feeling the faint warmth of [Beast's Echo] still pulsing in his mind. He had copied it from that wolf-like monster yesterday—no, the first yesterday. He wasn't even sure what to call the days anymore.
> "Hey!"
A voice called out. Harvie turned.
Edna stood behind him, her red cloak fluttering in the wind. Her golden hair was tied up now, and her face looked serious.
> "There's a squad leaving for the Skyglass Expanse. They need people who can fight. I told them you're coming."
Harvie blinked. "You... told them?"
Edna crossed her arms. "You want to help, right? Then help somewhere it matters. There are rumors of a hidden Seal in the temple beyond the Expanse. Magic is strange there. We'll need extra hands."
A Seal. Harvie's heart skipped. That must be what the system hinted at.
> [SEAL DETECTED – Trial: Skyglass Expanse. Null-Magic Zone Active.]
He saw that message flash again in his vision. A hidden trial. A place where magic didn't work.
"Alright," he said. "I'll go."
Edna gave a small nod, then turned to leave.
> "You're not like the others," she said without looking back. "Just don't make me regret bringing you."
Harvie watched her go. A strange feeling rose in his chest—something warm. But also heavy.
He had seen her die once already. And now she was inviting him into more danger.
He followed.
---
The journey to the Skyglass Expanse took three days. Harvie traveled with Edna's squad—seven people total. They wore light armor and carried potions, scrolls, and supplies. Most of them didn't talk to him.
They didn't know who he was. Neither did he.
The world around them slowly changed. The green trees turned white. The air shimmered with strange light. The closer they got to the Expanse, the quieter everything became.
Even the birds stopped singing.
On the third night, they camped near a frozen lake. The stars above reflected perfectly on the water—like a mirror.
"It's called the Skyglass," one of the squad members whispered. "The lake reflects not just the sky… but your soul."
Harvie looked at his reflection. It stared back at him, pale and tired. Was this really him?
Edna sat near the fire, tossing wood into the flames. She looked troubled.
Harvie walked over. "You okay?"
She didn't answer for a while. Then she said, "This place... it brings back things I don't want to remember."
Harvie sat beside her, careful not to say too much.
She turned to him. "Why did you come?"
He looked at the flames.
"I don't want to see people die again," he said quietly.
She stared at him. "Again?"
Harvie froze. He had slipped.
He forced a smile. "I mean… back in Embervale. That was hard to watch."
Edna didn't speak. But she didn't push either.
They sat together in silence.
---
The next morning, the sky cracked.
A loud shhrraakk tore through the clouds. A wave of wind blew through the camp.
A storm of blue crystals fell from the sky.
"Get down!" someone shouted.
Harvie covered his head. Shard-like fragments hit the ground like knives. They glowed faintly with energy.
> [WARNING: Null-Magic Field Detected. Magic Disabled in Radius.]
A new message. The trial had begun.
From the mist ahead, something large moved. Harvie felt his heartbeat rise.
It was coming.
The Skyglass Expanse was no longer quiet.
It had awakened.