The floating temple shook. The air was full of light and dust. Pieces of the ceiling fell as the Seal pulsed in the center of the platform.
Everyone stood still—staring.
Edna's face was pale. Her fire magic circled around her, unstable. She had just used her strongest spell. Her knees were weak.
Caelia was bleeding from a cut on her cheek. She looked at Edna, then at Harvie, eyes full of suspicion.
Harvie walked forward, slowly. He was breathing hard, sweat rolling down his back. His hands were shaking—but not from pain.
From fear.
He felt the Seal calling him.
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
The Seal should've chosen Edna. Or maybe Caelia. Not him.
He didn't even exist in this world until a few days ago.
But the Seal floated toward him. A silver-blue light wrapped around his chest.
> [SEAL 1 Awakened – Memory Threshold at 15%. Partial Sync Unlocked.]
[Skill Tree: UNLAMENTED has evolved.]
Harvie bit his lip. The energy from the Seal went into his heart. It was cold. Like ice. Like... silence.
The temple quieted.
No one moved. Even the wind stopped.
Edna stepped forward. "Harvie… what did you just do?"
He looked at her.
She looked so tired. Her arms were burned. Her eyes—full of worry.
He wanted to say sorry. To explain. To tell her how many times he had seen her die.
But he couldn't.
He saw a red glow flicker in the corner of his vision. The system warning again.
He forced a smile. "I… don't know. It just happened."
Caelia narrowed her eyes. "That's not possible. The Seal responds to bloodlines and power. You… you're no one."
Harvie stayed quiet.
He had no answer. No excuse.
The ground cracked behind them. The trial was ending.
> [Skyglass Expanse Trial Complete.]
[Participants: Edna Flameheart, Caelia Rimeborne, Harvie – Status: Survived.]
One by one, the others began to leave the temple.
Edna stood beside him but said nothing. Her face was unreadable now.
Harvie turned away. The light of the setting sun painted the ruins in orange and gold. He stood alone on the edge of the platform, the Seal now resting deep inside his body.
His eyes glowed faintly blue—for just a second.
Far behind, Edna watched him.
She didn't move. She didn't speak.
But in her chest, her heart burned with a question she couldn't let go of.
Who was he?
And why… did she feel like she was forgetting something very important?