The night was dense, wrapped in a silence that seemed to weigh upon the shoulders of anyone who felt it. After the incident, Elyndra carried Hitory back to the room. His body was motionless, as if every part of his essence had been drained by the flame that had consumed him. She carefully laid him on the bed, his chest rising and falling irregularly. Her eyes rested on the grotesque scar, now pulsating as if it had a life of its own.

  Without a word, she glanced around, searching for Tekime. There was no sign of the girl in the room, but then, just as Elyndra was about to leave, she heard the sudden sound of a door locking. Her eyes shifted toward the bathroom, where the muffled sound of hesitant footsteps could be heard. Elyndra hesitated, her instincts screaming that something was wrong, but she decided not to force the issue.

  With a heavy sigh, she left the room, closing the door behind her.

  The days that followed felt like a living nightmare. The house was shrouded in an oppressive aura, as if the walls themselves whispered dark secrets. Tekime, once full of life, was now only a shadow of her former self. Sitting in the corner of the room, her knees drawn to her chest and her head lowered, she remained motionless for hours, as if time around her had stopped.

  At first, Elyndra tried to bring her back to life. She prepared simple yet nourishing meals, leaving them beside Tekime with gentle words of encouragement. Tekime finally gave in once, taking the plate with trembling hands. Elyndra watched from afar, hopeful—until she heard Tekime running to the bathroom right after eating.

  The sounds of vomiting echoed through the house, followed by muffled sobs that tore at Elyndra’s heart. From that moment on, Tekime didn’t even try again. Her once vibrant skin was now pale as wax, her eyes hollow and filled with emptiness. She barely seemed alive, rising only to mechanically walk to the bathroom, like a marionette controlled by invisible strings.

  Hitory, on the other hand, was in no better condition. Though he still breathed, his appearance worsened with each passing day. His scar glowed faintly with an unsettling hue, and his skin had taken on an ashen tone. Elyndra knew she had to act, but the weight of her own choices kept her frozen.

  That night, the full moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale light through the half-open window. The cold seeped into every corner, wrapping around Tekime as she remained curled on the floor. Her eyes were closed, yet her mind refused to rest.

  At last, exhaustion overtook her. Her frail body gave in, and she dozed off, still sitting in the corner of the room. Tekime’s uneven breathing softened, and as she drifted into deep sleep, the darkness around her seemed to swallow her mind, pulling her into another place—a place where she would find answers… and a new fate.

  Tekime felt weightless, floating in an infinite space. The sky around her was filled with a silver light, soft and gentle, like the glow of a full moon on a cloudless night. She didn’t know whether she was awake or dreaming, but the scenery was so vivid that every detail felt real.

  Suddenly, a feminine silhouette began to emerge from the light. It was Lunaria, the Goddess of the Moon and Souls, her long silver hair flowing like silk in the nonexistent wind. Her eyes were like celestial orbs, deep and endless. The deity radiated an unnatural calm, but a subtle sorrow lingered in her expression, as if she carried the burden of ancient secrets.

  — “Tekime…” — Lunaria called, her voice echoing softly in the silence, like a melody resonating from all directions. — “You have come to me seeking answers, but I bring you more than that.”

  Tekime tried to speak, but no words came out. She could only gaze at the goddess, feeling vulnerable and exposed.

  Lunaria took a step forward, extending her hand toward Tekime. A circle of light formed around them, and images began to appear—Hitory, collapsed on the floor, his scar glowing with an ominous intensity. His red blood morphed into black flames that took shape, wrapping around him like living chains.

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  — “He bears a burden that was never meant to be his,” — Lunaria said, her voice laced with melancholy. — “édros, the Lord of Sins, exists within him. His pain and sacrifice are the reflection of the chaos that the world rejects.”

  Tekime’s eyes widened, her heart pounding. She wanted to deny it, to say that Hitory was just Hitory—but deep down, she knew she couldn’t.

  — “What… What should I do?” — she finally managed to whisper, her voice choked with fear.

  Lunaria tilted her head, her expression filled with a mix of compassion and resolve.

  — "Light and darkness coexist. Hitory is not just a guardian; he is the vessel for something greater. And you, Tekime, are the key to saving him... or destroying him."

  The goddess gently touched Tekime's forehead, and the young woman felt a warmth spread through her body, as if a silver flame were being kindled within her.

  — "Love him. Protect him. Even when he cannot protect himself." Lunaria sighed, her words growing darker. — "But know this. Tekime, helping Hitory means helping édros. For if he is consumed, the world will fall into darkness. Please save my beloved, for I can no longer help him."

  The images around them began to dissolve, and Lunaria started to fade into the light.

  — "Do not forget, my daughter... Love is both the cure and the curse. Choose wisely."

  Did I wake up?

  Tekime awoke from the dream with rapid breathing, her body covered in a cold sweat. The words of Goddess Lunaria still echoed in her mind, soft but relentless: "Help him. Restore what was lost. Do not let him sink into darkness."

  She looked at Hitory – or édros, as Lunaria had called him – still lying in bed, motionless, as though the very weight of the world rested upon him. His breathing was uneven, and his skin, once healthy, now had a pale, sickly tone. Tekime felt a sharp pain in her heart seeing him like this.

  Without hesitation, she made a decision.

  With trembling hands, Tekime began to remove her clothes, piece by piece, until she was completely naked. It was not a gesture of shame or desperation, but one of purity and surrender. She knew she was connecting her own essence to his, offering herself as a conduit for the energy the Goddess had promised.

  She lay down beside Hitory, her naked body pressing against his cold skin. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his torso, holding him gently as though fearing she might break him. The warmth of her body seemed to begin warming his, creating a strange, almost spiritual sensation.

  When their skins touched, something extraordinary happened. A silver light began to emerge around them, soft and ethereal, growing like a living flame. Then, Tekime saw the veil of Goddess Lunaria appear, just as in the book Blessing of Aether.

  The veil floated in the air, translucent and filled with stars, as though made from the very fabric of the cosmos. It descended slowly, enveloping them in a celestial aura. The silver light pulsed gently, and Tekime felt a deep calm fill her.

  Suddenly, everything around them changed. For a moment, Tekime and Hitory were no longer in that room. Before their eyes, a vast field of flowers stretched as far as the eye could see. The wind blew gently, making the petals dance around them, and the sweet scent of the flowers filled the air. The sky above was a starry blanket, and the moonlight seemed to embrace the entire field.

  — "Lunaria..." Tekime whispered, closing her eyes as she felt a surge of energy flow through her body.

  The mark on Hitory's chest began to glow, but this time, it was not the dark, oppressive energy that dominated it. It was a golden light, mixed with the silver of the veil, that seemed to purify and calm the corrupted essence that had resided there.

  Hitory began to move. His body trembled slightly, and his eyes slowly opened. They were no longer stained with blood-red, but still carried a strange gleam, a mix of humanity and something far beyond it.

  — "Tekime..." he murmured, his voice hoarse and weak, but filled with recognition.

  Tekime did not respond. She simply tightened her embrace, letting silent tears fall down her face. She knew this moment was more than human; it was divine.

  The vision of the field began to fade, like a dream slowly slipping away. Goddess Lunaria's veil gradually disappeared, and when everything returned to normal, the room seemed brighter, as if a weight had been lifted.

  Tekime stayed by Hitory's side, now feeling that, for the first time in a long while, there was hope.

  End of EP 10: "The Judgment of Shadows"

  Koqui's

  Hey, everyone! This is Koqui, author of Echos of Silence. We've reached the end of the first season of this beloved novel. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has read and contributed to this journey!

  But it's not over yet! The second season is on its way, and the first episode will be released on 03/02/2025. I'll continue posting two episodes per week. I'm incredibly grateful for everyone's support, and I hope we continue this adventure together. Thanks, guys!

  Echos of Silence. We've reached the end of the first season of this beloved novel. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has read and contributed to this journey!