Chapter 12: The Hall of Echoes
Chapter 12: The Hall of Echoes
Fenrir's silver blood splashed across the shattered earth.
The entire valley trembled.
Every wolf—friend and foe alike—stared in disbelief.
The First Alpha had fallen to one knee.
The masked king lowered his crimson blade.
"So..."
"Even legends can bleed."
Fenrir slowly rose.
His massive wound began to heal, but not as quickly as before.
"The King's Fang," he growled. "It was forged to kill immortals."
The masked king tilted his head.
"My ancestors preserved it well."
Before he could strike again, Garrick shouted across the battlefield.
"Lady Aria!"
"The Hall of Echoes!"
Aria snapped back to reality.
The wolves Lucien had dispatched were already disappearing into the western forest.
If they reached the ruins of House Vale first...
Whatever Adrian had hidden would be lost forever.
She tightened her grip on the Moonblade.
"I'm going."
Kael stepped beside her without hesitation.
"You won't go alone."
Lydia looked at him in disbelief.
"The battlefield needs you!"
Kael shook his head.
"The Hall is the real target."
"The army is only keeping us busy."
Fenrir overheard them and nodded.
"He's right."
The First Alpha turned his enormous gaze toward Aria.
"The war can still be won."
"But only if your father's secret remains beyond the Crimson Eclipse."
Selene embraced her daughter tightly.
"Come back."
"I will."
Though Aria spoke with confidence, uncertainty churned inside her.
Garrick called out to six members of the Gray Watch.
"Ride with the Heir!"
The veterans immediately formed around Aria.
Within moments, seven wolves sprinted toward the western forest.
Kael followed close behind.
Behind them, the sounds of battle faded into the distance.
The forest was unnaturally quiet.
No birds sang.
No insects stirred.
Only the sound of pounding footsteps echoed between the ancient trees.
After nearly an hour of relentless running, the trees began to thin.
The ruins of House Vale emerged beneath the crimson sky.
Once-grand towers lay broken.
Charred stone walls stood like the bones of forgotten giants.
Aria slowed to a walk.
"This..."
She struggled to breathe.
"I barely remember it."
Selene had never brought her back after the massacre.
Garrick knelt before the shattered gates.
"We failed to protect this place."
"No," Aria said softly.
"You survived."
"So I could."
The old warrior lowered his head.
For the first time in decades...
He smiled.
Suddenly—
An arrow whistled through the air.
One of the Gray Watch collapsed before anyone could react.
"Ambush!" Kael shouted.
Black-armored soldiers poured from the ruins.
Lucien's advance force had arrived first.
Their captain stepped forward.
He removed his helmet.
A long scar crossed his jaw.
"You are too late."
"The Hall belongs to us."
Kael lunged without another word.
His claws met the captain's twin axes in a shower of sparks.
Around them, the Gray Watch engaged the enemy.
The ruins erupted into another brutal battle.
Meanwhile, Aria felt the Heartstone growing warm.
It pulsed faster with every step she took toward the mansion.
"It's calling me," she whispered.
Garrick cut down an enemy warrior and pointed toward the collapsed estate.
"Go!"
"We'll hold them."
Aria hesitated.
Kael blocked a deadly axe strike before yelling,
"Run!"
She sprinted through the broken entrance.
Dust filled the air.
Moonlight streamed through cracks in the shattered ceiling.
Portraits of forgotten ancestors lay scattered across the floor.
Every step stirred memories she had buried as a child.
Laughter.
Birthdays.
Her father's voice.
Then screams.
Fire.
Blood.
She forced herself forward.
At the center of the ruined grand hall stood a cracked marble statue of House Vale's founder.
The Heartstone floated from her hand.
It drifted toward the statue.
A beam of silver light struck its chest.
Ancient gears rumbled beneath the floor.
The statue slowly slid aside.
A hidden staircase descended into darkness.
"So..."
A familiar voice echoed behind her.
"I finally found it."
Aria spun around.
Lucien stood at the entrance.
His armor was damaged.
Blood stained one sleeve.
But he was smiling.
"You planned this," Aria said.
"You knew I'd lead you here."
Lucien nodded without shame.
"I searched for the Hall for twenty years."
"But only a member of House Vale could reveal the entrance."
"You were the key."
Aria raised the Moonblade.
"You'll never enter."
Lucien sighed.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
He raised the Shadow Spear.
Black energy coiled around its blade.
Before either could attack, another voice echoed from below.
Calm.
Ancient.
Powerful.
"Neither of you shall enter... unless judged worthy."
The staircase erupted with silver light.
Stone doors slammed shut behind Aria and Lucien.
Runes blazed across the walls.
The air grew impossibly heavy.
A spectral figure slowly emerged from the light.
An elderly man in silver robes, his body translucent, his eyes glowing like moonlight.
Aria's breath caught.
She recognized him instantly.
Not from memory.
From the visions.
It was Elder Rowan—the last High Judge of the Moon Council.
The man everyone believed had died twenty years ago.
The spirit looked first at Aria.
Then at Lucien.
Finally, he spoke.
"The Hall of Echoes does not reward blood."
"It reveals truth."
His glowing eyes narrowed.
May you like
"And tonight..."
"Every lie will be judged."
