Zero

Past Echos

As the first rays of dawn crept into the cozy inn room, the gentle caress of a cool breeze danced through the open window, bringing with it the sweet serenade of chirping birds. Jaylen, the tall elf boy with striking purple eyes, stirred awake, squinting against the golden light that filled the space. With a small grunt, he pulled himself up, the warmth of the morning filling him with a sense of rejuvenation he hadn't felt in ages.

Stretching his lithe frame, he flung open the curtains to let in more of the luminous day, leaning out to embrace the lively energy of the bustling town below. "It's so nice..." Jaylen hummed, soaking in the sights and sounds, but his gaze soon drifted to Astral, his peaceful companion still lost in slumber.

A fond smile graced his lips as he tiptoed past Astral's sleeping form, the promise of the day ahead urging him to freshen up. Yet, as he approached the bathroom, a glimmer caught his eye—a halotablet peeking out from Astral's bag. Curiosity piqued, he couldn't resist the urge to explore its contents. With a swift motion, Jaylen retrieved the tablet and began scrolling through the vibrant array of photos and memories contained within. But as he inadvertently triggered an audio playback, he panicked, quickly silencing the device lest he disturb Astral's peaceful rest.

Intrigued, he delved deeper, discovering a trove of images that painted a vivid picture of camaraderie and adventure. Among the snapshots, a group photo captured the essence of youthful determination—heroes gathered at the quest board, led by a spirited elk boy whose caramel skin glowed with ambition. Beside him stood his twin, a smaller version with ethereal white hair and the same captivating purple eyes that Jaylen possessed, a cheerful smile illuminating his face. The eclectic group included a mage radiating raw potential, a brazen berserker leaning on his colossal axe, and a fierce swordswoman whose glare could slice through the silence of night.

Jaylen's breath caught as he zoomed in on the striking resemblance between him and the twin; it was uncanny. "Whoa... is that Nova?" he murmured, astonished by the unexpected revelation. With a quick flick, he saved the photo to himself, excitement buzzing in his chest as he continued his exploration.

Just then, he stumbled upon a tender picture featuring Astral and a girl named Liah, their fingers entwined in a gesture of intimacy. Jaylen's eyes widened, and he smacked his forehead in realization. "OH—That girl who told me to wait was Liah!" he groaned, shaking his head at his own obliviousness

Jaylen leaned against the bathroom door, the soft glow of the halotablet illuminating his face as he navigated the digital landscape of memories and conversations. The air was thick with tension from the recent attack, but his focus lay in the past, where a two-year-old chat log from Layen beckoned him like an ancient scroll revealing secrets long buried. He tapped the conversation open, his heart racing as the words began to weave a tale of camaraderie and betrayal.

The voice of Layen crackled through the device, raw and filled with emotion. "Astral, I swear—you should have never done that. Do you know what kind of crap I just had to go through for you?" Jaylen could almost see Layen's face, twisted in anger, eyes flashing like embers in a dying fire.

Then came Astral's reply, heavy with regret and urgency. "Layen, I'm sorry. I just couldn't do it; there was no reason for him to die." Jaylen felt the weight of that decision echo through the air, a dark cloud looming over their past adventures.

Layen's final message unraveled like a prophecy, infused with a righteous fury that reverberated through time. "You better leave the Kuro before I kill you myself." It was a haunting promise, a testament to the chaos that had now erupted in their lives. As the shadows of the past converged with the present