The Last Bargain

Chapter XVI: The Echoes Deepen

Zento and Shin moved cautiously along the winding path, the air around them growing colder with each step. The mist clung to their skin like damp cloth, curling around their feet, twisting into strange shapes that seemed almost alive. The whispers grew louder, shifting from unintelligible murmurs to distinct voices that tugged at the edges of their minds. Each step felt heavier, the air thick with an unseen force that seemed to pull them back.

Shin kept his gaze forward, trying to ignore the lingering shadows of his own thoughts. He could still hear the echoes of his family, their voices filled with accusations, their faces etched with disappointment. He knew they weren't real, just illusions conjured by the valley to prey on his guilt, but the pain they evoked felt as raw and fresh as the day he'd left.

Zento glanced over at him, concern evident in his eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice barely rising above the whispers.

Shin nodded, though his jaw was clenched tight. "Yeah," he replied, his voice strained. "I'm okay... I just need to keep moving."

Zento placed a reassuring hand on Shin's shoulder. "We're almost through this," he said. "Just stay focused. We're here for Raito... we can't let the valley distract us."

Shin gave a small nod, but before he could respond, the mist around them began to shift again. The air grew colder, the whispers growing into a cacophony of voices, overlapping and blending into a single, echoing chorus.

"Shin... why did you leave us?"
"Zento... you're not strong enough."
"You will fail, just like before..."

Zento winced, but he pushed forward, keeping his focus on the path ahead. He knew these voices weren't real, that they were just tricks of the valley meant to sow doubt and fear. But he could feel the weight of them pressing down on his chest, a cold, heavy pressure that made it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shifted, and Shin stumbled, catching himself just before he fell. The mist parted slightly, revealing a new figure standing in their path—a woman, her face hidden beneath a dark hood, her eyes gleaming in the dim light.

"Who... who are you?" Shin demanded, his voice tense, his hand reaching for his weapon.

The woman lifted her head, and Shin's heart skipped a beat. It was his mother, but younger, the lines of worry and age gone from her face. She looked at him with an expression of deep sadness and love, her eyes filled with tears.

"Shin," she whispered, her voice soft and filled with pain. "Why did you leave us?"

Shin's breath caught in his throat. "I... I didn't want to leave," he stammered. "I had to. I needed to find my own way... to prove I was more than just—"

"More than just what?" the woman interrupted, her voice sharp. "More than just a son? A brother? You left us, Shin... you abandoned us when we needed you most."

Shin's hands trembled, his grip tightening on his knife. "No," he said, his voice shaky. "I didn't abandon you... I thought I was doing what was best."

The woman's face twisted with anger. "Best for whom?" she spat. "For you? Or for us?"

Zento stepped forward, raising his hand. "Shin, don't listen," he urged. "It's the valley... it's trying to manipulate you again."

But Shin seemed rooted to the spot, his eyes locked on the figure before him. "I... I thought you'd be proud of me," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I thought if I became strong... if I made something of myself, you'd understand."

The woman shook her head, her expression filled with sorrow. "We only wanted you to be safe, Shin," she replied softly. "But you chose your path, and now... now you're lost to us forever."