## **CHAPTER 16 – When the Earth Begins to Speak**

 

Vibrations spread in waves. The grass trembled as if a vast, hidden organism were passing beneath it. Jan struggled to maintain his balance, though everything looked like an ordinary patch of forest.

And yet every tree, every stone seemed to be watching.

“Did you hear that?” he asked.

Jakub closed his eyes.

“He’s talking.”

“I can’t hear anything.”

“Because he’s not talking to you.”

Jan glared.

“And to you, too?!

Jakub opened his eyes slowly.

“He always did. Even when I was a child.”

Jan froze.

“What?!”

Jakub looked away, as if he’d just said something he shouldn’t have.

“Did you think I knew about runes by accident?”

--

## **CHAPTER 17 – His Truth**

Zofia stood before the faceless figure. Darkness rippled around her like smoke in water. "What did you do to them?" she asked, feeling her anger rising.

"Nothing they didn't start," the voice replied, growing stronger with each passing moment.

"People die!"

"People have always died. I only hasten the inevitable."

Zofia clenched her fists and felt the rune on her skin begin to glow intensely.

"I won't let you come back."

The darkness laughed, deeply.

"You already let me."

--

## **CHAPTER 18 – Jacob's Secret**

Jakub walked briskly, as if he knew the path Jan had never seen before.

"Where are you going?!" Jan shouted, trying to catch up.

Jakub stopped without turning his head:

"To where it all began."

"Where do you mean?"

Jakub sighed heavily.

"You know I'm not from some random family."

Jan remained silent.

Jakub looked him straight in the eye.

"My grandmother was part of the Circle. Just like Zofia's grandfather."

Jan paled.

"So you've known all along."

Jakub nodded.

"I've always known."

---

## **CHAPTER 19 – The Circle of Memory**

The voice of the ancestors returned. This time, Zofia saw them more clearly. They stood around her as if forming a protective circle.

One of them, a tall man with long hair, spoke first:

"You're not here to serve him. You're here to stop him."

Zofia felt the words penetrate her deeper than her thoughts.

"Why me?"

Grandpa smiled sadly.

"Because you're the last."

Zofia felt the air freeze.

The last?

The last of their blood.

---

## **CHAPTER 20 – Opening the Second Gate**

On the surface, the earth began to spread wider. A second crack appeared, larger than the first, and cold, damp air seeped from within.

A symbol appeared in the center of the light – a new rune, the same as the one on Zofia's wrist.

Jan froze.

"Is she doing this?!

Jakub shook his head.

"He's doing it through her."

Jan clenched his fists.

"Meaning?"

Jakub whispered:

"If he takes her power, he will take everything."

--

## **CHAPTER 21 – He Knows**

Zofia tried to back away, but the darkness followed her.

The figure approached, and its outlines began to resemble something more… human.

"You're stronger than I thought," the voice said.

Zofia felt something strange – as if he were… analyzing her. "But power without control is my power."

The shadow raised his hand, and Zofia felt a sudden pain so intense she almost lost her balance.

The rune flashed more fiercely.

"You will stop fighting," the voice said. "When you understand it's over."

And then she heard her grandfather's voice:

"This is only the beginning."

--

If you want **CHAPTER 22**, write:

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*and we continue with this vast, dark Part VI.*