Everyone wants to be the hero of their story.
But what happens when the story was never finished—
and the hero was never written?
Day Ten.
Aren Kael stood in the center of the Echo Court.
This time, he was the witness.
Not for another.
Not as an observer.
But as the one on trial.
Before him sat twelve projection mirrors, each reflecting a different version of himself—each from a timeline that had been abandoned, overwritten, or deliberately silenced.
Some were familiar.
Some were monstrous.
And one?
Was missing a face entirely.
Lysara spoke from the tribunal pedestal.
"Aren Kael, you are summoned not to defend what you've done—but to acknowledge what you've forgotten. The unwritten versions of yourself have been waiting."
Kaela and Seria watched from the upper circle.
Mira transcribed every syllable.
Tenno and Kairen stood at the base of the gallery.
Aren didn't speak.
The trial had already begun.
The first projection activated.
