The Gallery fell silent.
The door behind them—marked with stars and fractured reflections—creaked open.
Ren felt something shift in his chest. Not fear, not pain. Just… motion.
A gentle nudge. Like a story pulling him forward.
[Echo Trials: Complete]
[New Catalyst Tier Achieved: Unanchored Initiate]
[Realm-Walking Authority: Unlocked]
[Key of Wanderlight: Forming…]
From the void above, light spilled down like rain.
Not bright. Not harsh.
Warm.
It gathered before Ren and shaped itself into a floating artifact—a smooth, palm-sized compass of glass and gold, with a single glowing thread inside that twitched gently, as if eager to point somewhere.
It pulsed.
Ren reached out and caught it.
And for the first time since waking up in Cindale… he felt direction.
The Key of Wanderlight sang in his hand.
"This is it," he breathed. "The way forward."
Clomp sniffled. "Our boy's growing up. Getting metaphysical GPS and everything."
Keeri smirked. "You're officially a realm-walker now. Congrats. Don't die."
A shimmering panel unfolded beside them, revealing a series of floating islands strung together like beads on a cosmic necklace. Each island pulsed with a different color, marked by strange glyphs and names Ren couldn't read.
But he felt them.
Worlds.
Realms.
Stories.
Waiting.
The Warden's voice returned—clearer now. Almost… kind.
"You have seen echoes. Now make your own." "This door leads to the first true step." "Where stories live and shift."
"Where your presence… changes everything."
Ren squared his shoulders. "Where are we headed?"
The Key of Wanderlight twitched. A golden thread snapped forward and pointed toward the nearest realm.
Its name shimmered into view:
Cindale: The Dreamwoven World
Clomp bounced in place. "OHHH we're back in Cindale—but now it's the real Cindale. Not just your starting zone, but the whole layered realm."
Keeri stepped beside him. "This version of Cindale bends around dreams, instincts, forgotten memories. You'll find places that didn't exist before. Creatures that shift with your thoughts. Oh, and the weather might insult your haircut."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "So basically… everything is evolving with me?"
Clomp nodded. "Hence the title of this book, yes."
Ren stepped onto the pathway of floating light.
Behind him, the Echo Trials sealed shut.
Ahead of him? Endless change.
He took a deep breath.
"No more waiting. I just wanted to travel…"
The Key pulsed in his hand.
"…Now the world evolves around me."
And with a single step forward, the journey truly began.