Chapter 385: Chapter 385

Because no one knew it.

No one knew about him.

He was nameless then.

Just a void of silence echoing within.

Chatty’s aura flickered around him, a tempest of conflicting colors — shimmering gold battling against a formless gray. The stone reacted to his turmoil, pulsating in erratic rhythm, mirroring the chaos within his very being.

Yet, Butler Oda remained unmoved.

Chatty clenched his jaw, forcing each breath to become deliberate, a steady rhythm amidst the storm. He whispered to himself — not in words, but in the pulse of a beat, a cadence to anchor his thoughts.

The memory, once sharp and feral, began to soften.

The stone dimmed, morphing to a silvery glow.

Oda’s approval flickered in his eyes. "Good. Again."

The fifth stone erupted with a melody of sharp, slicing tones — a sound reminiscent of glass shattering in reverse. Chatty steeled himself against the incoming wave.

This time, the resonance didn’t weave a memory; it conjured a question that sliced through the mist of Chatty’s mind.

Who are you when no one is watching?

Chatty found himself viscerally reliving moments of survival — stealing bread from a merchant’s stall, fabricating lies about his age to gain entry into employment, laughing too boisterously to mask the inner ache that thrummed beneath the surface.

He stood unwavering, the truth snug against his chest.

"I’m still me," Chatty declared softly.

The stone pulsed a serene blue, a gentle affirmation of his claim.

The sixth stone, however, held an unsettling stillness that draped over him like a shroud.

As Chatty reached out to touch it, an unsettling void remained — no sound, no vision, just an encroaching stillness that brought a frown to his brow. "Is it broken?" he inquired, glancing at Oda.

The butler shook his head firmly. "It’s waiting."

Closing his eyes, Chatty surrendered to the silence.

And then he heard it.

Soft, youthful, tinged with desperation.

“Please... someone...”

Chatty didn’t flinch or cry. Instead, he opened his eyes, resolute, and spoke, "I’m here now."

The stone ignited with a brilliant white light.

The seventh stone felt entirely different.

It didn’t merely pulse; it resonated with an ancient power.

As Chatty placed his hand upon it, the other six stones ignited in a stunning sequence, forming a harmonious ring of sound around him. The frequencies wove together — his memories, fears, and truths — melding into a singular, transcendent wave that vibrated through the very air.

His aura surged, golden and unwavering.

Oda stepped closer, gaze sharp and intense. "Now speak."

Chatty stood tall, his voice rising with clarity and conviction.

"My name is Tong Xue. I have no bloodline. No legacy. No family. Yet, I have survived. I have learned. I have earned my place."

In unison, the stones pulsed once — a final acknowledgment — before fading into stillness.

Oda bowed his head slightly, respect shimmering in his eyes. "Then you are ready."

Chatty let out a shaky exhale, sweat trickling down his brow, but the fire in his eyes burned bright with newfound purpose.

He had faced the Echo.

And this time, it hadn’t shattered him.

Ling Li Observes: The Echo of Growth

From her perch atop the sun-drenched ridge, Ling Li found refuge beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient, wind-battered pine. Its gnarled bark and whispering needles formed a protective canopy, shielding her from the world below. She had chosen not to reveal herself, for her presence was a mere shadow, an unnoticed guardian witnessing the unfolding of fate.

Her keen gaze was locked onto Chatty, who stood isolated in the expansive clearing, encircled by the enigmatic seven Echo Stones that loomed like silent sentinels. Tension radiated from his slender frame, an electric current of uncertainty that flickered in his aura. Yet, in defiance of the fear that had engulfed stronger trainees the day prior, he held his ground — his trembling hands gripping air as if it were a lifeline, his jaw clenched in determination.

Ling Li’s heart tightened as she observed him, her memories weaving through the tapestry of time. She recalled Four Eyes told her about Chatty the moment he had first appeared at their gates, a fragile boy with a defiant spark in his eyes — skin too thin, a spirit too fierce. Alone in the world, lacking kinship or a name, he was defined by a singular force: a voice that stubbornly echoed beyond silence.

Four Eyes and Fatty decided to befriend Chatty and give him food, to the point that both their parents made arrangements for Chatty upon learning about him.

Now, that voice was on the verge of transformation.

Ling Li watched as Chatty swayed, teetering on the edge of despair before reclaiming his balance. He winced, a delicate ballet of fear and resolve playing out, and yet, amidst the inner tumult, a smile broke through. He uttered his truth — a melody of authenticity — and the Echo Stones responded, pulsing with a resonance that felt like a whispered acknowledgment.

Nearby, Butler Oda stood watch, arms crossed, his expression a mask of contemplation. Yet, Ling Li was attuned to the subtleties — an imperceptible nod, a shift in his posture that spoke volumes. Approval radiated from him like gentle sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

A sense of pride ignited within Ling Li’s chest, blossoming like a delicate flame in the darkness. "He’s ready," she breathed softly, feeling warmth suffuse her veins. "Not perfect. Not polished. But ready."

The twins, nestling close like two eager birds, tugged at her robes, eyes wide with curiosity. "Is Uncle Murphy winning?" Kim Kim ventured.

"He’s not fighting," Ling Li responded, her voice a blend of understanding and restraint.

Chin Chin cocked his head in confusion. "Then what’s he doing?"

A tender smile curled her lips as she replied, "He’s remembering."

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