The Hollow City was deathly silent at first glance-stone buildings leaning like broken teeth, streets littered with dust that never stirred. But as Eva walked deeper, she realized the silence wasn't emptiness. It was the weight of voices that never spoke, faces that never moved.

Everywhere, statues lined the streets: men, women, even children. All frozen mid-step, mid-reach, mid-scream. Their eyes wide, their mouths caught in pleas or laughter that would never come.

Eva hugged her arms tightly around herself. "They were... people?"

Thorn's voice was low. "Those who failed the Shadow King's Labyrinth. Their choices caught them. Their hope turned to stone."

Eva's throat tightened as she passed a statue of a girl not much older than herself, her stone hand stretched toward the sky as if begging for release. "It's not fair," she whispered.

Her words echoed strangely-and then a voice answered.

"Nothing here is fair, little one."

The voice was soft and musical, trembling like the last note of a lullaby. From one of the broken balconies above, a pale figure drifted downward. She was not solid but not quite air either, her body glowing faintly blue, her hair flowing like smoke. Her eyes were kind, but her smile was sad.

Eva stumbled back. "Who... who are you?"

The spirit's feet hovered inches above the ground. "Mira. Once I sang under these stars with a voice that could move hearts. I sought to outsing the Shadow King's illusions. I thought my song would be enough." Her hand brushed one of the statues with tender sorrow. "But I was wrong. Now I linger, neither stone nor free."

Eva's chest ached. "Why are you still here?"

Mira's eyes turned to her, sharp even through their gentleness. "To warn the living. To keep one more soul from becoming hollow." Her voice grew firmer, carrying an otherworldly resonance. "The King will tempt you. He will twist your love, your pain, your hunger for belonging. But hear me, girl-what he offers may feel real, but it is shadow. If you give him your heart willingly, it will be lost forever."

Eva hesitated. "But... he already stole my heart."

Mira floated closer, her gaze piercing straight through her. "He only holds it because you allowed yourself to hope for him. Do not let that hope consume you. Your heart will only beat true when it is your choice-not his."

Eva swallowed hard, feeling a strange, almost motherly warmth from Mira's presence. "Why are you helping me?"

The spirit's lips curved in a wistful smile. "Because once, long ago, I wanted to be the one he loved too. And when he cast me aside, I learned too late what shadows can take."

Her voice wavered, then grew strong, rising into song. The melody curled around the empty streets, filling the Hollow City with a haunting beauty. It was both warning and blessing, wrapping around Eva's heart like armor.

"Remember this song when the time comes," Mira whispered, her glow beginning to fade. "And remember-you are more than his labyrinth. You are more than his shadows."

Then, like a breath carried away by the wind, Mira vanished.

For a long moment, Eva stood rooted, Mira's melody echoing in her chest. Then Thorn nudged her cheek. "Come on, girl. We must move. The gates of the Lower City are close now."

And as they turned the corner, a familiar small figure in a patched waistcoat leaned casually against the gate, smirking.

"Well, well," Pip drawled. "Didn't expect you to make it this far."