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**Chapter 135: The Weight of Truth**
The wind twisted through the vineyard with unnatural force, carrying voices that were no longer whispers. The figures that had risen from the soil had gathered, their presence undeniable, their forms flickering between shadow and substance.
Elena stood at the heart of the vineyard, the pendant at her neck pulsing wildly, syncing with the energy crackling in the air. "They're watching us," she murmured. "Waiting."
Matteo kept his stance firm, his breath steady. "The vineyard called them here," he said. "But we don't know why."
Isabella took a slow, deliberate step forward. "Then we ask," she said. "We don't stand here in silence."
Luca narrowed his eyes, studying the figures closely. "They know we're connected to the vineyard," he muttered. "But what do they expect from us?"
Carlo, his expression unreadable, exhaled and finally spoke. "They expect acknowledgment," he said. "And reckoning."
Elena turned to him sharply. "Reckoning for what?" she asked.
Carlo's grip tightened around the ornate box, his silence stretching for a moment too long. Then, finally, he answered. "For what was taken," he said. "For what was lost."
Pietro let out a bitter laugh. "And if we don't even know what that means?" he muttered. "How do we face them?"
The air grew heavier, pressing down on them, forcing them to act. The vineyard was no longer asking for recognition. It was demanding resolution.
Elena took a deep breath, stepping forward.
"We face them together," she said.
And then—the voices spoke.
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