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**Chapter 138: The Echoes' Demand**
The air was thick with expectation, pressing down on the siblings as the voices of the past rose in intensity. The figures stood before them—not ghosts, not mere memories, but something bound to the land, refusing to remain forgotten.
Elena's pendant pulsed steadily, its glow unwavering. The vineyard was no longer whispering—it was demanding. "They won't leave until we answer," she murmured. "Until we make a choice."
Matteo's gaze locked onto the shadows flickering across the earth. "The vineyard's balance depends on this," he said. "On what we do next."
Isabella's fists remained clenched, her posture strong. "Then we don't hesitate," she said. "We stand our ground."
Luca's sharp eyes flickered between the restless forms. "They aren't here for negotiation," he muttered. "They want resolution."
Carlo stepped forward, his grip steady on the ornate box. His silence was deliberate, his gaze unreadable. Finally, he spoke. "The vineyard kept its history buried," he said. "But now—now it wants justice."
Elena turned to him, breath measured despite the growing weight of the moment. "What kind of justice?" she asked. "What must we do?"
Carlo's voice was quiet but firm. "You must decide," he said. "Do you restore what was taken—or do you keep the vineyard as it stands?"
Pietro let out a sharp breath. "That sounds a lot like choosing between survival and disaster," he muttered.
The wind surged suddenly, cutting through the vines with unnatural force. The voices rose—clear, sharp, final.
**"Choose."**
Elena's pulse raced.
The vineyard would not wait.
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