**Chapter 9: The Inner Slough**

As Cormag gazed out into the burning red sky, he felt a sense of disorientation wash over him. The air was thick with an otherworldly energy that seemed to vibrate through every cell in his body. Sith stood beside him, his eyes fixed on the horizon, his expression unreadable. The creature's voice echoed in Cormag's mind, guiding them forward. "The Inner Slough is a realm of resonance, where the fabric of reality is thin. Here, you will find the heart of the Slough, a place of great power and great danger." Cormag took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their journey bearing down on him. He looked at Sith, and saw that his friend was gazing out at the horizon, his eyes narrowed against the glare. "What's out there?" Cormag asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Sith turned to him, his eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "I don't know," he said, "but I think we're about to find out." As they spoke, the ground beneath their feet began to shift and tremble. The air seemed to thicken, like a physical presence, and Cormag felt a strange, tingling sensation in his fingers. The creature's voice echoed in his mind once more. "The resonance is building," it said. "You must be careful, for the energies at work here can be overwhelming." Cormag nodded, though he wasn't sure if the creature could see him. He felt a sense of trepidation building in his chest, a sense of foreboding that seemed to grow with every passing moment. As they stood there, a figure emerged on the horizon. It was distant, at first, but grew larger with every passing moment. Cormag saw that it was a woman, her long hair streaming behind her like a banner. She was running, her feet pounding the ground in a rhythmic beat that seemed to match the vibration of the air. As she drew closer, Cormag saw that she was beautiful, her features chiseled and perfect. But there was something wrong about her, something that didn't quite add up. Her eyes seemed too bright, her skin too pale. Sith's hand went to the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowing as he watched the woman approach. "Who is she?" he asked, his voice low and wary. Cormag shook his head, feeling a sense of unease building in his chest. "I don't know," he said, "but I think we're about to find out." The woman drew closer, her eyes fixed on Cormag and Sith. As she approached, Cormag felt a strange, thrumming sensation in his chest, like the beat of a drum. He looked at Sith, and saw that his friend was experiencing it too. The woman stopped in front of them, her eyes flashing with a fierce, otherworldly energy. "I am the Echo," she said, her voice like music. "And I have been waiting for you." Cormag felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed into her eyes. He knew that they were in for a surprise, one that would change the course of their journey forever.