The room he walked into was a wide open circular area with a pedestal in the middle holding a large stone tablet, all around the room against the walls were rows upon rows of candles and incense burners.
"where all the people", was the first question that popped into Hawkfrost's head as he admired the tranquility that permeated the room.
"At the front of the temple paying respects and getting fortunes from brother Malcus no doubt. He always did have a flair for the theatrical," the man said closing the door behind them.
"you mean people haven't been getting actual fortunes?" Hawkfrost asked his voice echoing slightly in the near empty room.
"Exactly! You see, the artifact is too important to let everyone use it, it could be broken. So what we decided to do was put on a bit of a light show with illusion magic giving people good advice and hopeful futures instead of turning away so many in need of help.
We've in truth only used the real deal a select number of times to gain insight into certain events. The rat plague that happened last year was prevented from getting worse thanks to the tablet," the priest explained while gesturing for Hawkfrost to approach the tablet with him.
"So why show me this?" Hawkfrost asked listening to the priest and approaching the tablet.
"Because I feel that Lua lead me to you, to help set you on your path, like you said she cannot speak so she finds other ways to communicate her will to others", he explained.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Father Wilkins I'm the head priest of this temple", with that said the man smiled and gestured for Hawkfrost to touch the tablet.
Doing as the priest inclined he lay both his hands on the sides of the tablet and peered into the stone. He stared into the stone for what he assumed was a good minute before looking up to ask the preist if he was using it right only to find himself staring at himself. Taken aback he watched as this version mimiced his movements, before turning around and walking into covering off fog he hadn't noticed had engulfed him.
The fog slowly parted to reveal crumbling buildings, fire ravaging the city around him only to be snuffed out by tendrils of ice that took its shape. looking for the source of the ice he turned around and saw himself glowing blue runes coating his arm wrapping into patterns around his body. The shock was enough to make him release the death grip he was unaware he was maintaining on the tablet.
Looking around him he saw the scene fade away melting like ice in heat of summer. Revealing the interior chamber room and several armed guards who were now pointing an assortment of weapons in his direction. A scared expression coating their face as they gazed at him, no not at at his arms. following their gaze he saw the bandages that were covering them had disappeared showing the blue glowing runes which covered his arms.
Looking among the faces he tried to pick out the preist who had lead him here, and given him permission to use the tablet surely he could explain all this to the gaurd and to himself. Among the group a priest pushed forward his eyes wide as the hood of his robes hung loosely around his neck.
"of course, only one such as you could operate the tablet so easily."
A whisper passed through the gaurds, a singular word, one he knew by heart from years of torment. The very reason he had sought a new life. Runeborne.