Aella pushed open the heavy obsidian doors with a deep breath. The air within the chamber was cool and still starkly contrasting to the bustling activity of the Oculus corridors. In the heart of the Wardens' headquarters, the Council of Elders, the highest authority within the organization resided.
The chamber itself was a testament to both power and history. Glowing runes pulsed along the walls, casting an ethereal green light illuminating the polished obsidian floor. Ancient tapestries depicting past battles and forgotten rituals adorned the walls, whispering tales of the Wardens' long and storied history.At the chamber's head sat three figures, their faces etched with the wisdom of countless years spent safeguarding Akara. In the center throne, carved from a single massive obsidian crystal, sat Warden Thalnos, the Elder Sentinel. His piercing blue eyes, the only part of his face not obscured by a flowing white beard, held the weight of ages. Flanking him were Warden Elara, the Elder Archivist, a woman whose sharp intellect was as legendary as her knowledge of Akara's history, and Warden Korvus, the Elder Forgemaster, his calloused hands and intense gaze betraying a life spent mastering the arcane art of imbuing weapons and armor with potent enchantments.Aella, her armor gleaming faintly in the green light, approached the Council with a respectful bow. "Elders," she greeted, her voice echoing in the vast chamber.Warden Thalnos, his voice a low rumble, spoke first. "Aella of the Windswept Plains. Your unexpected summons piqued our curiosity. What brings you before the Council?"Aella straightened, her voice unwavering. "Elders, I report on a recent mission undertaken in the Eastern Deserts." Briefly, she recounted their encounter with the Sand Wyrm, its unusual behavior, and the nearby outpost's suspicion of Cult of the Obsidian Maw activity.Warden Elara interrupted, her brow furrowed. "A Sand Wyrm venturing so far east? That is indeed concerning. And the Cult's presence… troubling news."Aella nodded. "However, that's not all. I encountered a… stranger. A young man from beyond the Veil."A collective gasp escaped the Elders. The concept of beings from beyond Akara was not entirely unknown, whispered about in ancient texts and shrouded in legend.Warden Korvus, his voice gruff, spoke up. "Beyond the Veil? You are certain, Aella? This is a matter of utmost importance."Aella met his gaze unflinchingly. "Indeed, Elder Korvus. He claims to have arrived through… unusual means. My initial suspicion was warranted, but upon further questioning, he seems genuine in his confusion and fear."She continued, detailing the events at the regional outpost, Minjun's behavior, and what little she learned about him. The Council listened intently, their faces unreadable.Warden Thalnos stroked his beard thoughtfully. "And what do you suggest we do with this… visitor, Aella?"Aella hesitated. Though she believed Minjun, a flicker of doubt lingered. "I propose we question him ourselves. Assess his intentions and determine the validity of his claims. Only then can we decide how to proceed."The Elders exchanged glances. The implications of an outsider from another dimension were vast, potentially signaling a new threat or a chance encounter. They needed more information before making a decision."Very well, Aella," Warden Thalnos finally declared. "Bring this… visitor before us. We shall see what mysteries he holds within."Aella bowed her head once more. "As you command, Elders."With that, she turned and exited the chamber, leaving the Council of Elders to ponder the strange turn of events and the enigmatic arrival of Minjun, the man from beyond the Veil.The oppressive silence of the chamber settled back in after Aella's departure. The three Elders exchanged weighty glances, the implications of her report hanging heavy in the air. Beings from beyond the Veil – the very notion sent shivers down their spines, a stark reminder of ancient prophecies and forbidden lore.Warden Elara, the Elder Archivist, was the first to break the silence. Her voice, a low murmur, echoed in the vast chamber. "The Veil," she breathed, her sapphire eyes reflecting the otherworldly glow of the runes. "It has remained undisturbed for millennia. What could have caused such a breach?"Warden Korvus, the Elder Forgemaster, his calloused hand clenched into a fist, rumbled in agreement. "This is no mere anomaly. The Cult's presence in the Eastern Deserts... could it be connected?"The history of the Veil was a tapestry woven with myth and legend. Ancient texts spoke of gateways, dimensional rifts opened by powerful entities during a forgotten age. These gateways were said to be volatile, unpredictable, and often one-way journeys. But the precise nature of their workings remained shrouded in mystery.Warden Thalnos, the Elder Sentinel, the wisdom of ages etched on his weathered face, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The possibility is… troubling, to say the least. We must tread carefully. A stranger from another world… the implications are far-reaching."Their discussion continued, delving deeper into the forgotten lore, piecing together fragments of knowledge from ancient texts. They spoke of whispers, of fallen civilizations obsessed with breaching the Veil, and of the catastrophic consequences they unleashed.Suddenly, the chamber doors slid open with a hiss, revealing a Warden guard. He bowed his head respectfully. "Elders," he intoned, "The visitor, Minjun, awaits your questioning in the designated chamber."A tense silence followed. The Elders exchanged another look, a silent agreement passing between them. Warden Thalnos rose from his obsidian throne, his movements surprisingly spry for his age. "Very well," he declared, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Let us see what this visitor from beyond has to say."With Warden Elara flanking him, Warden Thalnos exited the chamber, leaving Warden Korvus to his contemplation. The Forgemaster watched them leave, a flicker of unease in his deep-set eyes. This stranger, this Minjun, was an enigma, a potential key to unlocking secrets they had hoped would remain buried.The interrogation chamber was a spartan room, devoid of ornamentation. Minjun sat on a simple wooden bench, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. Nervousness gnawed at him, the weight of the unknown pressing down heavily. He glanced at the obsidian door every few seconds, his heart pounding in his chest.The door finally creaked open, and a figure entered. Minjun stood abruptly, his breath catching in his throat. The figure was tall and imposing, clad in gleaming blue and silver Warden armor. His face, etched with the lines of a life lived in service, was stern and unyielding. A flowing white beard framed his mouth, which was set in a firm line. This, he presumed, was one of the Elders Aella had mentioned.The Elder, Warden Thalnos, surveyed Minjun with a piercing gaze. His eyes, the color of a deep ocean, seemed to pierce right through him, judging his very soul. Minjun felt as if all his secrets were laid bare under that scrutiny. He remained silent, waiting for the inevitable questioning.Warden Thalnos settled into the chair opposite Minjun, his movements surprisingly graceful for a man of his stature. He cleared his throat. "Greetings," his voice rumbled, a deep counterpoint to the silence of the room. "I am Warden Thalnos, Elder Sentinel of the Wardens. And you, young man, are…?"Minjun took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "Minjun," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "Minjun from… well, from another world."Warden Thalnos's gaze remained fixed on him, searching, unblinking. "Another world? Explain yourself, Minjun. How did you come to Akara?"Minjun launched into his story, his voice gaining strength with each sentence. He described the storm, the blinding light, the sudden feeling of falling, and finally, the harsh awakening in the desert sands. He spoke of the confusion, the fear, and the encounter with Aella that led him here.The Elder listened intently, his expression unreadable. When Minjun finished, a thoughtful silence descended upon the room. Finally, Warden Thalnos spoke, his voice low. "And this… remnant you described, the one you found near the Sand Wyrm?"Minjun, confused for a moment, finally understood. "The… the glowing sphere? It's not a sphere anymore. Aella allowed me to keep it as a… token of my arrival." He reached into his pocket and retrieved the pendant, the intricate lines of the inscription catching the faint light filtering through the window.Warden Thalnos's eyes widened a fraction, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He extended his hand towards the pendant. "May I see it?"Hesitantly, Minjun placed the pendant in the Elder's calloused palm. Warden Thalnos's fingers traced the inscription, his brow furrowed in concentration."This script…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. "This is… Sanskrit. An ancient language from a long-lost civilization on Akara."Minjun's brows furrowed. "Sanskrit? On Earth, we have a language by that name. It's associated with ancient texts and spiritual traditions."Warden Thalnos looked up at him sharply, a flicker of something akin to surprise crossing his face before it was quickly masked. He cleared his throat. "Indeed," he said, his voice regaining its neutral tone. "Perhaps… a coincidence."Minjun felt a jolt. The similarities were too striking to be mere chance. Here he was, on another planet, holding an object inscribed in a language that existed on his own world, a world that supposedly knew nothing of magic or alternate dimensions."But… how?" he blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief. "Do you mean to tell me there's some kind of… connection between our worlds? How else can you explain the language, the similar biology, the environments? We have deserts, mountains, oceans, just like Akara, even though we don't have magic or technology like yours."Warden Thalnos studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "The universe is a vast and mysterious place, Minjun," he said finally. "There are things we Wardens understand, and others… others that remain shrouded in shadow."His words held a veiled hint of something more, a secret knowledge he wasn't readily sharing. But Minjun, fueled by a growing sense of wonder and confusion, pressed on."Multiple dimensions, beings with immense power… it's all so overwhelming. How can you be so sure I'm not some kind of… threat? And how can these similarities exist between our worlds?"Warden Thalnos sighed, a faint rumble in his chest. "We are assessing that very question, Minjun," he said. "Your arrival, the unusual circumstances surrounding it, and the presence of this inscription… these are things that require careful consideration. However, the fact that you possess an object inscribed in a long-dead language of Akara… it compels us to explore the possibility of… a deeper connection."The Elder's words confirmed Minjun's suspicion – the Wardens knew more than they were letting on. The question was, what were they hiding? And more importantly, how did it all tie back to him and his unexpected arrival on Akara?Minjun squirmed on the hard bench, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. Warden Thalnos's words landed like thunderbolts, each sentence shattering his previous understanding of the universe."Millennia?" Minjun stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "But… but Sanskrit is an ancient language on Earth. It's associated with a specific country, you see, a place called India. They believe it's a language passed down from their gods."A flicker of surprise crossed Warden Thalnos's face. "Gods?" he echoed, a low rumble in his chest. "Like… in plural? Gods specific to a single nation?"Minjun blinked, thrown for a loop. "Well, yes," he stammered. "On Earth, there are many different religions and cultures, each with their own beliefs about gods and creation stories. In India, they have a pantheon of gods and goddesses, each with their own domain and purpose."Warden Thalnos studied him intently, his gaze burning with an intensity that made Minjun squirm. "Pantheon? Multiple deities?" he murmured, his voice barely audible."Yes!" Minjun blurted out, desperate to understand the Warden's reaction. "There's Christianity, with their one God and his son, Jesus Christ. Islam has Allah, the one and only God. Judaism talks about Yahweh, the God of Abraham. And then there are cultures like the Egyptians with their many gods, the Greeks with their pantheon on Mount Olympus, the Norse with their Odin and Thor…"With each name, each culture, each religion, Minjun observed the Warden's face for any hint of recognition. A flicker of surprise here, a furrowed brow there. It fueled a growing suspicion within him – the Warden knew something, something about the connections Minjun was unwittingly revealing."And the languages!" Minjun continued, his voice gaining momentum. "There are thousands of languages spoken on Earth, each with its own unique structure and history. Some are related, like the Romance languages that evolved from Latin, but others are completely different, like Chinese or Japanese."Warden Thalnos remained silent, his expression unreadable, but his posture seemed to tense ever so slightly. Minjun pressed on, determined to wring some information out of him."It's… fascinating, isn't it?" Minjun said, his voice trembling slightly. "The sheer diversity of human belief, the countless stories about creation and the divine. It makes you wonder if there's some… underlying truth, some connection across cultures and continents."A long, tense silence descended upon the room. Finally, Warden Thalnos spoke, his voice a low rasp. "There are… whispers, young man. Legends passed down through generations, tales of a time before the sundering, when Akara was whole."He paused, his gaze distant, as if looking through Minjun to a forgotten past. "These legends speak of a golden age, when different cultures and languages thrived across the land. Some worshipped powerful beings they called 'The Weavers,' beings who supposedly shaped the fabric of reality itself."Minjun's breath hitched. "Weavers?" he echoed, the word resonating within him. "Those are the beings spoken of in some Earth religions too! Creators, shapers of existence…"Warden Thalnos leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But harmony did not last," he said. "Akara's power, its connection to the very essence of creation, attracted… unwanted attention."He looked at Minjun, his eyes filled with a chilling sense of dread. "Forces from beyond the veil, from realities beyond our comprehension, threatened to tear Akara apart. The Weavers, in a desperate attempt to protect their world, sealed the breaches, fracturing Akara and scattering its essence across the cosmos."Warden Thalnos fell silent, the weight of the revelation hanging heavy in the air. Minjun's mind reeled. Beings with immense power, a war spanning dimensions, a shattered world… it was a story so fantastical, so terrifying, that it defied comprehension."But… but the cultures, the languages," Minjun stammered, struggling to process everything. "You mentioned similar stories, similar structures… could it be…?"The door creaked open before Minjun could finish his question. Warden Thalnos rose abruptly, his face a mask of conflicting emotions. "These are ancient secrets, Minjun," he said, his voice a low growl. "Secrets that hold the potential for both wonder and destruction."He paused, his gaze locking onto Minjun's. "We will discuss this further… later. But for now, you will remain under observation."With that, Warden Thalnos turned and strode out of the room, leaving Minjun alone with his swirling thoughts and a chilling suspicion.