The weight of the knowledge Evelyn now carried felt heavier than anything she had ever imagined. The ritual that bound the ancient secrets of The Source to her mind had left her feeling like a different person—one who bore the burden of centuries of forgotten history, lost magic, and dangerous truths. Every waking moment was a struggle to hold onto her identity as the flood of information from civilizations long gone threatened to overwhelm her.
Claire and Marcus walked beside her in the narrow, winding streets of Riverton, their expressions filled with concern. Since the moment Seraphine had completed the ritual, they had been watching her closely, as though they expected her to break at any moment. Evelyn knew they were worried, but she had made her choice. If carrying the weight of The Source's knowledge was the price to pay for protecting the world, she would bear it.
Still, the whispers of the past filled her mind, voices of long-dead scholars, priests, and warriors who had once sought to control the power she now held. The history of The Source wasn't just a series of events—it was a web of intrigue, betrayal, and sacrifice that spanned millennia. And as Evelyn sifted through the overwhelming flood of memories, she realized that much of what they had thought they knew about The Source was wrong.
"There's something we missed," Evelyn said softly, breaking the silence as they walked.
Marcus turned to her, his face etched with concern. "What do you mean?"
Evelyn paused, her mind sorting through the fragments of ancient memories that now filled her consciousness. "The Source… it wasn't just a tool for creation or destruction. It was part of something much larger. Something older."
Claire frowned, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Older than The Source? But we thought The Source was the oldest power in existence."
Evelyn shook her head, her eyes distant as she stared ahead. "No, that's what the Arcane Order believed. But the truth is, The Source was discovered by an even more ancient civilization—one that predates everything we've learned so far. The Source was their legacy, but it was only a fragment of what they once controlled."
Marcus's face hardened. "How is that possible? What civilization are you talking about?"
Evelyn took a deep breath, struggling to put the pieces together. "They called themselves 'The Keepers of the World.' They were the first civilization to rise after the dawn of creation. They were the ones who discovered The Source and realized its power, but they didn't seek to control it the way the civilizations after them did. Instead, they sought to protect it."
"The Keepers of the World?" Claire repeated, her voice filled with awe. "We've never heard of them."
Evelyn nodded, her voice tinged with sadness. "That's because they were erased from history. The knowledge of their existence was deliberately hidden, sealed away, just like The Source itself. They were the ones who placed the original safeguards—the curses, the rituals, everything we've encountered. They wanted to protect the world from the temptation of The Source."
Marcus's fists clenched at his sides, his face grim. "So if they were so powerful, what happened to them? Why did they disappear?"
Evelyn's heart ached as the answer came to her, the weight of the truth settling over her like a shroud. "They made a choice. When they realized that The Source's power was too dangerous to leave unchecked, they sacrificed themselves. They sealed their knowledge, their history, and their very existence away, ensuring that no one would ever be able to follow in their footsteps."
Claire's eyes widened in shock. "They erased themselves from history? All to protect the world?"
Evelyn nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes. And now, that knowledge—their sacrifice—is bound to me."
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the gravity of what Evelyn had just revealed. The ancient civilization known as the Keepers of the World had disappeared from history, not because they had been conquered or destroyed, but because they had chosen to fade into oblivion to protect the future.
"They were the true guardians," Marcus said softly, his voice filled with respect. "And now, you're carrying their legacy."
Evelyn's chest tightened at the thought. She wasn't just carrying the knowledge of The Source—she was carrying the weight of an entire civilization's sacrifice, their forgotten history, and the choices they had made to safeguard the world.
"We need to find the lost records," Evelyn said firmly, her resolve hardening. "If we can uncover what's left of their knowledge, we might be able to piece together the full story. We need to understand why they made the choices they did, and whether there's still something we can do to stop Lucian."
Claire's eyes widened. "You think the Keepers left something behind?"
Evelyn nodded. "They had to. Their knowledge was too valuable to disappear completely. There may still be remnants of their legacy hidden somewhere, waiting to be found."
Marcus glanced at her, his face filled with determination. "Then we need to find it. Before Lucian does."