Kael's head buzzed with the weight of a thousand thoughts. Memories—not his, not exactly—whirled through his mind, fragmentary and vivid. Flashes of a past he had never lived, faces that didn't belong in his life, emotions foreign and raw.
But now wasn't the time.
He shook his head, casting aside the confusion. There was a task at hand, one that couldn't afford distraction. Kael glanced toward the far end of the dim, cavernous hall where a shimmering portal pulsed with faint energy.
Without hesitation, Kael rose to his feet, crossing the distance in swift, silent strides. He felt the weight of the bottle containing the dark essence of Aethlar in his hand. The power within it pulsed dangerously, almost as if alive. He couldn't linger here.
He stepped through the portal, feeling the familiar sensation of disorientation as reality warped and twisted. His vision blurred, the surroundings shifting and bending until, with a soft lurch, he found himself back where he had left Varin.
"Kael!" Varin's voice came with a rush of relief, the older man's stern composure cracking for just a moment. He hurried toward Kael, eyes scanning him for injury. "Are you okay? You're not hurt?"
Kael gave a terse nod. "I'm fine," he said, though the disquiet of the strange memories still lingered. He pushed it aside for now, and handed the bottle containing the essence to Varin.
Varin took it with both hands, the dark liquid inside swirling ominously. His grip tightened around the bottle, knuckles turning white. The man's usually calm and measured expression was a mask of mixed emotions—relief, fear, hope.
"You... you actually did it," Varin breathed, his voice low, almost disbelieving. He squeezed Kael's shoulder in a rare show of affection, the weight of his gratitude almost palpable.
Kael glanced down at the bottle. "I learned something in there," he began, his voice quieter than usual. "Aethlar's essence—it's not just dark energy. It's Void Aether."
Varin's eyes narrowed, processing the information. "Void Aether..." he murmured, as if tasting the words. "That explains a lot. But it also raises more questions."
Kael didn't elaborate on the memories that had flooded him—the strange flashes of another life, another self. He wasn't ready to discuss it, not until he had pieced it together. Maybe later, when he had more answers. For now, there were more pressing matters.
"We need to meet the Eternal of Creation and Rebirth. The last information Limo gave me was that it's at Eternal city of Muriath," Kael said, his voice resolute. "We can't afford to waste time."
Varin nodded, his demeanor shifting back to his usual stoic self. He withdrew an orb from his cloak and activated it. With a flicker of light, they were both transported back to Aeloria, the bustling city they had departed from earlier.
The familiar sights and sounds of Aeloria filled the air—the low hum of distant conversations, the soft glow of runes embedded in the walls. They were back, but not for long.
"Let's use the teleport portal to reach Muriath," Kael suggested.
Varin agreed without hesitation, and they moved quickly toward the teleportation platform, a raised area in the heart of the city where shimmering portals linked the various Eternal cities. As they approached, a guard stopped them.
"Destination?" the guard asked in a clipped tone.
"Muriath," Kael replied, his voice firm.
The guard inserted a token into the system and after a brief moment, he nodded. "Muriath's portal will open in fifteen minutes. The fee is 400 dark essence per person."
Kael and Varin paid without protest, handing over the dark essence crystals that served as currency in these parts. The guard handed them a numbered token and gestured toward the waiting area. "Your number is 12. Wait near the platform until your number is called."
Kael glanced at the row of archway portals. Seven in total, each one connected to another city. One of the portals was dimmed, the energies within dormant.
"Seems like one of the cities is out of service," Kael thought idly, his eyes lingering on the darkened arch.
After a few minutes, a soft chime rang out, and the fifth portal illuminated. A holographic number 12 hovered above it, signaling that their portal was ready.
A calm, authoritative voice echoed through the chamber, its tone laced with urgency:
"Destination: Muriath. Please proceed through the gateway within the next ten seconds. Failure to comply will result in immediate closure of the portal."
"Let's go," Varin said, and together they stepped toward the shimmering gateway.
The moment they entered, they were engulfed in a swirl of energy. Kael's stomach churned as the sensation of being unmoored from space hit him, the swirling vortex disorienting his senses. But it was over as quickly as it began. They emerged on the other side, blinking against the stark contrast of their new surroundings.
Muriath. The Eternal City of Ash.
Kael had heard stories about this place, but seeing it in person was something else entirely. The city sprawled before them, built atop a desolate wasteland. Its buildings were forged from dark stone, the air thick with the smell of ash and burning. In the center of the city, towering above everything, was the Phoenix Pyre—a massive bonfire that blazed with unnatural intensity.
"The city of rebirth," Varin murmured, his voice filled with a mix of awe and unease.
Kael nodded, his gaze sweeping over the city. Muriath, the Eternal of Creation and Rebirth, ruled over this place. A city that lived and died in a continuous cycle, mirroring the Eternal's power over life and death.
"What a peculiar city," Kael muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Together, they made their way to the Veil's base. But what they found wasn't a military outpost or a fortress. It was a temple, grand and solemn, with people streaming in and out, heads bowed in prayer. The air was thick with reverence, and the quiet hum of whispered prayers filled the space.
"This isn't quite what I was expecting," Varin remarked dryly, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a hint of skepticism. "Are we sure this is the right place?" he added, raising an eyebrow.
They entered the temple, the heat from the bonfire at its center brushing against their skin. Beneath the flames, ash swirled in hypnotic patterns, feeding the fire in a continuous loop of consumption and rebirth.
A hooded figure approached them, the soft rustling of their robes the only sound they made. "You seem out of place," the figure said, his voice gentle but direct. "Do you require assistance?"
Kael exchanged a glance with Varin before speaking. "We're looking for the Veil."
The hooded man nodded, as though expecting this. "Ah, you seek the Veil. You must be the new Reborns then?"
Both Kael and Varin stiffened slightly at the comment. "We're not Reborns," Kael said, though a part of him wondered just how much of that was true now. He kept his face neutral, unwilling to reveal too much.
The clergy smiled softly, his eyes glinting with understanding. "I will take you to them. Follow me."
The walk through the temple was a quiet one, the air heavy with the weight of faith and ritual. Kael felt the eyes of the worshippers on him, their gazes filled with curiosity. But there was no malice, only quiet reverence.
They reached a door at the far end of the hallway, seamless and unmarked. The clergy gestured for them to wait and then left them to their own devices.
"No handle?" Kael muttered, frowning.
"Maybe it's like back in Aethlar," Varin suggested, pulling out the Veil token. As soon as the token was brought near the door, it began to glow, revealing a portal hidden in plain sight.
Stepping through, Kael found himself in an entirely different place. It wasn't the dark, solemn temple they had just left—it was a small town, bustling with life. Training grounds, marketplaces, and armories dotted the landscape. People milled about, some training, others trading or simply resting.
"Welcome to the Veil," a booming voice called out.
Kael turned to see a stout man approaching them, a massive claymore slung across his shoulder. The man grinned widely, his thick armor clinking as he moved. "You must be Kael and Varin," he said. "The names' Rocky. You're here to see the Eternal of Creation and Rebirth, right?"
Kael nodded. "That's right. Can you take us to him?"
Rocky's grin widened. "Oh, I can do that. But first..." He hefted the massive claymore off his shoulder, planting it firmly into the ground. "How about a quick spar? Just to see what you're made of."
Kael's eyes narrowed, his pulse quickening with anticipation. He exchanged a glance with Varin, who simply shrugged.
"Sure," Kael said, stepping forward. "I'll go first."
The grin on Rocky's face grew even wider, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now that's the spirit."
As they squared off, Kael felt the familiar rush of adrenaline surge through his veins. He could tell, even from a distance, that Rocky was no amateur. This was going to be interesting.
And somewhere, deep in the back of Kael's mind, the strange memories stirred once more.
But for now, he had a battle to fight.