"Do you want to activate the Orb of Silence?" the system asked.
"Yes," William replied, his excitement barely contained.
A small pulse of soul essence flowed from his heart, traveling down to the hand that held the orb. The orb glowed softly, and then—silence.
The silence that enveloped William was overwhelming. The orb in his hand glowed faintly, casting a dim light, but it was the stillness that captured his attention. His ears strained for sound, any sound—but there was nothing. Not even the wind stirred. It was as if the entire world had been muted.
He could hear his own heartbeat, slow and steady, the blood rushing through his veins like the soft hum of a distant river. Each breath he took was amplified in his chest, yet no sound escaped. It was unsettling but thrilling.
