Kael awoke abruptly, gasping for breath.
His heart hammered in his chest, a wild drum echoing in the stillness, while a chill clung to his skin despite the warmth of the sun overhead. Blinking through the haze clouding his vision, Kael finally registered his surroundings.
Sunlight glimmered off the surface of a river that stretched out before him, its waters shimmering like liquid diamonds. It lay silent and serene, a stark contrast to the tempest raging within him.
A river? He frowned, confusion gnawing at him. There had never been one near his town — not in his memory, at least.
His pulse quickened as he pushed himself upright, muscles protesting like they had been strained beyond their limits. His body felt heavy, strange, as if it no longer fully belonged to him. Every fiber of his being screamed in defiance, a reminder of everything brutal.
Everything around him felt... different. More alive.
The air tasted sharper, tinged with a richness he had never inhaled before. The faint scent of damp earth and wildflowers enveloped him, intertwining with the distant sound of rustling leaves, which now seemed to whisper secrets just out of reach.
The symphony of nature felt louder, more defined, as though the world itself had been stripped bare to reveal its truest form. He could hear the rhythmic lapping of water against the shore, the chirping of birds flitting overhead, and the soft murmur of a breeze weaving through the trees.
It all felt like a thousand voices pressing against his mind — too vivid, too real.
And beneath it all, something pulsed within him — something deep and unrefined.
Power.
Raw, untamed power surged through his veins like a wildfire out of control, blazing with an intensity that both electrified and terrified him. It roared through him, fierce and primal, too much to contain, too wild to tame. The sheer force of it made him feel more alive than ever before, every nerve alight with energy.
He staggered to his feet, dizzy from the intensity of it all, and grasped at his head, trying to steady himself against the storm of sensations.
Each heartbeat thudded in his ears, drowning out rational thought. It was intoxicating and overwhelming, and he felt on the edge of something monumental, as if the very essence of the world had shifted, leaving him on a precipice.
The energy was alive, thrumming with potential, a primal force begging to be harnessed, yet it was chaotic and wild — a tempest he had no idea how to control.
He gritted his teeth, his hands clutching at his head as if to steady the torrent.
"It will get better with time."
The voice cut through the storm inside him — clear, commanding, more present than before.
It wasn't a distant whisper now; it was inside him, filling every corner of his thoughts, weaving through the chaos.
"Stop talking," he gritted out, his entire world spinning as he fought to regain control. The urgency of the voice only heightened the disorientation, each word a wave crashing against his fragile composure.
He pushed through the chaos, forcing his scattered thoughts to settle, his breath coming in ragged pulls as he stumbled toward the riverbank. Dropping to his knees by the water's edge, he plunged his hands into the cool liquid and brought it to his mouth, drinking deeply. The coldness rushed down his throat, quenching the dry burn and soothing the rawness within.
He splashed water over his face, letting the droplets trail down his skin. The sharp, refreshing sensation shocked him back to himself, washing away the haze of confusion that clung to him.
For a brief moment, the river's touch seemed to ground him, its cool embrace pulling him back from the brink, and the chaos swirling inside him withdrew just enough for him to catch his breath.
"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse, though he wasn't sure if he was asking himself or the presence within him.
"You may as well ask, where are we?" The voice echoed inside him, smoother now, with a certain satisfaction in its tone. "You and I are bound now. You feel it, don't you? We are one."
Kael clenched his jaw, his fingers curling into fists. "There is no we," the words were firm and harsh in the silence. "I let you in because I need your power to save my grandmother. Nothing more. You help me, and I'll—"
He froze, the weight of a sudden realization crashing down on him. A chill crept through his veins, colder than the river's touch.
He had let this entity into his very soul, surrendered himself to its power, but he had never once stopped to ask what it truly wanted. He had opened the door without questioning the cost.
What price would this demand? The thought cut through him like a blade — sharp, undeniable.
"What do you want?" Kael asked, his voice low, cautious. To anyone watching, he would seem like a madman — a twenty two year old madman, speaking to the empty air, alone by the river.
The silence that followed was heavy, stretching too long. It pressed on Kael's chest like a weight. He could feel the tension build, like the moment before a storm breaks. When the voice finally spoke again, it was deep and resonant.
"Nothing that you cannot bear, Kael," it said softly, almost a murmur that rumbled through him. "I chose you for a reason. But first, I will help you save your grandma. And after that..." A pause, deliberate and ominous. "we shall speak of what I require."
The chill deepened, spreading through Kael's limbs. He didn't like the way it said we shall speak, as if it already knew the ending to this story, as if Kael's fate was sealed. But he had no choice. For now, the terms were clear.
He could only hope it wasn't something too crazy.
"When was the last time you woke up?" Kael's voice was sharp, trying to regain some ground. He needed answers.
The voice hummed, like the crackle of a distant storm. "Do you know about the age of the Vatsaraks?"
"No," Kael answered, his chest tightening with unease.
The voice sighed, a sound rich with ancient weariness. "What do they even teach you at school?"
"It was clearly not that important," he muttered, feeling the voice's disappointment wash over him.
A sigh echoed through his mind, weighted with millennia of disappointment. "They teach you nothing, it seems. The Vatsaraks were the ancient architects of this world. Without them, your kind would not even exist."
Kael frowned, irritation flaring. "Then how long has it been? In years. Tell me."
"Three million years have passed since I last walked the earth."
Kael's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening. He choked, coughing as the revelation hit him. Three million years? His mind struggled to wrap itself around the number. "You're… that old?"
"Older," the voice affirmed, its tone steady and unwavering, as if time meant nothing to it.
So it was going to get crazy, huh?
The notion felt surreal, and he couldn't shake the dread that clung to him like a shadow.
There was no way a deity with such a powerful lineage would rise again for something as trivial as a mortal's plight. He sensed the truth lurking just out of reach, but he knew the voice would answer nothing more at that moment.
Kael's stomach lurched, a cold knot tightening within him. He hadn't just accepted some forgotten deity into his life — this was something far older, far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.
This was not a deity born of legend or myth, not something shaped by human belief. No, this being had existed long before humans had even learned to speak, before the first fires had been kindled, before the world itself had taken its current shape.
"So," Kael began, still grappling with the enormity of it all. "What powers do you have?"
"For that, you have to start walking."
"Don't you know your powers with me standing here?"
There was a long silence, and when it stretched on, Kael scoffed and began to walk aimlessly ahead, confusion mingling with amusement. He found himself oddly light-hearted, the absurdity of the situation almost making him smile.
"Where to? I don't even know this place" he asked, even though his feet were already moving as if drawn forward by some unseen force.
"Are you aware of the Sages?" the voice asked instead.
Kael shrugged slightly. "They teach the heirs — politics, strategy, weaponry, combat. All the things they need to know before taking the throne. And before doing anything important, they seek the Sages' blessings. That's about it."
A brief pause lingered in the air, and Kael felt the voice gathering its thoughts, its presence thick and deliberate.
"The Sages hold far more power than you realize," it replied, its tone weightier, almost reverent. "They are the highest authority in any kingdom. No one questions them. But there's more. They have forsaken material desires, renounced worldly pleasures to align themselves with the divine. They are closer to the deities than men, and in every house, their word is absolute."
Kael absorbed this with a nod. "So what does that mean for me?"
"You will need to earn the sigil of each Sage from every house," the voice said, its tone shifting, a note of gravity creeping in. "Only then can you hope to save your grandmother. But understand this: the houses are not what they seem. They are riddled with greed, corruption, and betrayal. Their truths are hidden behind layers of deception. If you walk blindly, they will devour you."
Kael felt a cold chill settle over him. "So I need power."
"Yes," the voice said firmly. "You must become strong, but above all else, you must learn to conceal me. Let them glimpse what you carry, and you will suffer consequences beyond your imagining."
"How am I supposed to hide you? Is there even a way to check whether you have a system or not?" Kael asked in disbelief, still walking but feeling a strange pull guiding him forward, almost as if the very ground beneath his feet knew where he needed to go. The thought unsettled him.
"She will teach you everything," the voice replied, a hint of certainty in its tone.
"Who is she?"
"Sage Nagasth."
"Who?"
"She is the one who will impart all the knowledge you need about this system. Moreover, she will accompany you on your journey"
Kael came to an abrupt halt. "What do you mean she will be accompanying me?"
"You are destined to collect the sigils of the houses, Kael. Sage Nagasth will guide you through every step."
"I can manage on my own," he retorted, defensiveness rising in his voice.
"You can," the voice affirmed, firm and unwavering. "But there will be moments when you will need guidance. An anchor. In those times, when trust is scarce, Sage Nagasth will be the only one you can rely upon completely."
"Are we going to her right now?" Kael pressed, urgency and anxiety intertwining within him.
The voice paused, as if weighing its response. "Yes."
"Then at least tell me! What the hell?" Frustration seeped into his tone, but silence enveloped him once more, leaving Kael feeling exasperated.
"You can't just act on impulse. If you want this to work, we need to communicate," he said firmly.
"You are different, Kael," the voice replied, its tone heavy with ancient wisdom. He could almost sense its gaze upon him, piercing and knowing.
His brow furrowed as he processed this. "What do you mean?"
"We stand at the precipice of Swarna Mountain, exactly three kilometers from your town. You fainted after the marking, and my Vashira carried you here."
Kael gulped, still in awe of the magnificent shadow he had glimpsed the night before. "Is this where your Vashira resides?"
"My Vashira does not tread upon mortal land", the voice clarified.
"Then where does he stay?"
"On my back."
Kael huffed a laugh, incredulous. "How is that even possible?"
"It's a long story," the voice replied, a trace of amusement woven into its tone, sparking Kael's curiosity.
"Given the long path ahead and no house in sight, a long story would suit the occasion," he urged.
"It's not that lengthy. We are close to reaching our destination."
"You could have just told your Vashira to drop me there directly, you know?" Kael grumbled.
"My Vashira is not here to cater to your whims, Kael," the voice replied. "He is here to protect you when the time comes. Once you fully accept him."
"I did!" Kael shot back, indignation swelling within him. "I let him literally mark me."
"You and this system are meant to be one. He is also a part of your soul, yet you turned your back on him, Kael. He felt the sting of rejection." The voice lowered, its tone steeped in something akin to danger. It felt as if it was holding back a tide of emotions, controlling itself from saying too much, yet yearning to express its deeper feelings.
"You don't sound very happy about it," Kael noted, the weight of those words hanging between them.
"I don't," the voice confirmed, still resonating with that low timbre. "My Vashira is my other half. I don't like seeing him upset. Had it been any other mortal, I would've made sure they suffered."
Kael pursed his lips but decided to ignore the last statement. "Is he upset?"
"He is," came the quiet reply.
"I'm sorry," Kael said, regret washing over him. "But I really couldn't help it. I don't know what took over me."
"You will come to accept it, Kael. You will embrace us with your entire being. I know it," the voice reassured him, its conviction palpable. "Once you understand everything."
"Then why not tell me now? It would save you a whole lot of questions and misunderstandings," Kael pressed, seeking clarity.
The voice sighed, "That is not how prophecies work."
Just as Kael was about to respond, his gaze was drawn ahead, and he froze in place.
Before him stood a house, unlike anything he had ever seen. It was not built; it was carved from the massive trunk of a tree, the wood twisted and gnarled, fused with the forms of other trees to create a living structure.
The bark was smooth, glistening in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the leaves overhead, casting intricate shadows that danced across the ground. The house loomed like a sentinel of the forest, its entrance framed by a natural arch of branches, adorned with clusters of moss and delicate vines that seemed to breathe with life.
The air around it buzzed with a strange energy, as if the forest itself was alive, watching him.
"Enter her place, Kael," the voice urged, breaking his reverie.
As he stepped inside, he was enveloped in a warmth that contrasted sharply with the chill of the outside air.
The interior was a testament to simplicity, filled with an earthy charm that felt both ancient and timeless. There were no modern appliances or devices, only a small kitchen tucked into one corner, its surfaces dusted with the remnants of time, as if it had never been used. The scent of cedar lingered in the air, grounding him as he moved deeper into the dwelling.
His footsteps echoed softly against the wooden floor, until he found himself standing before a heavy door, its surface etched with a magnificent symbol that seemed to pulse with life. The design was intricate, resembling a divine emblem, radiant and commanding, evoking a sense of reverence.
With hesitant hands, he grasped the handle and opened it slowly.
Unlike the warm, inviting atmosphere of the rest of the house, this room was shrouded in darkness. He instinctively searched for a light source, his heart pounding in anticipation, but found nothing to illuminate the shadows that enveloped him.
Stepping cautiously into the room, he stumbled, his foot catching on something unseen, sending him sprawling toward the window. He collided with the pane, the sound echoing through the stillness, and the window burst open with a shuddering thud.
Suddenly, blinding light flooded the chamber, banishing the darkness and revealing the source of the shadowy air.
Kael gasped, his breath caught in his throat. "You've got to be kidding me."
There, bathed in golden light, stood a towering statue of a woman. Her figure was bold, powerful—like a warrior standing at the edge of battle. Every inch of her was carved from solid gold, her posture radiating authority.
In one hand, she held a book, and her eyes — those cold, unblinking eyes — stared directly at him.
Her gaze pierced through him, striking and unyielding, as though she were not merely a statue but a sentinel watching over the very essence of this place.
Kael sidestepped instinctively, but he could not shake the unnerving sensation that those golden eyes were following his every movement, tracking him with a knowing intensity.
The voice inside him stirred, quiet amusement in its tone. "You stand before one of the oldest secrets of this world, Kael. And this is just the beginning."
His heart pounded as he stood there, frozen under the weight of her gaze.
This was getting real. Too real.