Rawa stood in the center of the dark, shifting realm, the remnants of a smile still lingering on his face. His heart felt lighter than it had after ages. For the first time, he no longer considered himself a criminal. He was free—at least, that's what he wanted to believe. But his moment of euphoria was quickly interrupted by Raksh, his mysterious guide and mentor in this illusionary world.
"Hold on, Rawa," Raksh said firmly, his voice cutting through the foggy haze of magic. "You're forgetting something important."
Rawa turned to face Raksh, a tall figure draped in flowing robes of deep crimson. His eyes gleamed with the knowledge of ages, eyes that had seen worlds rise and fall. There was a power in him, and Rawa knew—without Raksh, he was lost. Even with all the strength he'd gained, escaping this intricate illusion magic was beyond him.
Raksh continued, his voice taking on a sharper tone. "You may think you're free now, but there's no escaping this without my help. Remember that."
Rawa nodded, the smile fading. His chest tightened. He had been so caught up in the excitement of his newfound strength that he hadn't realized just how deep the magical trap around him ran. This wasn't an ordinary prison—it was a realm of illusions, a magical maze designed to hold beings far more powerful than he had ever imagined himself becoming.
"Well," Raksh said with a sly smile, "there's really nothing more I can teach you. You've surpassed the strongest human. With the power you now wield, you could lay waste to a kingdom with ease."
Rawa's eyes widened. He hadn't fully grasped the extent of his abilities until now.
"But don't get too comfortable," Raksh added quickly. "At least with today's magical technology, no one will be able to track your true level. You're flying under the radar, for now."
Rawa exhaled, a mix of relief and trepidation settling over him. "Okay," he said quietly.
Raksh took a step closer, his eyes locking onto Rawa's with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. "One more thing—you can't break or escape this illusion magic on your own. I have to teleport you out of here."
Rawa blinked, his mind racing. "I was too happy to ask about that," he admitted with a sheepish grin.
"I know," Raksh said, his voice softening slightly. "But listen closely. I'm going to teleport you to a kingdom called Himdom. You'll find yourself in a forest, unconscious. The kingdom's army will discover you there, and they'll wake you up. Once they do, they'll check your magic level."
"What happens after that?" Rawa asked, his heart pounding with curiosity.
"You'll find the rest of the details there. But know this—they'll need your help. In more ways than one."
Rawa clenched his fists, his thoughts swirling. Raksh was leaving much unsaid, but there was no time for further questions. Rawa felt the familiar hum of magic gathering around them as Raksh began the teleportation spell.
"Good luck, Rawa," Raksh said, his voice echoing as the illusionary world began to collapse around them. "Remember, the fate of more than just yourself rests on your choices now."
Before Rawa could respond, a brilliant flash of light enveloped him, and the realm of illusions dissolved into nothingness. When the blinding light subsided, Rawa found himself lying on the soft, damp forest floor. His body felt heavy, his limbs unresponsive. In the distance, he heard voices—human voices. They were getting closer.
As the world around him flickered back into focus, he opened his eyes just in time to see the figures of armored soldiers approaching. His vision blurred, and the sounds around him became muffled, but he caught fragments of their conversation.
"Is he alive?"
"Yes, but barely. Get him up. We need to bring him to the kingdom."
Before Rawa could protest, strong hands lifted him to his feet, and everything went black once more.
When he awoke again, it was in a stone chamber, sunlight streaming through a small window above. Two men stood at the foot of the bed, one in richly adorned robes, clearly a mage, while the other wore a high-ranking military uniform.
The mage stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he scanned Rawa from head to toe. "We found you unconscious in the forest. You should be dead, but your magical presence... it's off the charts in the sence of absorbing attacks."
Rawa remained silent, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
The mage waved his hand, and a faint glow surrounded Rawa for a brief moment. "Your magic level may surpass anything I. But it's weak."
"I'm... just a traveler," Rawa muttered, unsure of how much to reveal.
"Traveler or not," the soldier said gruffly, "you're in Himdom now, and we need help... like you. The kingdom is under threat from a dark force—something ancient, something powerful. If what my mage says is true, you might be the only one who can help us."
Rawa's mind raced. Raksh had hinted at this—his arrival in Himdom wasn't an accident. This kingdom, and perhaps the world itself, was on the brink of disaster. And somehow, he had become their unlikely savior.
"I'll try to help you as you have saved my life." Rawa said at last. "I'll help you. But first, tell me everything about this dark force."
The mage and soldier exchanged glances before the mage spoke. "It's an ancient evil, older than the kingdom itself. We call it the Black Tide, a malevolent power that devours everything in its path. It was sealed centuries ago by Pear Aqelher , the strongest human mage, but now, the seal is weakening."
"And if it breaks?" Rawa asked.
"Himdom will fall," the mage said solemnly. "And after that, the world."
Rawa took a deep breath, feeling the weight of destiny settle on his shoulders. He had escaped the illusion, but his true journey was just beginning.