Chapter 18:Embracing the Unknown
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Azaymos stood at the center of the clearing, the dagger glowing faintly in his hand. The ancient words he had learned from the ruins were ready, but for the first time, there was no fear. The weight of the Tower and his curse still lingered, but now, with this dagger, they could explore worlds they had never imagined.
"We can go anywhere," he said, staring at the glowing runes on the blade.
Nox, standing beside him, crossed her arms, her typical seriousness softening. "Anywhere and everywhere. So much for feeling trapped, huh?"
Rex grinned wide, his silver eyes gleaming with mischief. "New worlds, new places! We could even find a world where I'm the king and you two are my loyal subjects." He puffed out his chest, doing a mock royal wave. "Bow down to your king, peasants!"
Nox snorted. "I'd sooner throw you off a cliff."
Rex's grin only widened. "I'll bet there's a world where cliffs don't exist. Perfect for me."
Azaymos couldn't help but chuckle. "We'll see what we find, but don't get too excited. Not every world will be friendly."
"Hey, I'm just saying," Rex said, still brimming with excitement. "There's probably a world out there where everyone worships me for my perfect hair and my charming personality."
Nox raised an eyebrow. "If we land in that world, I'm walking the other way."
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Azaymos felt the same thrill. "There's so much we don't know. Maybe that's the best part."
Nox nodded. "It's freedom we've never had. I spent my life running from war and trials. Now I want to run toward something."
"Same here," Rex added. "We fought just to survive, but now we fight because we want to. No more chains. Just freedom." He looked up, his expression softening for a moment. "I can finally do what I want, not what's expected of me."
Azaymos turned to Mara, who had been watching quietly. She had always been the calm one, the voice of reason. When she spoke, it was with the weight of someone who had seen more than the rest of them. But today, even she seemed a little lighter.
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Mara stepped forward. "Before we go, we need to set some rules. We're stepping into unknown worlds, and we can't afford to be reckless."
"Here comes the lecture," Rex muttered under his breath, earning a glare from Nox.
"Rule one," Nox said, ignoring Rex, "we stick together. No matter what."
"Rule two," Rex chimed in, "no unnecessary fights. We're not here to conquer these worlds—we're just passing through. If we start trouble, we might never get out. Besides, I've had enough of conquering stuff. It's exhausting."
Azaymos added, "And rule three: we need to be aware of time. After every jump, we'll need to wait until the runes on the dagger are fully recharged. It won't happen right away."
Mara nodded. "Exactly. The dagger will glow brighter as it prepares for the next jump. When the runes pulse with light, we'll know the teleportation is ready again."
Nox raised an eyebrow. "How long will we have to wait?"
Mara shook her head. "It depends on the world we land in. Some may take longer than others. We need to be prepared to stay in one place until the dagger is ready."
"So, rule four," Rex said, counting on his fingers. "Don't go picking fights while we wait for the magic dagger to charge."
"And rule five," Nox said with a smirk, "no more making up worlds where you're king."
Rex gasped in mock horror. "But what if I actually become king in one of the worlds? You'll regret these rules then."
Mara smiled. "There's one last rule: Enjoy the freedom. We may not know how long this journey will last, but…" She paused, glancing at each of them. "I wish these days would never end… because in these moments, we are truly free."
There was a brief silence as the weight of her words settled over them. Even Rex fell quiet, his usual grin softening into something more thoughtful.
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Azaymos held the dagger out in front of him. The runes on the blade began to glow brighter, signaling that the moment to leave was approaching.
"Everyone, gather around," he said.
Nox, Rex, and Mara stepped in close. They had no idea where the dagger would take them next, but for the first time in years, that didn't matter. They weren't running from something—they were running toward it.
Azaymos closed his eyes, speaking the ancient words he had learned.
"As long as we are alive, the curse of existence bonds us. For every dark event, there is light—you only need the right mind to see it."
The runes flared to life, and the ground beneath their feet began to blur as the power of the teleportation consumed them.
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Nox: As the light surrounded her, Nox felt something she hadn't in years—exhilaration. She was no longer running from her past. She was running toward something new.
Rex: Rex's heart raced. The thrill of new worlds, new challenges—it was everything he had dreamed of. No more wars, no more chains. Just the unknown ahead.
Azaymos: As they were pulled into the void, Azaymos felt peace. The dagger was guiding them, and for the first time in a long while, he didn't feel trapped.
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End of Chapter 18