Chapter 100: The Shadows of Truth
The tension in the air was palpable as Yun-ho, Nova, Ethan, and Anya gathered in an old abandoned classroom, hidden deep within Eternity Academy's east wing. The academy halls were quiet at this hour, and a soft glow from the moon filtered through the dusty windows, casting eerie shadows around them.
"So, Elara said that we're not ready for what's coming, right?" Anya broke the silence, leaning against a cracked wall, her brow furrowed in concern. "But she didn't tell us exactly what it is."
Yun-ho nodded, recalling the cryptic words from the elusive figure who had appeared the night before. Elara wasn't someone you could seek out intentionally; she found you when she believed you needed guidance. Her sudden appearance last night had left more questions than answers. Her haunting eyes had locked onto Yun-ho's, as she whispered: The Heart is only the beginning. The swords you wield will betray you.
"I don't understand what she meant by that," Yun-ho muttered. His hand instinctively moved to the Crimson Reaper, the heroic-grade relic at his side. The thought of his weapon betraying him seemed absurd. "How can a weapon have its own will?"
Ethan, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. "Maybe it's not the weapon itself… but the power we've been relying on. These relics, the contracts with our constellations… it's all connected somehow." There was a shadow of doubt in his voice, though he tried to mask it with nonchalance.
Nova crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "We've faced worse, Ethan. Whatever's coming, we'll handle it. Elara's warning is just that—a warning. We need to be prepared, not scared."
Anya nodded, but there was a glint of unease in her eyes. "The cursed blades," she murmured, thinking back to the rumors they'd heard recently. "Those relics that have been showing up—more powerful, but more dangerous."
Just as Yun-ho was about to respond, the air in the room grew cold, and a chilling presence filled the space. Without warning, the door to the classroom creaked open, revealing a figure cloaked in shadows. It was the Wraith.
"You still don't see the full picture," it hissed, its voice echoing as if from another realm. "Your battles are far from over. You've merely scratched the surface of what's to come."
The group tensed, instinctively reaching for their weapons.
"Why do you keep appearing?" Yun-ho demanded, his voice sharp. "What's your role in all of this?"
The Wraith's eyes glowed from beneath its hood, fixing them with a gaze that sent a shiver down their spines. "You're all connected to something much darker than you realize. The relics you seek, the cursed blades, and the Heart of Darkness… all paths lead to ruin if you're not careful."
As the words hung in the air, the Wraith vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving the group standing in silence, the weight of its warning settling over them.
Nova was the first to break the silence. "I don't like this. We need to figure out what's going on—and fast."
Yun-ho, still staring at the space where the Wraith had stood, clenched his fist. "We will. But first, we need more allies."
This was only the beginning of a much larger storm, one they would need all their strength and wits to survive.