The dim light of the hollowed tree chamber flickered as the three Tracients stood in silence. Trevor had composed himself, though the faint echo of the intense Mana from moments before still lingered in the air. Kon, remained tense, his eyes darting toward Trevor as if trying to make sense of what he had just witnessed. Nothing—not even the dangerous battles he had fought against Razik—had ever shaken him quite like that brief surge of energy.
Adam, standing close by, tried to cheer Trevor up, but the monkey Tracient had already shrugged off the heavy atmosphere, his playful demeanor slipping back into place. In a show of resilience, Trevor suddenly made fun of Kon's fear, chuckling as he swayed his tail back and forth. "Did I scare you, stripes? I thought nothing fazed the great Kon Kaplan!"
Kon's eyes narrowed, and before Adam could intervene, Kon lunged at Trevor, who nimbly dodged him. "Why you—!" Kon barked, chasing after Trevor as the monkey darted around the chamber, swinging from what few remaining fixtures were still intact.
Adam couldn't help but laugh, the tension of their situation lifting for a brief moment as Kon and Trevor continued their chase. It was strange how quickly things could change—from intense and frightening to lighthearted in an instant. But this was how they coped, Adam thought. It was how they all dealt with the unknown.
After a few moments of playful pursuit, it was Trevor who surprisingly called them to order. He jumped down from a hanging beam, landing gracefully beside the wall with the ancient inscriptions. "Alright, alright, enough messing around," Trevor said, brushing dust from his fur. "We've got a job to do, remember?"
Adam and Kon exchanged surprised looks before joining Trevor at the wall. Trevor touched the writings carefully, his brow furrowed in concentration. As his fingers grazed the carved figures, something seemed to resonate within him. A faint shimmer ran through the stone, and Trevor took a deep breath, feeling the lingering magic still trapped within the text.
"There's still some magic in this…" Trevor muttered under his breath. His orange eyes gleamed as he focused. "Let me read this aloud."
As Trevor began reading the ancient text, the glowing figures on the walls shifted, transforming into vivid, materialized images that floated in the air before them. Adam and Kon stared in awe as the story unfolded before their eyes, the room dimming slightly as the figures came to life.
"In the beginning, there was nothing but void," Trevor read, his voice steady and clear. "A vast emptiness that stretched beyond comprehension, where neither light nor shadow held sway. It was a place devoid of time and space, where the concept of existence had yet to take root. But then, from the depths of this void, a sound emerged—a hymn, soft and sweet, carried on the voice of a being."
The images of swirling darkness filled the chamber, only to be pierced by a single, glowing light. The faint melody of a hymn seemed to hum through the air, and Adam could almost feel the power in it, as if the song itself held the essence of creation.
Trevor continued, his eyes widening slightly as he read. "This song, pure and gentle, began to weave itself into the fabric of nothingness, creating something from the void. The song was more than mere sound—it was a force, a call that resonated with everything it touched. In response on this song, many other voice rose up and sang along. "
The images shifted again, showing light spreading across the void, followed by tiny, shimmering sparks—each one a glowing note in the divine symphony. They were other voices coming from these sparks, answering to the first voice. They were the Stars.
"For those with hearts untainted by malice, the melody brought peace, wrapping them in a sense of calm that could soothe even the most troubled soul," Trevor read on. "But for those with darkness in their hearts, it stirred feelings of uncertainty, anger, and deep resentment."
As the other voices died down, the first hymn continued in the images, the figures on the walls began to depict a great light rising—what would later be called the sun—its brilliance casting warmth over the newly created world.
Adam, mesmerized by the story, finally spoke. "This is the same tale my guardian told me as a child," he said softly, his eyes tracing the images. "The story of how the world was created by the Great Lion."
Trevor glanced at him, then continued reading, his voice filled with awe. "The Great Lion's song went on to create everything that is known to exist. But sensing a great evil lurking in the still-young world, the Great Lion took action. He channeled the essence of the world into five core concepts—Creation, Destruction, Derision, Evolution, and Emotion—each meant to balance the forces of reality. To safeguard these forces, he placed them into six pieces of jewelry, which would become known as the Aryas."
The images shifted once more, this time showing the creation of the Aryas—brilliant jewels radiating power, each one representing one of the core concepts. Adam and Kon watched in silence, captivated by the unfolding tale.
Trevor's voice lowered slightly as he continued, "These Aryas were entrusted to five different Tracients at the beginning of time. The Arya of Creation was given to a wolf Tracient. The Arya of Destruction was entrusted to a tiger Tracient." At this, Kon's eyes flickered, his hand subconsciously scratching the ring on his finger. The very same jewel passed down through his lineage. Trevor didn't notice and kept reading. "The Arya of Derision was given to a monkey Tracient. The Arya of Evolution was entrusted to a bull Tracient, and the final Arya, the Arya of Emotion, was given to a white fox Tracient."
As Trevor spoke, images of these Tracients materialized, each one holding an Arya, their forms glowing with power. "Together, they fought against the great evil that threatened the world and defeated it. But their descendants were tasked with protecting the Aryas, and each generation was to continue the battle, fighting against the evil in all its forms until the end of time."
The story came to a close as the final image—an intricate painting of the first monkey Tracient—was projected onto the wall. Trevor's hand fell to his side as he stared up at the painting, his eyes filled with wonder and confusion. Adam and Kon were silent, each absorbing the story in their own way.
After a moment, Adam spoke, his voice thoughtful. "It all makes sense now. The Aryas… they were created to keep the balance. But…"
Kon, clearly puzzled, finally voiced what had been bothering him. "What is this 'great evil'? And why does it matter now? Narn is under the control of Razik and his minions. What connection does this have with the Aryas? And where are the Aryas of Creation, Derision, and Evolution?"
Adam glanced at Kon, then back at the images on the wall. "My guardian once told me about the mastermind behind the events of the Great Narn War. It wasn't Razik or any of the other generals that led the armies—it was a fox Tracient, one they called The Shadow. He controls the Arya of Emotion—The Arya of the White Fox."
Kon's expression darkened at the mention of The Shadow. "So we've already lost one of the Aryas," he muttered. "And if he has the Arya of the White Fox…"
Adam nodded grimly. "Then our only chance is to find the Arya of Creation, the Arya of Derision, and the Arya of Evolution. But we don't know their exact locations. If there's any hope of finding them, we'll have to search Narn's neighboring country, Archen Land. It's the only place that didn't fall during the war."
As Adam spoke, he noticed that Trevor had wandered away from them, standing before a new painting. The massive image of a red beast, its body surrounded by purple flames, loomed on the wall before him. Trevor's eyes were wide as he stared at it, his face pale as he tried to make sense of the vision.
Adam and Kon joined him, their gazes drawn to the menacing figure. There was something about the image—something unsettling, as though it carried the weight of destruction itself. A cold dread settled over them, the air thick with an unspoken fear.
It was Trevor who finally broke the silence, his voice surprisingly steady. "I'm staying," he said firmly, turning to face Adam and Kon. "I understand now. Whatever brought me here… it brought me here for a reason. And I won't go back home until Narn is free from the clutches of this evil."
Kon raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe you're not so bad after all, monkey."
Adam smiled warmly at Trevor. "I'm glad you're with us, Trevor. You're part of the family now."
For the first time, Trevor's playful bravado faltered. He looked at Adam, his cheeks flushing slightly with uncharacteristic bashfulness. "Thanks," he mumbled, his tail swaying slowly. "I'm glad I can help."