Kael's fingers hovered over the spine of an ancient tome, its surface covered in faded runes that pulsed faintly under the dim library lanterns. The restricted section was eerily silent, and the scent of aged parchment hung thick in the air. He had always thought of the academy library as a fortress of knowledge, but tonight it felt more like a labyrinth of secrets.
"What am I even looking for?" Kael wondered, his hand finally pulling the book free.
[System Notification: Interaction with Forbidden Knowledge Detected.]
Access Classification: Tier 2. Warning: Potential risks include psychological strain and corruption of Core integrity. Proceed with caution.
Kael sighed. "It's a book, not a ticking bomb. Relax."
[System Response: Caution advised. This text is linked to Rift anomalies and early Core manifestations.]
Curiosity burned brighter than caution, and Kael flipped open the book. The pages were dense with symbols, each one radiating a strange pull. As he traced the script with his finger, a sharp jolt shot through him.
[System Alert: Hidden Archive Activated.]
Before Kael could react, the library dissolved around him. The air turned thick and cold, and he found himself standing in an endless void. Pulsing streams of light crisscrossed the darkness, forming a shifting web of symbols and fragmented images.
"Welcome, Core bearer," a disembodied voice echoed, deep and resonant.
Kael froze. "Who's there?"
The void shimmered, and a figure materialized—a towering humanoid with a face obscured by flowing shadows, its presence radiating both power and weariness.
"I am a fragment of memory," the figure said. "An echo of those who forged the first Cores, long before the Rifts consumed our world."
Kael's pulse quickened. "You're saying the Rifts didn't always exist?"
The figure inclined its head. "Correct. The Rifts are an unintended consequence of the Cores—of our desperation to save a dying realm. What you wield is not merely a weapon, but a shard of a broken star."
Kael's breath caught. "A broken star?"
The figure extended its hand, and the void shifted again. Kael saw visions—worlds crumbling under the weight of chaos, shimmering fragments of energy being forged into brilliant Cores, and battles against monstrous beings born from the Rifts.
"Our arrogance blinded us," the figure continued. "We sought salvation, but in doing so, we fractured the very fabric of existence. The Cores were meant to stabilize, yet they became beacons for the chaos. And now, you stand at the crossroads of what remains."
The vision ended as abruptly as it had begun. Kael found himself back in the library, the ancient tome clutched tightly in his hands. His breathing was ragged, his mind reeling from what he had seen.
"A shard of a broken star... and I'm supposed to fix this mess?" he thought bitterly.
The system chimed, its tone more urgent than usual.
[System Update: Hidden Lore Unlocked.]
Core Codex Expanded: Access granted to Rift Origins and Core Fundamentals. Directive: Investigate connections between Cores and Rift escalation.
Kael slammed the book shut, frustration bubbling to the surface. "You think I don't already know that? I just watched an entire history lesson in my head!"
[System Response: Emotional volatility detected. Suggestion: Stabilize mental state before proceeding.]
Kael groaned and leaned back against the bookshelf, closing his eyes. "Easier said than done," he muttered.
The next morning, Kael dragged himself to the training grounds, his mind still clouded by the revelations of the night before. The academy buzzed with activity—students sparring, instructors barking orders, and the clang of weapons ringing out in the crisp morning air.
Lyra spotted him from across the field and jogged over, her auburn hair tied back in a loose braid. "You look like you spent the night wrestling with a Void Beast," she quipped, studying his tired expression.
Kael managed a weak smile. "Close enough. Just some late-night reading."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "The restricted section kind of reading?"
Kael hesitated but nodded. "Let's just say I learned some things. About the Cores, the Rifts... and why they exist."
Her expression darkened. "And?"
Kael glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "It's worse than we thought. The Rifts didn't just happen—they're tied to the Cores themselves. Someone tried to fix one problem and created another."
Lyra crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "So the very thing that makes you strong is also the reason these Rifts keep tearing through the world?"
"Pretty much," Kael said grimly.
The day's training was relentless. Garrick had returned to his usual no-nonsense demeanor, barking orders and pushing the recruits to their limits. Kael found himself paired with a hulking second-year named Dren, whose brute strength made sparring feel like fighting a battering ram.
"You're too slow," Garrick barked as Kael narrowly dodged one of Dren's crushing blows. "The Core isn't going to save you if your head gets caved in!"
Kael gritted his teeth and focused, the Core's energy thrumming faintly within him. He sidestepped Dren's next swing and countered with a quick slash, his blade grazing the larger student's armor.
"Better," Garrick said, nodding approvingly. "But you're still holding back. If you can channel enough power to close a Rift, you can handle this."
Kael's frustration boiled over. "It's not that simple!"
Garrick's eyes narrowed. "Nothing ever is. Now, again!"
By the time training ended, Kael's muscles ached, and his thoughts were no clearer than before. He sat alone under a tree at the edge of the training grounds, watching the sun dip below the horizon.
"A broken star," he thought, the words echoing in his mind. "If this power is part of the problem, how can I ever hope to fix it?"
The system's chime interrupted his brooding.
[System Suggestion: Strategic alliances may accelerate progress. Potential ally detected: Lyra.]
Kael glanced across the field, where Lyra was sharpening her blade. A small smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah, maybe I don't have to figure this out alone."