Ezra stood frozen, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. The guild master had collapsed, and now he was staring down at the motionless figure, his pulse quickening. But just as Ezra was about to take another step forward, the guild master suddenly stirred.
The guild master groaned and pushed himself up, as though the battle had never taken a toll on him at all. He wiped the blood from his lip and looked at Ezra, a wild look of disbelief in his eyes.
"Wait… what just happened?" he muttered, blinking as though shaking off a haze. "Did I just?"
Ezra stepped back in confusion. "You... you were knocked out. I thought—"
The guild master raised a hand to silence him. "I don't understand. This shouldn't be possible… but there you were, stacking skills that... no one should be able to." His expression darkened. "You're more than just some newbie. You're something... else."
Ezra nodded slowly, processing the situation. Is this another test? he thought, unsure how to respond.
The guild master, now fully standing and looking remarkably unscathed, gave Ezra a long, appraising look. He exhaled deeply, clearly weighing something in his mind before turning to motion for Ezra to follow him.
"Come with me," he said, his tone quieter, yet still laced with authority. "There's much more you need to understand."
---
In the Guild Master's Office
The guild master led Ezra through the winding halls of the guild, back to the guild master's private office. The room was lined with maps, historical scrolls, and various artifacts, giving it a solemn yet warm atmosphere. A large desk sat at the center, with bookshelves crammed full of leather-bound tomes. The guild master took a seat behind the desk and motioned for Ezra to sit across from him.
Ezra sat cautiously, unsure of what to expect. The guild master looked at him, his expression now filled with awe and concern. "I still don't understand... How did you do that? You stacked your skills in ways that haven't been seen in centuries. It's like you are..."
He trailed off, as if struggling to find the right words.
"Like I'm what?" Ezra asked, his curiosity growing.
"Like you're one of the Eternals."
The words hit Ezra like a ton of bricks. The Eternals the legendary heroes from the old stories. Heroes who had disappeared long ago, leaving nothing but myths in their wake. The guild master's words confirmed what Ezra had started to suspect, but hearing it aloud felt surreal.
Before Ezra could respond, the guild master suddenly picked up a black button from the desk, pressing it with a grim expression. A soft whirring sound filled the room, and a moment later, the air shimmered with a strange, pulsating energy.
---
The Guild Owner's Arrival
A sudden burst of light filled the room, and before Ezra could even react, a figure materialized before him. The newcomer was a tall, regal-looking man, draped in elaborate robes that seemed to shimmer like liquid metal. His presence was commanding, and his eyes—sharp and piercing—locked onto the guild master with an intensity that made the air feel heavy.
"Ah, so this is where the button was pressed," the guild owner said with a deep voice. "I felt the disturbance."
The guild master stood immediately, bowing slightly in respect. "Guild Owner, this is Ezra, a... new member of the guild. But I fear there's something more to him. He's not like the others."
The guild owner's eyes flickered to Ezra, narrowing slightly as he studied him. "Ezra, you say?" His gaze lingered on Ezra for a moment before he looked back at the guild master. "You pressed the black button... Did something happen that triggered this?"
The guild master nodded grimly. "Yes. He... he fought me. And, though I've never seen it before, his use of skills combining them in ways I didn't think possible it was as though he summoned something. Something old. Something beyond this world's current understanding."
Ezra's heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth to speak but found himself unsure of what to say. What could he say?
The guild owner's expression softened slightly, but there was still a cloud of concern hanging over him. "I see. I need to ask you something, Ezra. Do you know what you are? What has awoken within you?"
Ezra's mind spun as the words struck him like a thunderclap. What am I? He thought back to the voices he'd heard, the power he now commanded. His eyes widened as a revelation dawned upon him.
"I'm... one of the Eternals?"
The guild owner's face grew even more serious, and he nodded slowly. "Yes. You're part of a legacy that's been dormant for centuries. The Eternals were the ones who fought against the Void, the one who nearly consumed everything. When they vanished, the balance shifted, and the Void began to grow again. You've reawakened something that's been locked away for far too long."
The guild master and the guild owner exchanged a brief, tense glance. Ezra could feel the weight of their gaze on him.
"We've feared this day would come," the guild owner continued, his voice grave. "The Void is beginning to stir once more. And it seems you are the key to preventing it from consuming everything."
Ezra stared at the two men. His mind was racing with questions What exactly is the Void? What do they mean by I'm the key? But before he could voice any of them, the guild owner turned back to the guild master.
"The black button this isn't something that can be pressed lightly. It signals the emergence of someone capable of handling the Void's return. Only someone with the strength of the Eternals can activate it. But now, Ezra, you must prepare. The world is teetering on the brink of catastrophe."
The guild master stood up straight, now in full command of the situation. "Ezra, I suggest you brace yourself. You've just set into motion events that will determine the fate of this world."
Ezra felt a chill run through him as the weight of the situation sank in. So this is what's happening, he thought. I'm here to fight against the Void... but I don't even know what that means yet.
The guild master looked at him with a mixture of respect and concern. "Come, let's get you ready. There is much for you to learn."