Chapter 6: The First Chains
The chamber of the Tomb of Chains was utterly silent. Ren remained seated at the center of the circle, the Codex still open in his hands, his body trembling with the residual energy of what he had just experienced. The battle with the Guardian of the First Chains was not something he would forget anytime soon.
Kael stood at a distance, his expression neutral, offering neither praise nor criticism. He stepped closer, stopping near the circle.
— "What did you see?" Kael asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.
Ren took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts.
— "A void, like a space between worlds. There was a figure… the Guardian, as it called itself. It said I needed to prove my worth."
Kael nodded slowly, as if he had expected this response.
— "The Guardians exist to test those who touch the Chains for the first time. Every bearer who survives their initial encounter is marked."
Ren frowned.
— "Marked? How?"
Kael crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly.
— "You now carry the essence of the First Chain. This means you can channel it, but it also means you're permanently bound to it. The deeper your bond with the Codex, the more Chains you'll access… and the heavier the burden will become."
Ren glanced down at the Codex, Kael's words echoing in his mind. He could already sense that something inside him had changed, as though a new force lay dormant, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
— "So, what do I do now?" Ren asked, standing slowly.
Kael stepped forward, placing a hand on Ren's shoulder.
— "Now you learn to use it."
---
Kael led Ren to an adjacent chamber. The space was smaller but no less impressive, with walls covered in faintly glowing runes. At the center stood a circular structure resembling a well, emanating a soft blue light.
— "This is the Circle of Harmony," Kael explained. — "A relic created by the first bearers to train their mastery of the Chains."
Ren studied the well, feeling the pulsating energy radiating from it.
— "And how does it work?"
Kael stepped back, motioning for Ren to approach.
— "Place your hand on it and focus on the First Chain. You've already established an initial bond, but now you must learn to control it."
Ren hesitated for a moment but eventually extended his hand, touching the surface of the well. The blue light flared, and a wave of energy surged up his arm. He closed his eyes, concentrating as Kael had instructed.
At first, there was chaos. The energy thrashed within him, like an uncontainable storm. But then, something shifted. He recalled his encounter with the Guardian—the flow of power he had felt when reciting the words of the Codex.
Ren began to shape the energy, guiding it like a river carving its path. Gradually, the chaos subsided, giving way to order. When he opened his eyes, the light from the well had transformed into a small, floating orb in his hand.
Kael watched intently, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
— "Well done. You've accessed Matter, the First Chain."
Ren gazed at the orb in his hand, awestruck by what he had created. Before he could speak, however, the orb began to vibrate violently. In an instant, it shattered into fragments of light, forcing Ren to stumble back.
Kael chuckled softly.
— "And now you understand the next challenge: control."
---
The following days were consumed by rigorous training. Kael was a demanding but fair instructor, pushing Ren to explore the limits of his connection to the First Chain. Progress was slow and frustrating. While Ren could summon the energy, maintaining its stability proved nearly impossible.
— "The power of the Chains is not something you impose your will upon," Kael explained one afternoon after a particularly trying session. — "You must flow with it, let it become an extension of yourself."
Exhausted, Ren slumped to the ground.
— "That sounds poetic, but it doesn't help much when this thing keeps trying to blow up in my face."
Kael crossed his arms, looking at Ren with a mix of patience and amusement.
— "Then perhaps you should stop trying to control it like a weapon."
Ren frowned but didn't reply. He knew Kael was right, but accepting that truth was another matter entirely.
---
One night, while Kael rested in another chamber, Ren decided to train alone. He returned to the Circle of Harmony, determined to overcome his limitations. Placing his hand on the well again, he let the familiar surge of energy flow through him.
This time, however, he didn't try to force control. Instead, he allowed the energy to move freely, letting it carve its path. Gradually, he began to sense a pattern—a rhythm that connected the Chain to his own inner flow.
The orb of light formed once more in his hand, stable and serene. Ren watched it for a moment before extending his other hand, shaping the energy into different forms. A quiet laugh escaped him, a mix of relief and triumph.
— "So that's the secret," he murmured. — "It's not about control… it's about understanding."
---
The next morning, Kael immediately noticed the change. Ren summoned and manipulated the First Chain with a fluidity that had previously eluded him.
— "I see stubbornness has its advantages," Kael remarked with a faint smile.
Ren grinned back, feeling for the first time that he was truly making progress.
— "This is just the beginning, isn't it?"
Kael nodded.
— "Yes. But now you're ready for the next step."
Ren packed the Codex into his backpack, a newfound confidence settling within him. He knew the road ahead would be long and fraught with danger, but he also knew he was beginning to understand what it meant to be a bearer.
As they left the chamber of the Tomb, Ren glanced toward the horizon, where dark clouds still loomed. The Codex pulsed faintly, as if affirming what he already knew: the real challenge was yet to come.