Chapter 4: The Ruin of Pride
Ren woke with a start, his body trembling and the metallic taste of blood on his tongue. The frantic escape had left him disoriented and utterly drained. He glanced around and realized he was in a forest, surrounded by ancient trees whose intertwined branches blocked almost all the moonlight. The darkness was near complete, but the Codex glowed faintly at his side, like a waning torch.
The memories hit him like a storm: the desperate fight, Kael's unwavering determination, and the final cry of his mentor. Ren pressed his hands to his head, trying to block out the images, but they refused to fade.
— "Why?" he whispered, his voice shaking. — "Why did you have to die?"
The Codex pulsed again, as if responding to his pain. Ren picked it up with trembling hands, feeling its warmth against his skin. He didn't understand what had happened. Why had the Codex saved him and not Kael? Why hadn't he been able to do anything to help?
He tried to stand, but his legs failed him. The emotional weight had drained him as much as the physical toll. He knew he needed to move, but the crushing guilt kept him rooted to the ground.
— "You failed, Ren." Vorath's voice echoed in his mind, cold and unyielding. — "You weren't worthy of his sacrifice."
Ren gripped the Codex tightly, the book's warmth intensifying as if in response to his despair. Vorath's words gnawed at him, but they also ignited something deep within. A spark of anger began to overtake the pain.
— "I won't let it be in vain," he murmured, forcing himself to his feet.
His body protested, every muscle burning, but he braced himself against a nearby tree, taking deep, steadying breaths. He knew he couldn't remain in the forest. If Vorath decided to pursue him, or if more cultists were nearby, he would be defenseless. He needed to find shelter, a place to regroup.
---
As he trudged through the forest, Ren's thoughts turned to the vast chasm between him and Vorath. The immortal had mastered a Chain that seemed insurmountable, and Ren could barely control the power the Codex unleashed. He knew he wasn't ready for such a confrontation.
Kael's death, however, left him with a bitter lesson. Even a legendary warrior—someone who had transcended mortal limits with skill and strategy—had not been enough to face someone like Vorath. Ren realized he would need more than just strength. He would need to understand the Codex, master the Chains, and find something that set him apart. Something that would make him capable.
The Codex pulsed again, and Ren felt a familiar presence. He looked down to see its pages turning on their own. Symbols he had never seen before began to glow, and a brief but vivid vision overtook him: a fragment of a ruined tower, surrounded by storms.
— "Is that what you want?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of defiance.
The Codex pulsed, as if affirming.
Ren knew he had no choice. If he wanted to honor Kael and stand a chance against Vorath, he would need to follow the Codex's guidance and uncover a way to grow stronger.
---
The forest began to thin as Ren stumbled upon a small stream. He knelt by the water, splashing the cold liquid onto his face. The chill provided a momentary reprieve, but Kael's death still weighed on him like a boulder on his chest.
He closed his eyes, trying to recall Kael's final words. "Run, Ren!" It hadn't just been a command to escape, but a promise of a future. Something to fight for. Something to achieve.
Ren gazed at the horizon, where the first rays of dawn pierced through the trees. He didn't know how he would do it, but he was certain of one thing: he wouldn't let Kael's death be meaningless.
— "I'll be back, Vorath," he whispered, determination blazing in his eyes. — "And when I return, you'll know what it means to face a true bearer."