Chapter 16: The Beginning of Awakening
Ren walked slowly, now far from the collapsed bridge and the frustrated cultists. The Codex, silent in his backpack, seemed as tired as he was. The rain had stopped, but the sky remained overcast, as if the universe was trying to set the perfect mood for his misfortune.
He kicked a rock on the path, watching it roll and disappear into the brush.
— "Codex, you have a pretty cruel sense of humor, you know that?" — he said out loud, even though he knew the book wouldn't answer.
The silence around him seemed to agree, but Ren wasn't in the mood to question more mystical signs. He just wanted a dry place to sleep and, maybe, a decent meal that didn't involve suspicious fruits or bitter roots.
As he followed the trail, a sound caught his attention. It was low and continuous, like a distant whisper. Ren stopped, frowning as he tried to pinpoint the source. The Codex began to pulse faintly, but this time it didn't feel like an alert. It was more like a call.
— "Oh, great, now you want me to follow mysterious voices. Sure, because that always ends well."
Reluctantly, he followed the sound, his steps becoming more cautious. The whisper grew clearer as he approached a clearing. At its center was a small pool of crystalline water, surrounded by flowers that glowed softly, as if made of light.
— "Wow, this is... beautiful. And probably dangerous, because nothing pretty in this world is harmless."
The Codex pulsed more strongly, and Ren knew he had no choice. He knelt by the pool, staring at its surface. The whisper grew louder, and he realized it wasn't coming from the pool, but from within it.
— "This isn't creepy at all," — he muttered, touching the water with his fingertips.
The response was immediate. The water glowed brightly, and Ren felt an invisible force pulling him. He tried to pull back, but it was too late. In an instant, everything went white.
---
Ren opened his eyes and realized he was floating in an infinite space, similar to the fiery plane he had faced before. This time, however, the environment was serene. Currents of soft light weaved around him, moving as if they were alive.
A voice echoed through the space, deep and calm.
— "You've returned."
Ren looked around, trying to locate the source.
— "Returned? I didn't even know I'd been here before."
A figure began to form in front of him, composed of the same currents of light that filled the space. It was humanoid but indistinct, as if constantly shifting.
— "You are the bearer, but you still don't understand what that means."
Ren sighed, crossing his arms.
— "You know, you could just explain things instead of throwing riddles and tests at me all the time."
The figure seemed to smile, though it had no face.
— "Understanding is not the same as knowing. You must experience to comprehend."
Ren rolled his eyes.
— "Of course, because it's so much more fun to almost die multiple times."
The figure ignored the comment, extending one of the light currents toward Ren. He felt the energy around him shift, as if the entire space was waiting for something.
— "The Bearer's Chain cannot be imposed. It must be earned. Are you ready?"
Ren hesitated. He knew he wasn't, but he also knew he couldn't back down.
— "Ready is a strong word, but... let's do this."
The current glowed brightly, and before Ren could react, it wrapped around his arm. He felt intense pain, as if his body were being reconfigured. The light around him grew brighter, and he heard echoes of voices—some familiar, others unknown.
— "Strength does not come from perfection, but from overcoming," — the figure's voice echoed, a constant reminder.
Ren screamed but didn't back away. He felt the Codex's energy connect with him more deeply, as if becoming part of his essence. When the light finally dimmed, he was on his knees, breathing heavily.
The figure watched him silently.
— "You have taken the first step."
Ren stood with difficulty, looking at his arm. The chain of light was still there, but now it felt like part of him, glowing softly.
— "This is... incredible."
The figure began to fade, but its final words remained etched in Ren's mind:
— "Awakening is only the beginning. The path ahead will be harder, but now you are no longer alone."
---
Ren opened his eyes again, lying beside the pool. He looked up at the sky, now clear, with stars shining brightly. The chain on his arm was visible even in the dark, and he felt his connection to the Codex stronger than ever.
He sighed, feeling more exhausted than ever, but also more determined.
— "Alright, universe. Bring on the next disaster."
He knew the path ahead would be full of challenges, but now he had something he'd never had before: hope.