The sky overhead had darkened, and the air felt heavier than before, as though the very atmosphere was aware of the monumental shift that had just occurred. Reazeal stood amidst the wreckage of the battlefield, breathing heavily, his body still pulsing with the power of the Void. He had barely survived his encounter with the Beast, and yet something within him had changed. A surge of energy, something foreign and raw, coursed through his veins. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, a constant reminder of the precarious balance he was walking.
"Are you hurt?" Liora's voice broke through the haze of his thoughts.
He looked at her, trying to steady his breath. Liora, the mysterious woman who had appeared out of nowhere, her presence calming yet unnerving, stood just a few paces away. Her eyes were fixed on him, an unspoken understanding between them. Reazeal had little memory of how they had gotten here, or how long he had been lost in the battle's aftermath. He only knew one thing: something had changed within him.
"I'm fine," he said, though the words felt hollow. "Just... trying to process everything."
Liora nodded, her gaze distant, as if contemplating something far greater than the immediate danger they had just faced. "The power you wield, Reazeal, it is not just from the Beasts. It is the power of the Void. You are linked to it, whether you accept it or not. This power is ancient, and it will either make you or break you."
Reazeal's fists clenched at his sides. "I don't want it," he muttered, though deep down, a part of him knew that rejecting it wasn't as simple as words. Every time he used it, the Void called to him, whispering promises of strength, control, and victory. He had seen the devastation it could cause firsthand.
Liora's eyes softened. "But you need it, Reazeal. The war that is coming—what you faced today is only a shadow of what lies ahead. The Beasts are only the beginning. The true threat... is far worse."
A chill ran through him at her words. The weight of what she was saying settled over him like a storm cloud, threatening to suffocate him. "What do you mean? The Beasts... they're evil. How could anything be worse than them?"
"You misunderstand," Liora said, stepping closer. "The Beasts were instruments, puppets, yes. But the true enemy... the Void is a force unlike anything you've ever encountered. It's not just the darkness, it is the source of all darkness. It will corrupt everything if left unchecked. And it's awakening."
Reazeal felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He staggered slightly, feeling the earth beneath him tremble. "What... What am I supposed to do? I can't control this power. I nearly lost myself today. And Jackeal—" He hesitated, the memory of his mentor's warning still fresh in his mind.
Liora's expression hardened. "Jackeal sealed the Beasts, but in doing so, he sacrificed his own vitality. His powers are waning. Soon, he will not be able to guide you any longer. You must find the Keys of Ascension, the only way to contain the Void once and for all."
Reazeal's mind raced as the weight of Liora's words sank in. The Keys of Ascension—he had heard rumors of them, ancient artifacts said to hold the power of creation itself. But no one knew where they were, or how to find them. Yet, here was Liora, a woman who seemed to know more than anyone, telling him that they were his only hope.
"Where do I start?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Liora's eyes darkened, a glimmer of something ancient in her gaze. "The first Key lies deep within the Temple of Noryth, a place thought lost to time. The others are scattered across the lands, guarded by forces that have been waiting for someone like you. But beware, Reazeal. These Keys are not easily claimed. You will face trials that will test you in ways you cannot imagine."
Reazeal swallowed hard. The idea of facing whatever lay ahead, especially with his unstable power, terrified him. But he had no choice. The world was changing. The creatures he had fought earlier were not the only threat. Something much worse was coming, and he was at the center of it.
---
The Journey Begins
The sun was setting when Reazeal and Liora finally left the desolate battlefield behind. The world around them felt eerily quiet, as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Reazeal had never been one to trust easily, but there was something about Liora that drew him in. She was a woman of mystery and wisdom, and yet, there was an unspoken sadness in her eyes—one that hinted at a great loss.
"You didn't tell me how you know so much," Reazeal said, his voice guarded. "How do you know about the Void and the Keys?"
Liora gave him a sidelong glance, a faint smile on her lips. "I have lived many lifetimes, Reazeal. The Lightbearers, the ancient order I belong to, have kept watch over the balance for centuries. We have seen things that would drive others mad. But there is one thing I can tell you with certainty: the Void is unlike anything you've ever faced. It is not a force to be defeated through strength alone. It must be sealed, forever."
"But I'm not ready," Reazeal muttered, his voice filled with frustration. "I can't even control this power. Every time I use it, I feel like I'm losing myself."
Liora's expression softened. "The Void has a way of luring those who seek to control it. But remember this, Reazeal: It is not the power itself that is the enemy. It is how you choose to wield it. You must learn to control it, or it will consume you."
The weight of her words settled heavily on Reazeal's shoulders. He had never felt more alone. The sense of responsibility was overwhelming. The fate of the world seemed to rest on his ability to wield this dark power and to find the Keys before the Void could spread its corruption across the lands.
They walked for hours, the silence between them heavy with unspoken thoughts. The landscape around them was changing—once lush fields now lay barren, a reflection of the spreading influence of the Beasts and the Void.
As night fell, they reached the edge of a village, the faint glow of lanterns flickering in the distance. The village was small, but Reazeal could feel the presence of something wrong in the air. It wasn't just the aftermath of the Beasts' influence; this place seemed haunted.
When they entered, the villagers stared at them with a mix of fear and awe. They had heard of the battles with the Beasts, and the power that Reazeal now wielded was no secret. But there was something more unsettling about this village—an unnatural chill that seemed to linger in the streets.
It was then that they heard the sound—a low, guttural growl that vibrated through the ground beneath their feet. Something was coming. And it wasn't just a Beast. It was something far worse.
End of Chapter 11