The air crackled with an ominous energy as Reazeal stood at the precipice of the unknown, staring out over the vast expanse of the ruined city. The once-proud spires that had reached toward the heavens now lay in shambles, their broken forms casting long shadows in the dying light of the day. The rift—the very force that had torn the fabric of reality itself—loomed ominously in the distance, a swirling mass of chaos and raw, unbridled power. Reazeal's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process what had just occurred. The battle was far from over.
But within him, something had shifted. His senses were heightened, the air around him thick with the whispers of ancient forces. His power, once dormant, had surged to the surface, and now, he felt the pulse of the world beneath his feet. The very ground seemed to tremble in response to his awakening.
He can feel it, too.
Reazeal's thoughts flickered to Jackeal, who was no doubt watching from the shadows. His brother, his enemy, his tormentor. Jackeal had always been the one in control, the one who understood the true cost of their power. But now… now the tides had turned. Reazeal wasn't sure how it had happened, but there was no denying that the balance had shifted. The sense of power that radiated from him now was different from before. It was deeper, darker. It was more dangerous.
And it scared him.
His hands trembled slightly, but it wasn't out of fear. It was out of anticipation—anticipation for what was to come. He had always known that there was something more to this world, something beyond the scope of his understanding. But now, as he stood on the edge of the abyss, that something was drawing him closer. The pull of the rift was magnetic, urging him forward.
He stepped into the shattered remnants of the city, each footfall a reminder of how much had been lost. The remnants of ancient spells lingered in the air, faint traces of long-forgotten magic. His power, now tied to the very fabric of this world, began to resonate with them. The ground beneath him cracked, and for a moment, it felt as though the earth itself was opening up, ready to swallow him whole.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the heavy silence—a voice he hadn't heard in what felt like an eternity.
"Reazeal…"
He spun around, his heart leaping into his throat. There, standing in the distance, was Jackeal. His brother was alive—more than that, he was here, staring back at him with those cold, calculating eyes.
"You've changed," Jackeal said, his voice low and full of unspoken weight.
Reazeal clenched his fists, his pulse racing. "I've had to change," he growled, his voice thick with frustration and anger. "But what about you, Jackeal? What have you done? All these years—manipulating me, controlling everything—and for what?"
Jackeal's expression remained unreadable. He took a step forward, his movements deliberate, almost predatory. "You've only just begun to understand, Reazeal. You've been playing a part in a game far larger than you realize." His smile was thin, almost mocking. "And now, you've crossed a threshold. You've unlocked something—something far more dangerous than you know."
Reazeal's brow furrowed, but his body hummed with the weight of Jackeal's words. "What do you mean?"
"The rift," Jackeal said, his gaze shifting toward the swirling chaos in the distance. "You've tapped into its power, but it's not something you can control. Not yet. It's pulling at you, Reazeal. The more you use it, the more it will take. And when it takes everything, there will be nothing left."
Reazeal's heart sank. The rift. The power within him. The cost…
A shiver ran down his spine, but he squared his shoulders, refusing to let his brother see his fear. "You've always been a liar, Jackeal. I'm not afraid of this power. I'll use it. I'll control it. I won't let it consume me."
Jackeal's eyes glinted with a knowing look. "We'll see about that."
Before Reazeal could react, Jackeal was gone, vanishing into the shadows like a ghost. A soft laugh echoed through the air, a chilling sound that made the hairs on the back of Reazeal's neck stand on end. Jackeal was playing his games again, pulling the strings from the shadows, and Reazeal was just another pawn in his twisted game.
But this time, Reazeal wasn't going to be a pawn.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he felt the power surge within him once again. The rift was calling to him, urging him forward. He could feel it now, the immense pull of its energy. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. It had become part of him, and now there was no turning back.
He took another step, moving toward the heart of the rift. Each step felt heavier than the last, but he was resolute. This was his path now. This was his battle to fight.
And no matter what Jackeal had planned, Reazeal was ready to face it.
End of the chapter