Praesul entered Cire's room, startled by the massive surge of Virtus. He stood silent for a moment, his glowing eyes scanning the space before he spoke: "The time has come for you to challenge yourself and unlock the first key."
Cire's mind raced with hundreds of questions, each vying for his attention. But before he could speak, Praesul cut him off. "You bear the mark. You've reached sufficient proficiency in Virtus."
Cire frowned, his confusion spilling out. "The mark isn't because of the bond with Byru?"
Praesul trembled slightly, his voice growing quieter. "No, it's not. It's because you have finally become a Governor. That mark is the mark of the Seventh Guardian—the Wishful One, Wish." He stepped closer, his imposing frame casting a shadow over the room. His gaze turned to the small, shimmering creature floating beside Cire. "This Sigil… it's unlike anything I've ever seen. Created with the Queen's power, she is unique. In fact, this is the first time I've encountered a creature like her."
Byru shifted form, becoming a small, bird-like creature. She flapped her delicate wings, landing gently on Cire's shoulder and releasing a low, harmonic hum that resonated through his body. Cire smiled, stroking her head. 'Does she like Praesul? Or is it because she's unique?'
Sitting down on the bed, Cire gently caressed Byru's neck. "Sir, can you tell me about the Guardians? What do they want?"
Praesul hesitated, his eyes narrowing. "I'll tell you when you attain the first key. For now, I will say this: they all seek power, except for one." His glowing purple eyes met Cire's, and the mark on Cire's chest pulsed faintly in response.
"You have three months," Praesul continued. "In three months, you will enter the temple and take the trial for the first key."
Cire's thoughts swirled. 'Do I have to enter a temple to unlock every key? Or is it because this one is tied to Wish?' He looked at Praesul, his frustration evident, but he kept his questions to himself for now.
Praesul's voice dropped to a colder tone. "Boy, you've entered a world where power runs supreme. But you stand on the other side of the coin. In time, you will come to understand what that means. But to represent the other side, you will need power."
Cire flinched at the weight of those words. 'I didn't choose this. I don't want to be part of some grand schemes. I just want revenge.'
For the first time, he addressed the masked man by name. "Praesul… answer me. It wasn't a coincidence that I ended up in this cave with you, was it? Were you waiting for me?"
Praesul's glowing eyes seemed to soften for a moment. "Yes, boy. I waited and waited for you. Now, go hunt. Take the Sigil with you."
Cire felt a strange warmth at those words but frowned at the dismissive tone of the last remark. "She's not a simple Sigil. Her name is Byru." His eyes gleamed purple as he spoke, and his mark shone brightly.
Praesul grunted, turning to leave. "Take Byru with you. And hurry—I'm hungry."
Cire followed Praesul out of the room, his eyes lingering on the dark, foreboding temple in the distance. The sight of it sent a chill down his spine. 'Three months. Three months until I have to enter that place.'
He emerged from the cave into the glade, Byru perched on his shoulder. Her presence filled him with confidence. 'Listen, Byru. Tonight, we're not just hunting one wolf. We'll kill as many as we can.'
Byru responded with a warm pulse of blue light. Cire grinned, crouching low as Virtus coursed through his body. He dashed into the forest, his movements swift and purposeful. He knew this part of the forest well now and could navigate it with ease.
Despite his efforts, he struggled to find prey. Frustration crept in until a strange sensation tugged at him, pulling him forward. 'It's not my gut… It's something else. Like I'm being drawn.' He glanced at Byru, her translucent form shimmering faintly. "Byru, do you know how to locate Sigils?"
Byru hovered for a moment, then landed back on his shoulder. A wave of warmth spread through Cire's chest, guiding him. He laughed softly. "You're amazing, miss. Absolutely amazing."
Following her lead, he soon found two rodents devouring a rabbit. Enhancing his muscles with Virtus, Cire darted forward, slashing the creatures' necks with precision. His dagger felt sharper, more efficient. 'She isn't just guiding me—she's improving my flow. She's amplifying my Virtus. She's… incredible.'
Byru's body shimmered as she landed on the fallen creatures. Her glowing core pulsed, and Cire watched in awe as Virtus flowed from the rodents into her. Fascinated, he tried to replicate the process but failed. 'It must be something only creatures born of Virtus can do.'
As he stood over the fallen prey, a pulse of dread shot through him. His body tensed instinctively, and he gripped Byru tightly. Turning, he saw it—a Locked Sigil he had encountered before. Its grotesque form towered over him, its beetle-like body, spider-like legs, and serpent head sending waves of revulsion through him. 'Not again.' Fear surged, clouding his mind. Byru's calming hum filled his ears, her glow shifting to a soft white. A serene wave of tranquility washed over him, quieting his panic and sharpening his focus.
His breathing steadied. 'This time, I'm not running. I can kill it.'
Cire's mind entered a trance-like state, his body and instincts working in perfect harmony. The Locked Sigil lunged forward, but Cire dashed between its legs, slashing at its beetle body as he passed. The cut was shallow, but his movements were fluid and precise.
The Sigil screeched, its serpent-like head darting down to snap at him, but Cire had already moved. He circled to the side, slashing at one of its legs. The cut wasn't deep enough to cripple the beast, but it staggered slightly, buying him precious seconds. The beast shot forward, trying to distance itself from the young boy.
'It's adapting… It's learning.' Cire's mind raced. 'I have to end this. Now.'
Byru's glow intensified, her hum resonating in Cire's chest. The calming, serene white that filled his mind sharpened his focus. He could feel the Sigil's movements before they happened, like an echo of its intent rippling through the air.
Cire stopped abruptly, his thoughts racing. 'This is my chance.'
"Byru," he whispered, "I'll need you to transfer some of that pure Virtus to my core. Trust me, we won't lose because it's our will. We will win."
Byru pulsed, flooding him with Virtus. The Locked Sigil lunged again. Cire kicked off a tree, using the momentum to launch himself above the creature. His dagger struck true, plunging into its carapace. The Sigil screeched, thrashing violently.
As the glow on the serpent's head intensified, Cire's heart pounded.'A lightning strike.' He gritted his teeth, his mind screaming for him to act. 'It's now or never!' He used the momentum to land a kick into the Sigil's body and send it rocketing against the ground. The Sigil landed with its back, its body turned upside down. It tried desperately to regain ground; its legs were fighting the air, trying to find some kind of foundation to regain its normal stance. Cire dashed forward, evading the serpent's fangs.
Cire's dagger severed its neck just as the lightning surged. The energy coursed through him, burning his muscles and sending searing pain through his body. He bit back a scream, holding on as the lightning redirected, surging back into the Sigil. The creature convulsed, its body burning from within, before collapsing lifelessly.
Cire dropped to the ground, his body trembling. Every muscle screamed in pain, and his breath came in ragged gasps. 'I'm alive. I did it.'
Byru flew and landed on the dead Sigil, her glowing heart pulsating. She absorbed the massive surge of Virtus, her light growing brighter and steadier. Cire watched her, his lips curling into a faint smile.
'I won.' The thought barely formed before he corrected himself. 'No, we won together.'