Aric's mind buzzed as the shadows seemed to close in on him, thick and suffocating. The figure in the hood, the keeper of the old ways, had vanished into the ether, leaving behind a lingering sense of dread. His heart pounded in his chest as the echoes of the words he had heard reverberated in his mind: You must remember what has been forgotten.
What had he forgotten?
He stood alone in the ruins, the crumbling city stretching out before him, its ancient power pressing against him like an invisible weight. The air felt charged, crackling with energy, as if the ruins themselves were alive, watching him. Aric turned, his eyes scanning the ruins, searching for some clue, some sign that could unlock the door to his past. But there was nothing. Only the silence and the shadows.
His beast, ever watchful, stood a few paces away, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. It too seemed on edge, its fur bristling in the unnatural stillness. The bond between them had only deepened since the battle with the dragon, and Aric could feel the creature's unease through their shared connection.
"Are you ready to face what comes next?" Aric muttered under his breath, though he wasn't entirely sure if he was asking the beast or himself.
The beast didn't answer, but its gaze held an understanding. It had always been with him, his loyal companion, and in that moment, Aric knew that he wasn't alone in this journey—no matter how dark the road ahead might become.
The voice of the keeper still echoed in his mind. The past has a way of finding you, Aric Thornfield. Whether you are ready or not, it will claim you.
Aric took a deep breath, steadying himself. He had already made the choice. He had already committed to the path, even if he didn't fully understand what lay ahead. The Abyss had marked him, and now it was a part of him. The darkness that had whispered to him in the past was no longer something to fear—it was something to be wielded. But how?
He closed his eyes and focused inward, reaching f