Elias collapsed onto the narrow bed in the small chamber Camille had assigned him within the temple. His entire body screamed in protest, each muscle aching from the grueling training sessions of the day. The plain walls of the room were etched with ancient carvings, softly pulsing with a faint, rhythmic glow that matched the tempo of his exhausted breaths.
— "I'm going to die... I'm literally going to die…" Elias groaned, throwing an arm over his face.
Camille's training wasn't just physically demanding it required a level of mental focus he had never experienced before. Between sword drills, exercises meant to help him connect to the Lines, and hours spent trying to stabilize that damned crystal, Elias was utterly drained.
And yet, despite the exhaustion, there was a strange, quiet pride simmering within him. For the first time since arriving in this strange world, he felt like he was making progress. He was no longer just a spectator; he was beginning to grasp this world's strange essence.
Just as his eyes fluttered shut and he surrendered to the pull of sleep, a faint vibration rippled through the air.
Elias frowned and sat up slightly, his exhaustion giving way to wariness.
— "Another one of this temple's weird tricks? What is it this time?"
Suddenly, a high-pitched metallic hum echoed in the room, sharp and unnatural. Elias stood up slowly, his body tense as his gaze darted around.
In the center of the room, a pattern he hadn't noticed before began to light up on the floor. Golden and silver lines intertwined, forming an intricate figure that seemed almost alive as it shifted and glowed.
The mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
— "Fantastic… here we go again. Just as long as it doesn't summon another vampire…"
An Unexpected Encounter
Before Elias could take another step, the light in the room became blinding. He instinctively shielded his eyes as a shape began to emerge from the glowing circle on the floor.
The figure seemed ethereal, floating slightly above the surface, its contours blurry as though it were a projection.
Elias took a cautious step back, his fingers instinctively tightening around the medallion hanging from his neck.
— "W-Who… Who are you?" he stammered, his voice trembling.
The figure slowly became clearer: it was a woman. Her features were strikingly beautiful, almost unnaturally so, but her eyes glowed with an intensity that felt far from human. She wore an ancient robe embroidered with symbols that resembled the carvings on the temple walls.
— "You can see me?" she asked, her voice echoing softly as though it existed in multiple layers.
Elias swallowed hard, hesitating to answer.
— "Uh… Yeah? I guess I can…"
The woman gave a faint, almost amused smile, but there was something in her expression that sent a chill down Elias's spine.
— "Interesting. Few chosen ones have ever been able to perceive my presence. Even fewer survive my call."
— "Your… call?"
She moved closer, her ethereal form gliding through the air with an eerie grace. Elias's heartbeat quickened as her gaze locked onto his.
— "You possess a unique affinity. A deep connection to the Lines. But you don't understand them, do you?"
Elias felt a surge of frustration and anger bubble to the surface.
— "That's the understatement of the century! Nobody in this world bothers explaining anything! Camille throws me into death traps and tells me to figure it out myself. If you know something, just tell me already!"
The woman studied him in silence for a long moment. Then, she raised a hand, and golden lines materialized around her, weaving into mesmerizing patterns.
— "Observe. The Lines are not just a force. They are alive. They respond to your emotions, your thoughts, your deepest fears and desires. And you…" She extended her hand toward him. "You have the potential to become a master of the Lines. But that potential comes with a price."
Elias narrowed his eyes, suspicion lacing his voice.
— "A price? What kind of price?"
The woman's enigmatic smile deepened.
— "All power has a price. The path you walk is fraught with danger, but it will lead you to truths few can even comprehend. The question is… Are you willing to pay that price?"
Elias stood silent, his thoughts spiraling. He thought of everything he had lost, everything he still hoped to accomplish.
Finally, he let out a weary sigh.
— "I don't think I really have a choice, do I?"
The woman nodded.
— "Indeed."
Echoes of the Past
Before Elias could press her further, the woman raised both arms, and the air around them seemed to ripple and distort.
Suddenly, visions began to flood Elias's mind:
Battles of unimaginable scale. Warriors manipulating the Lines with terrifying precision. And then, a shadow—a colossal, formless entity tearing through the crimson skies, leaving destruction in its wake.
Finally, one image stood out, sharper and more vivid than the rest: a man, holding the same medallion that now hung around Elias's neck. His expression was cold, determined, and utterly devoid of doubt.
— "Who is that?" Elias asked, his heart pounding.
The woman's smile vanished, replaced by a somber expression.
— "Him… He was the last master of the Lines. And the one who condemned this world."
Elias's blood ran cold.
— "What?"
But before he could ask more, the woman's form flickered and began to dissolve. The glowing lines around them dimmed, plunging the room into an oppressive darkness.
A New Resolve
Elias stood alone in the silence, his mind reeling.
— "The last master of the Lines… He destroyed this world? But why…?"
He clutched the medallion tightly to his chest, feeling its faint warmth seep into his skin. A wave of determination coursed through him.
— "If I've been chosen, it's not to run away. No matter the cost, I have to understand. I have to master this power."
The carvings on the walls began to glow faintly once more, their light illuminating his face.
Elias exhaled deeply, his grip on the medallion unwavering.
The road ahead would be fraught with danger. But for the first time, he felt a sense of clarity.
He would not repeat the mistakes of the past.
To be continued...