Julian stood in the middle of the grand hall, a place brimming with the weight of history and shrouded in an enigmatic aura of secrets. The walls were adorned with ancient carvings dimly illuminated as if they carried memories from eras predating humanity. Around him, mysterious men clad in black robes with crimson stripes stood silently, their eyes fixed on him as if they could peer into the depths of his soul.
Amid this scene, the words spoken by the man at the forefront continued to echo in Julian's ears:"Will you join us, or will you stand in our way?"
Julian felt that the answer wasn't just a choice but a promise of a vastly different destiny. He remained silent for a long time, his eyes scanning the faces of those present as if searching for some explanation for this sudden decision thrust upon him.
The man at the forefront stepped forward, his gaze sharp yet tinged with curiosity, and said in a steady voice:"You understand now, don't you? Everything that happened to you—the book, the message—was leading you here. This isn't a choice, Julian. It's your destiny."
Julian tried to maintain his composure, but his heart pounded violently. He hesitated for a moment before asking nervously:"And if I join you? What do you expect of me? What will become of me?"
The mysterious man stepped closer, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips, and replied in a calmer voice, still laced with authority:"If you join us, you will become part of the truth. You will learn the secrets of the world around you. But this path is no ordinary one, Julian. Joining our organization means letting go of your previous life and everything you believed to be true."
The words struck deeply within him, but despite his anxiety, Julian couldn't deny a strange pull toward what the man was saying.
After another moment of hesitation, he asked in a low voice:"And if I refuse?"
The man answered calmly:"If you refuse, you will live your life in the dark. The talent you possess will become a heavy burden. You'll have no guide, no one to help you, and you will never truly understand the world you've become a part of."
Julian turned to Albus, searching for support or an explanation, but Albus simply smiled his usual smile and said:"The world you knew is over. If you choose to stand alone, you'll face it alone. And that would be a foolish choice."
Taking a deep breath, Julian closed his eyes for a moment. A storm raged inside him, torn between a desire to return to his safe, former life and the curiosity to uncover the real world revealed before him.
Then, with a clear voice filled with determination, he said:"I'll join you. But I have one condition: I want to know everything. I won't stay in the dark."
The man sighed softly, looking up at the ceiling adorned with carvings resembling star maps, before replying:"You want to know everything? The truth is, even we don't know everything. We only know what our position allows us to understand. There are secrets far older and greater than us."
The words shocked Julian into silence. Then Albus stepped forward, holding a lit cigar between his fingers, exhaling a thin cloud of smoke as he smiled:"Julian, have you ever heard of the Forgotten Ages?"
Julian nodded and said quietly:"Yes, they're part of the myths that spread after the fall of the United Empire a thousand years ago. The myths speak of great civilizations ruling the Middle Lands and the three continents, destroyed by a mysterious catastrophe and reduced to nothing more than legends. I also found scattered fragments about these myths in the mysterious book you lent me earlier!"
Albus let out a short laugh and said:"Those aren't just myths and legends. They are the true history of this world. In the Forgotten Ages, specifically in the early ages, the race of elves ruled the Middle Lands. They were the greatest of all races, wielding immense power that enabled them to build an indomitable empire, dominating the other five races, especially humans."
A cold shiver ran through Julian. The idea was terrifying, but he asked hesitantly:"Were we truly… slaves to them?"
Albus shook his head and said with a wry smile:"More than that. Humans were considered the weakest and smallest in number. They were tools, used for hard labor. They carved castles, dug mountains, and raised pyramids to please the elves. Every attempt at rebellion was mercilessly crushed. Yet, over time, rebellions and wars led to a bloody chain of events."
Then, Albus's smirk widened as he added:"Eventually, we, the weak humans, overthrew them—or rather, they were overthrown by the leader of the Great Human Rebellion… the first king of humans, known as Sordel."
Julian listened intently.
At that moment, another man stepped forward, his blue hair striking and his features beautiful yet carrying a hint of mystery and wisdom. He said:"The history of this world comprises five eras or ages, collectively known as the Forgotten Ages. Within their depths lie countless epics and wars." He paused before adding, "Along with periods of prosperity and advancement."
Then, with a sorrowful expression, he said:"But at the end of the Forgotten Ages, a great catastrophe nearly wiped out this world. It compelled our organization to create a seal known as the Black Seal, restricting 80% of the planet's population from using a unique power called the Sevrania."
"This seal excluded those born without it or those descended from ancient lineages unaffected by it," the man added.
Julian struggled to process what he was hearing and asked,"The Sevrania… what exactly is it, and why did you seal it for most humans?"
The man with blue hair stepped closer, his voice low as if revealing something sacred:"The Sevrania is the power everyone used during the Forgotten Ages. It's a cosmic and spiritual energy permeating the universe, granting its wielders diverse abilities. But in our current era, it has been heavily restricted."
The man at the forefront sighed and explained,"As for why our organization created this seal, it was to maintain balance and lasting peace among humans by dividing this world into two realms.
The ordinary world—the one you once lived in, where people struggle, reproduce, and die.
And our world—a darker, harsher one we call the Hidden World, or the Shadow Realm. Call it what you will; it's the world we belong to."
He paused before continuing:"Our mission is to protect your world from being tainted by ours. We are the guardians of this world."
Julian froze, his mind racing. He asked,"Returning to your earlier point, you said the world faced a great catastrophe. What was it? What caused it? And how was it defeated?"
The leader responded gravely:"The Aboleths. Creatures from another dimension brought with them corrupted powers capable of destroying this world. When they began their invasion, everything was on the brink of annihilation."
The man's words painted a bleak picture of kingdoms falling and entire races being wiped out.
Then, a girl with snow-white hair stepped forward, saying:"At that point, we emerged to protect this world from destruction."
Julian remained frozen, struggling to grasp the magnitude of what he had just heard.
She continued,"We managed to limit the appearance of the Aboleths, but only partially."
Julian stammered,"Partially?"
"Yes," she replied. "After decades of war and sacrifice, we sealed 78 out of 90 gates. But to this day, the remaining gates still pose a threat."
She added with a sad smile,"Still, we achieved a relative balance."
Julian asked,"What are the gates?"
"They are portals that open sporadically, unleashing these creatures," the girl replied calmly.
At that moment, Albus clapped and said with a grin,"What an epic tale!"
All eyes turned toward him in surprise.
After a brief silence, the leader stepped forward and introduced himself,"My name is Cross. Are you ready to become a member now, or do you still need to search for your answers?"
Julian hesitated for a moment before steeling himself and replying firmly,"I'll join you."
At that moment, a door at the back of the hall opened, revealing a figure Julian never expected—Adair, wearing the same black and red attire, his eyes glinting with confidence and a mysterious smile on his face.
Shocked, Julian stammered,"Adair?! What are you doing here?"
Adair smiled calmly and walked toward him, saying,"I knew everything because I've been part of this organization from the start. You can't walk this path without making the choice yourself. I've been watching over you, Julian."
Anger flared within Julian, but he managed to suppress it."You knew all along? And you didn't tell me?"
Adair replied in a steady tone,"You had to find your way here on your own. This is not a journey that can be forced upon anyone. You had to choose it, and now you have."
Cross stepped toward Julian, extending his hand for a handshake."Welcome to the Twilight Order. From now on, you will learn the secrets of the world and understand the power you carry."
Julian shook the offered hand, feeling a strange energy flow into him. Something within him shifted as if the world around him were turning upside down. Had he chosen the right path?
After the meeting, Adair approached Julian and placed a hand on his shoulder."There will be time for anger later. For now, we have a lot of work to do."
Julian looked at him and said in a low voice,"I'm ready for whatever awaits me in your shadowed world."
Adair smiled and nodded."That's the spirit. You need to be ready for everything because the world as we knew it is gone."
At that moment, the grand hall doors closed behind Julian, leaving him in the Twilight Order, a group that promised to change his life forever.