Chapter 23: Discovery of Family Secrets.
Eric stepped cautiously into the Everia Ancestral Temple, the pitch-darkness almost enveloping the room. Each step was followed by an echo that mingled with the whistling of the cold wind that blew through the cracks in the ancient stone. Around the walls, ancient carvings depicted the stories of the Everia family's past—triumphs, betrayals, and legends buried deep in history.
In the center of the large room, a faded stone altar stood tall. It was surrounded by statues that seemed to protect the area. Eric eyed the altar warily. Something felt strange, something stirring inside him—a power that seemed to be calling to him.
As he approached, he saw something gleaming beneath the altar. An old wooden box, almost hidden by the dust and time. With slightly shaking hands, Eric opened the box, and inside, was an old book that looked very old, with a leather cover that was almost peeling. Written in faded ink, the distinctive Everia family symbol adorned the cover.
Eric sensed something bigger than this book. Cautiously, he opened the first page. Written there was a prolog that told the origins of the Everia family, but also something more mysterious—a warning of the great power hidden in this family line.
"A warning... to those who seek power," Eric read softly. "A power that can build a kingdom or destroy it. Only the most worthy can wield it. The Sword of Everia is the key to unlocking that path."
Those words shook his heart. The Sword of Everia—a legendary artifact believed to be hidden in a place known only to a select few in the Everia family.
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared above the altar, pointing to a large statue standing in the corner of the room. The statue depicted a robed man with a sword in his hand—but not just any sword. The shining sword seemed to radiate a powerful and unpredictable aura.
Eric approached cautiously, his eyes fixed on the sword engraved with the same symbol as the one on the book's cover. It was the Sword of Everia, which had only existed in legends until now.
"Wait…" Eric whispered to himself. "If this is the Sword of Everia, then… I have to test it."
Eric's hand reached out, and as soon as his fingers touched the hilt of the sword, an incredible power immediately flowed through his body. The energy shook his body as if he was facing something far greater than he had ever imagined.
However, when the sword was released from its base, something shocking happened. A portal of light appeared in the middle of the room, and inside the portal, a dark figure began to appear. Followed by a roar that shook the walls of the Ancestral Temple.
Eric immediately held the sword tightly, preparing himself for the worst. The figure from inside the portal appeared clearer, and Eric looked at it sharply.
"Who are you?" Eric asked, his voice calm despite his deep unease.
The figure chuckled, a laugh that was eerie and unforgiving. "I am a guardian who should never have been awakened. Yet, you choose to dig up secrets that should have been buried."
Without giving him a chance to ask further, the figure stepped forward, the dark energy surrounding him almost filling the entire room. The power was so oppressive, it made the air feel suffocating.
Eric could sense that this battle would not be easy. With the Everia Sword in his hand, he prepared to face whatever came. The sword radiated power as if reminding Eric of his original purpose—to uncover the mystery of the Everia family and face whatever stood in his way.
"I won't let you get in my way," Eric whispered, then looked at the dark figure with a determined look.
Eric moved his sword slowly, feeling every ripple of energy flowing from the weapon. Amid the eerie silence, only the sound of his breathing could be heard. However, before he could concentrate, the dark figure raised a hand, creating a spark of black energy that hit the air, tearing apart the silence.
"The sword is ours," the figure said hoarsely, his red eyes glaring at Eric. "You are not worthy to wield it."
Eric felt the sword in his hand grow heavier as if the energy of the sword was trying to pull him in. Something was wrong, something deeper than the overwhelming power he felt. The darkness that emerged from the figure was like a shadow that surrounded him, trying to envelop his mind, and testing his willpower.
"The power of the Everia Sword is not to be abused," the figure said hatefully, moving forward at an unexpected speed.
Eric felt a shift in the room—the sword energy and the dark energy surrounding the figure clashed, creating an almost palpable tension. "I will test you, and if you are not worthy… then this world will fall into our hands."
Before Eric could react, the figure launched a black energy attack that made the surrounding air vibrate. Eric was forced to raise the Everia Sword, which was now emitting a powerful blue glow, to block the attack.
The sword's power felt stronger, but also more uncontrollable. With each strike the figure made, the Everia Sword seemed to absorb the enemy's energy and return it with incredible intensity. Eric sensed something more than the sword's power—a connection between himself and the centuries-old history of the Everia family.
In his next attack, Eric used a technique he had just learned—a spiral sword technique that created a circle of energy surrounding him. When the attack merged with the Everia Sword, the blue light emanating from the sword expanded into an aura of pure energy that formed a protective wall around Eric.
The dark figure stepped back for a moment, surprised by the sudden power that shot out from the Sword of Everia. However, his gaze grew sharper. "You are strong, Eric Valentinus Everia," he said hoarsely, "But I will not let you have all this."
As the figure tried to attack again, the dark energy surrounding it began to congeal, creating black thunder that exploded into the air. The Everia Sword in Eric's hand seemed to respond unexpectedly—connecting with the ancestral sword's energy. The sword radiated ever brighter light, challenging the approaching darkness.
"I will not let anyone control the Sword of Everia!" Eric shouted, adding pressure to the sword's energy.
The dark figure paused for a moment, then laughed. "The power of the Everia Sword is a power that has been sealed away for a long time. You do not even know the full extent of its power. But we will see how far you can control it."
At the same time, the ancient book Eric had found beneath the altar suddenly glowed, illuminating with a bright light that shot up to the ceiling of the temple. As the light flashed, the room seemed to vibrate, as if some great power was awakening. The portal that had appeared behind the altar now began to reveal ancient images from the past—traces of the Everia family's history that had never been seen by anyone other than those who chose to seek it out.
Eric, with the Everia Sword, still held in his hand, realizes that this dark figure is not the only threat. The secrets buried in the Everia Ancestral Temple are beginning to be revealed, and Eric senses that not only he, but the entire Everia family will face an inevitable ordeal.
The tension in the temple room grew. Eric felt the energy of the Everia Sword flowing faster, and stronger, but also harder to control. Despite his best efforts, the sword felt like it was trying to escape his grasp, summoning something far more powerful, far darker.
The dark figure, now increasingly clear, stared at Eric with a gaze filled with hatred. Its face was hidden by the black mist, but the glowing red eyes that seemed to protrude from behind its shadow showed deep evil intent.
"That sword is the key," he said in a trembling voice. "The key to unlocking the long-buried secrets of the Everia family."
Eric did not fully understand what the figure meant. However, he felt more and more connected to the Sword of Everia, and with each passing second, the surrounding energy grew stronger, as if the entire temple was vibrating with incredible power.
"Everia's family secret..." Eric repeated in a trembling voice. "What do you mean?"
The figure just chuckled. "The Everia family never knew that their blood was connected to something greater. And the Everia Sword is a symbol of a power stronger than anything you can imagine."
In response, Eric put more pressure on his sword. The sword energy and the dark energy collided, creating a wave of power that shook the entire temple. The surrounding stones began to crack, and the ceiling of the temple shook violently. Eric knew that time was running out.
Meanwhile, the light from the ancient book he found grew brighter. The illumination from the book emitted a bright blue light that now seemed to flow throughout the room. Suddenly, a large portal opened before Eric, revealing images from a long-forgotten past.
The images showed the ancestors of the Everia family, their faces full of determination, standing beside the Sword of Everia, which now looked larger than ever. There was something very familiar about the images, but Eric could not quite place it yet.
"This is your fate," the figure shouted, his eyes growing even brighter. "And the fate of all who have fallen!"
With one swift movement, the dark figure aimed an incredibly powerful attack at Eric. However, before the attack could reach Eric, the Everia Sword flashed, blocking the attack with an increasingly powerful blue light, as if the weapon was not just a sword, but a symbol of the ancestral power contained in Everia's blood.
"Nothing can defeat the Sword of Everia," Eric said, more to himself than to the dark figure.
However, as the energy battle between the two grew stronger, the Everia Sword began to emit a brighter light, piercing the surrounding darkness. The energy attacks grew more intense, and Eric found it increasingly difficult to control the power within the sword.
As the situation grew increasingly tense, Eric felt a great stirring within him—something was waiting for him inside this temple, something that would reveal the truth about himself and the Everia family. The Everia sword vibrated in his hand, giving him a push that made him more certain than ever.
"If you want to stop all this... Then take that power!" The figure's voice sounded again, this time colder and sharper. "But remember, what you find here can never be taken back."
Eric knew the decision was in his hands now—the power of the Everia Sword flowing through his body or choosing to retreat and leave the secret buried.
As the final burst of energy erupted, Eric felt the world around him shake violently, and suddenly, he saw the images of the Everia family ancestors. They all seemed to be looking at him, giving him their blessing, or perhaps giving him a final challenge to complete this journey.
Suddenly, a voice called out to him—a soft yet powerful voice.
"Eric," the voice echoed in his mind. "we have been waiting for you."
End of chapter