Caelum's heart still pounded in his chest as the echoes of the voice faded into the stone walls of the forgotten chamber. The glowing runes that had lit the room were dimming, their once-vibrant colors now dulling as if the magic that had triggered them was retreating into the depths of the earth. His hands trembled, still charged with the residual energy from the crystal.
Aelric stood nearby, his arms folded across his chest. His eyes flickered between Caelum and the now-silent pedestal, where the crystal had once pulsed with life. "You've done it now, haven't you?" Aelric's voice was sharp, yet tinged with something Caelum couldn't quite place—was it awe? Or fear?
"I didn't mean to…" Caelum began, but his words trailed off. How could he explain what had just happened? It was as if the room itself had become a part of him, the ancient power of the crystal sinking into his bones, reshaping his very being. He could still feel the crackling energy, humming beneath his skin, trying to push its way out.
Aelric took a step forward, his gaze narrowing. "You didn't mean to?" He scoffed, though there was no malice behind it. "You're standing in a hidden chamber beneath Cindrelle, touching a relic tied to the Veil, and you didn't mean to?" He raised an eyebrow, sarcasm dancing in his tone. "What were you expecting to happen? A nice chat with a long-dead scholar?"
Caelum swallowed hard. "I—I didn't know what I was looking for. I was following… something. A feeling, I guess."
The older man's expression softened, though the skepticism never fully left his eyes. "Feelings aren't enough to explain this, Caelum. We're talking about magic older than this city, possibly older than any of us." He paused, as if weighing his next words carefully. "If the Veil is involved, there's no telling what kind of force you've awakened."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence in the chamber felt heavy, pressing against Caelum's chest. He could feel the weight of it all—the unseen eyes, the vastness of the magic, and the certainty that nothing would ever be the same again.
Then, as if summoned by the very thought, the sound of distant footsteps echoed through the stone corridor.
Caelum's breath caught in his throat.
Aelric's hand went to the hilt of his sword, his expression darkening. "We've got company."
"What—?" Caelum barely had time to finish the question before the footsteps grew louder, more hurried. There was no time to hide. No time to prepare.
A moment later, a figure appeared in the entrance, tall and cloaked in dark robes. Their face was obscured by a hood, but Caelum could see the glint of silver eyes that shone with an unnatural intensity, their gaze sharp and calculating. The air seemed to shift as the figure stepped forward, like the world itself bending under the weight of their presence.
Aelric's grip on his sword tightened. "Who are you?"
The figure said nothing at first, their silver eyes flicking over Caelum and then back to the pedestal where the crystal had once been. Their lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"Such power," the figure finally spoke, their voice low and smooth, like velvet wrapped around steel. "You've awakened something that should have remained dormant."
"Who are you?" Caelum repeated, his voice more forceful this time, though his heart hammered in his chest.
The figure didn't answer right away. Instead, they stepped closer, raising a gloved hand toward Caelum. The air between them seemed to crackle, like static before a storm.
Aelric moved in front of Caelum, his sword raised, but the figure stopped him with a simple gesture. "No need for that," they said, their voice calm, almost dismissive. "I'm not here to fight. Not yet."
Caelum could feel the weight of their words like an unseen weight pressing down on him, making his breath come shorter. "What do you want?"
The figure finally lowered their hand, their gaze locking onto Caelum. "I want what you've just awakened," they said quietly. "You've touched something far greater than you realize. Something that could change everything."
Caelum's mind reeled. He had only touched the crystal. He hadn't meant to awaken anything, certainly not something that would draw attention like this.
"Who are you?" Aelric asked again, voice strained. "What do you know about this place?"
The figure tilted their head slightly, as though pondering the question. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, they pushed back their hood, revealing a face both too youthful and too ancient to be real. The person before them looked no older than Caelum, but their eyes… those eyes spoke of lifetimes, of secrets long buried.
"I am called Seris," they said. "And I know more than you can imagine."
Aelric's sword lowered slightly, though his wariness didn't subside. "You're one of them."
Seris nodded. "Yes, and no. I was once part of the Order that guarded these ancient relics, but that was long ago. I've learned too much to remain in their fold." Their eyes locked onto Caelum again, their expression unreadable. "The Veil isn't just a punishment, Caelum Wrenwick. It's a door. And you… you've unlocked it."
Caelum's breath caught again. "What are you talking about? What door?"
Seris smiled, but it was not a comforting smile. It was a smile full of secrets and shadows. "The door to the truth, the one hidden beneath centuries of lies. And you, Caelum, are the key."