Chapter 28: Whispers Beneath the Silver Leaves
The forest air was thick with an unnatural stillness. Even the wind, which had whispered through the canopy only moments ago, now held its breath. Kael stepped cautiously over a web of tangled roots, his eyes alert, his instincts sharper than ever. Beside him, Aira tightened her grip on her staff, the faint glow pulsing from the crystal at its tip barely illuminating the path ahead.
They had ventured deeper into the heart of the Verdant Hollows than any local dared. The region was long believed to be cursed—an ancient place of secrets buried beneath moss and stone. Yet their mark had led them here. Faint, pulsing lines of light carved across their skin like ancient scripts, guiding their journey.
A soft rustling sound drew their attention. Kael raised his hand, signaling for the group to stop. Riven, ever the quiet observer, melted into the shadows of a large twisted tree, while Elira stood perfectly still, her ears attuned to the faintest noise.
Then they saw it.
A figure moved between the trees—tall, cloaked, and almost ghostlike. It glided with grace unnatural to any human. Kael could feel his heart pounding. The voice had told him of watchers—beings tied to the ancient order of the kingdom—guardians of the Forbidden Era's secrets.
Suddenly, the figure stopped.
It turned its head toward them, though its face remained concealed beneath the shadow of its hood. Then, it spoke—not in words, but in a haunting hum that vibrated through the air like an echo from a forgotten time.
The mark on Kael's hand burned.
His knees buckled, and visions exploded in his mind: a grand hall made of crystal and obsidian, a throne suspended in the air by threads of light, and four warriors standing before it—each with marks on their hands. Each… bearing resemblance to him and his companions.
Kael gasped and dropped to his knees. Aira caught him just before he hit the ground.
"Kael!" she called, but he barely heard her.
His vision cleared. The cloaked figure was now gone. Only the rustle of leaves remained.
They pressed forward, shaken but determined. The forest began to shift—trees with silvery bark shimmered in the dim light, and strange flowers with glowing petals bloomed in patterns that matched their marks.
"This place..." Elira murmured, her voice full of awe. "It's ancient... and alive. It knows who we are."
In a clearing beyond a veil of silver ferns, they discovered something incredible—a shrine. Not one of worship, but of remembrance. Pillars of stone stood in a wide circle, each engraved with an ancient symbol. At the center was a pedestal holding a glass orb that floated slightly above the stone, spinning slowly.
When Kael approached, the orb stopped spinning.
A projection of an old man appeared above it, cloaked in robes embroidered with golden threads. His eyes were closed, but his voice carried power.
"To those who bear the Marks of Passage, you are the echoes of a time long fractured. This kingdom—Ilithar—was not destroyed by war, but by the corruption of time."
The projection showed a kingdom flourishing with impossible beauty and power. Towering spires made of crystal, rivers of light flowing through the air, and people casting spells with song and memory.
Then came the fall.
A shadow emerged from a crack in the sky—twisting, devouring, speaking in a language that fractured minds. Magic turned against itself. Time distorted. Trust crumbled. And then—silence.
The old man's voice continued, "You were summoned to this era not to learn magic, but to remember it. For when the cycle comes again, only those who remember will be able to choose."
A choice. The word rang heavy in Kael's mind.
"This isn't about just stopping evil," Riven said, voice low. "It's about whether the world even deserves magic at all."
They stayed in the shrine that night. Kael couldn't sleep. He stared up at the glowing orb, his thoughts racing.
What did it mean to 'choose'? Could magic truly return to destroy everything again? Or could they find a way to shape it into something better?
And why did the name "0169" keep echoing in his dreams like a forgotten date or a broken code?
Kael knew that whatever lay ahead, it would test not just their strength—but their hearts.