The next morning, Arkan prepared himself well. He put on his heavy coat and packed his bag, slipping inside the page he had taken from the book. A strange mix of excitement and anxiety churned in his chest, but his curiosity outweighed everything else. He began climbing the mountain behind the city—the same one he had seen on the map in the mysterious book. The path was rugged, covered in sharp stones and thick shrubs, and the cold wind stung his face with every step he took upward.
Despite the fatigue creeping into his body, Arkan didn't stop. His mind was buzzing with endless questions: Could there truly be something behind that map? Is it just coincidence that the mountain exists here? And if not—who was that strange old man? Why did he speak of suffering, destiny, and inheritance?
When he finally reached the summit, he stood there breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead—only to find nothing. No ancient buildings. No secret doors. No mysterious markings. Just rocks and withered trees. He sighed deeply, smirked bitterly, and said aloud, "What a fool I am… believing a map in a book of myths. I've wasted my day on an illusion."
He turned to leave, shaking his head in frustration. But suddenly, he heard strange whispers echoing in the air—barely audible, yet their meaning was clear despite their mystery:
"At last… our heir has returned…"
Arkan froze in place. His heart pounded violently. He quickly turned, searching for the source of the voice—and what he saw shocked him. Through the mist now creeping across the summit, a figure appeared. A familiar silhouette despite the years. It was the same man who had once placed him at the orphanage's doorstep. The same mysterious features. The same dark blue aura that wrapped around his body like a cloak woven from night itself.
The man spoke with a deep voice, heavy with age and gravity:
"You've grown, Arkan. The time has come to bear your responsibility."
Arkan stepped back in fear, eyes wide with shock. He stammered:
"Who are you? What responsibility? What's happening?"
The man didn't answer. Instead, he raised a finger slowly, and from it burst a beam of light—neither hot nor cold, but a pure energy, heavy with ancient power. The beam shot through the air and struck Arkan's chest. He tried to move, to scream, to run—but his body wouldn't obey. Trembling with fear, his strength failed him, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a strange place—unlike anything he had ever known. There was no sky above, no ground beneath. He was floating in an immense space, surrounded by a different universe. Lights like stars shimmered around him, and distant sounds echoed like memories—whispers from the past… or perhaps the future.
His body began to drift, as if gravity no longer applied. Then, suddenly, a word echoed in his mind—he didn't know how or why:
"The Twelve Worlds… The Guardians…"
And so begins Arkan's journey—a young man who never knew where he came from, and never imagined he bore in his blood an ancient legacy, a great responsibility, and a fate he could not escape. A journey not just to uncover the Twelve Worlds—but to uncover himself, the secrets of his hidden family, and the truth behind the being within him… the seal that holds the mystery of the Guardians.
On this path, he will face unbeatable enemies, forge unforgettable friendships, and make choices that will alter the course of the worlds themselves.
And in the end…
he may become the strongest to ever walk between worlds.
End of Chapter.