---CHAPTER 2---
When Bruice awoke, he found himself lying on a cold stone floor, the eerie glow from the jar casting shadows on the walls. The room was silent, save for the faint hum of the jar's energy. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, it took him some seconds to remember all that had happened. Without wasting time, Bruice headed to search for the door in the darkness. When he got out, he checked the time "6:45" he said. He then noticed everything was still the same way it was when he entered the tent, like nothing had happened. A piece of glass fell from the sky as paper would. It had a message on it. After Bruice finished reading it, it disintegrated. Bruice looked back to confirm his suspicion, and he was right; the tent had vanished. It wasn't an ordinary encounter—it was something beyond his universe.
Bruice got home exhausted and lied to sleep but it seemed to never come. He kept on wondering what happened today. But what astonished him the most was the message on the glass. He kept on pounding and wondering what it meant. It wasn't in English so he had no idea what it meant. He made up his mind to go there as early as he could to get some answers.
He dashed off after hugging his parents bye. He hoped to see the mysterious tent at the market again. Lo and behold, it was there. "Yes!" he exclaimed. He did the procedure and entered as before. Gifted generously with darkness, he was still able to see the manly figure. He hesitated for some time before gathering the courage to approach the man.
. "I knew you'd be back, welcome," the man said, his voice echoing softly through the room. "You've stumbled upon something quite extraordinary, Bruice."Bruice struggled to sit up, his mind racing with confusion and fear. "What is this place? Who are you?" he managed to ask, his voice trembling. "This is a place of secrets and forgotten knowledge," the man replied cryptically. "And I am merely a keeper of such truths."
Bruice felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Why am I here?" he asked, trying to make sense of the situation.
"You have a role to play, Bruice," the man said, his tone growing more serious. "Your presence here is no accident. There are forces at work, forces you cannot yet comprehend. You see, Bruice, the universe works quite simultaneously. Eons ago, I was sent by ancient sorcerers to protect the cosmos, including this universe." At this point, Bruice found himself drifting in space alone. Everything moved as he saw what the guardian was saying. He was in the past the mysterious man was talking about. He was welcomed with the sight of three sorcerers surrounding a glowing portal.
"It is done," Sorcerer One said.
Sorcerer Three continued, "From the deepest and darkest matter..."
"...arises the great scale who will bring balance to the cosmos" Sorcerer One one said.
"Who is he to take this responsibility?" They all pointed their staffs at the portal as it widened and echoed, "SHADOW...ARISE." Bruice's pupils dilated as he saw a figureless -figure emerging from the portal, hands first. "That's me" the man said. "So your name is..." "...Shadow" Shadow (the mysterious man) said.
The sorcerers' voices resonated with an ancient power, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with their incantations. He was witnessing the birth of something monumental, something that had been set in motion long before his time. "Shadow," Bruice repeated, trying to grasp the gravity of the revelation. "So, you're not just a keeper of secrets. You're part of this... this cosmic balance."Shadow nodded solemnly. "Indeed, I am both a guardian and a participant in the grand design. But now, Bruice, you have been drawn into this tapestry. The forces that brought you here have chosen you for a purpose."
As Bruice listened, he felt an inexplicable pull towards the jar, its glow seeming to beckon him. "What is that?" he asked, pointing to the jar.
The man smiled softly. "It is a vessel of knowledge, containing the wisdom of ages. But be warned, it is not to be taken lightly."Bruice hesitated, unsure of what to do next. The air felt charged with anticipation, as if the room itself was alive with possibilities. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty.
The man stood, his movements graceful and deliberate. "I want you to understand the power within you, Bruice. To unlock the potential that lies dormant, waiting to be awakened."Bruice felt a surge of determination, his fear slowly giving way to curiosity. "How do I do that?" he asked, ready to embrace whatever challenge lay ahead.
The man gestured towards the jar, its glow intensifying. "Begin by accepting the unknown," he advised. "And let your journey unfold."With a deep breath, Bruice stepped forward, feeling the weight of the moment settle upon him. Bruice stepped closer. The jar's glow crawled over his skin like warm ants. The keeper watched, motionless, the smile gone.
Bruice raised his hand. His fingers were an inch from the jar when every light in the room died at once, leaving only the jar—pulsing now like a heartbeat that wasn't his. Somewhere in the dark, as destiny unfolded the keeper asked "are you in?"