Chapter 50: Whispers of the Abyss
Eren's boots echoed through the dimly lit corridors of the academy's central tower. The towering structure, rarely visited by students, housed ancient artifacts and tomes that had been long forgotten by most of the faculty. This was the place where secrets whispered, and Eren was determined to uncover them.
The pact with the void had left him physically drained but mentally sharper than ever. His every movement felt precise, his thoughts flowing with a clarity that bordered on inhuman. Yet, a faint sense of loss lingered—something intangible but undeniably present. The void had taken his fear, as promised, but Eren couldn't shake the feeling that it had claimed more than he realized.
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The Abyssal Library
The air grew colder as Eren descended into the lower levels of the tower. Here, the walls were lined with shelves overflowing with dusty tomes, their spines cracked with age. Lanterns flickered weakly, casting eerie shadows that danced across the stone walls.
Eren's fingers trailed along the spines of the books as he walked, the void within him humming softly in response to certain titles. He stopped at a particularly ancient volume bound in black leather. Its title, written in a language he didn't recognize, glowed faintly in the dim light.
He hesitated before pulling it from the shelf. The moment his fingers touched the cover, the void pulsed violently, sending a jolt through his body.
"Open it," the voice from the void whispered, its tone commanding yet oddly soothing.
Eren obeyed, flipping open the book to reveal pages filled with intricate symbols and diagrams. The language was indecipherable, but the images depicted were hauntingly familiar: spiraling marks, shadowy figures, and glimpses of a realm that seemed to exist beyond reality.
One image, in particular, caught his eye. It showed a figure standing amidst a swirling void, their chest marked with a glowing sigil identical to his own. Below the image, a single line of text stood out, written in glowing silver ink:
"The marked are not chosen—they are claimed."
Eren's breath hitched. What did it mean to be "claimed"? Was he merely a pawn in a larger game?
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The Unexpected Visitor
A sudden noise shattered the silence, and Eren's head snapped toward the entrance of the library. Footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. He quickly slid the book into his satchel and retreated into the shadows, his heart pounding despite the void's absence of fear.
A figure emerged from the corridor—a young woman clad in the dark robes of the academy's research division. Her silver hair shimmered in the dim light, and her sharp, emerald eyes scanned the room with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"Who's there?" she called, her voice steady and authoritative.
Eren didn't move, his body pressed against the cold stone wall. The shadows around him seemed to shift and thicken, cloaking him from view. He hadn't intended to use the void's power, but it responded instinctively to his need for concealment.
The woman stepped deeper into the room, her gaze lingering on the shelves as if searching for something—or someone. She stopped mere feet from where Eren was hidden, her fingers brushing against the spines of the books.
"I know you're here," she said, her tone softening slightly. "If you're looking for answers, you won't find them in these dusty old tomes. The truth isn't written—it's experienced."
Her words sent a chill down Eren's spine. Who was she? And how much did she know?
Before he could react, her gaze snapped directly to where he stood. "Step out of the shadows, or I'll drag you out myself."
Eren hesitated but realized he had little choice. The void's power unraveled around him, and he stepped into the dim light, his hood pulled low over his face.
The woman's eyes widened briefly before narrowing in suspicion. "You're one of the marked," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eren tensed. He had gone to great lengths to keep his mark hidden, yet this stranger had identified him within seconds. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice cold.
She smiled faintly, though there was no warmth in her expression. "Call me Seris. I'm... a seeker of truths, much like yourself."
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A Dangerous Alliance
Eren didn't lower his guard. "If you know what I am, then you know it's dangerous to stand so close."
Seris chuckled, the sound light yet unnerving. "Dangerous? Perhaps. But I'm not so easily intimidated. The marked are rare, yes, but you're not the first I've encountered."
Her words struck Eren like a blow. There were others like him? He had always assumed his condition was unique—or at least exceedingly rare. "What do you know about the mark?" he asked, his tone betraying a hint of desperation.
Seris tilted her head, studying him carefully. "More than you, clearly. But knowledge comes at a cost. Are you willing to pay the price?"
Eren's mind raced. He didn't trust Seris, but she was the first person who seemed to have real answers. "What kind of price?"
She smirked. "Nothing too severe—just a little... cooperation. Share what you know, and I'll do the same. Together, we might uncover the truth behind your mark—and the void that binds it."
Eren hesitated. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford, yet Seris's knowledge was too valuable to ignore. After a moment, he nodded. "Fine. But if you try anything—"
Seris raised a hand, cutting him off. "Spare me the threats. You're not the first marked one to make them, and you won't be the last."
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The Pact of Shadows
Their uneasy alliance formed, Seris led Eren deeper into the library, stopping before a massive iron door etched with runes. "Beyond this door lies the truth—or at least, the beginning of it," she said, placing a hand on the cold metal.
The runes glowed faintly under her touch, and the door creaked open to reveal a circular chamber bathed in a pale, otherworldly light. At the center of the room stood an obsidian pedestal, upon which rested a black crystal pulsing with a dark energy that resonated with Eren's mark.
"This," Seris said, gesturing to the crystal, "is an echo of the void. If you wish to understand your mark, you must attune to it."
Eren stepped forward, the void within him stirring violently in response to the crystal's presence. He reached out, his fingers trembling as they brushed against the smooth surface.
The moment he made contact, a surge of energy erupted from the crystal, enveloping him in a whirlwind of shadows. Visions flashed before his eyes—fragments of the void, glimpses of its vast, incomprehensible power.
And then, a voice echoed in his mind. "You have taken your first step, mortal. But the path ahead is treacherous. Beware the watchers—they see more than you know."
As the vision faded, Eren found himself kneeling before the pedestal, his body trembling but his resolve stronger than ever. He had unlocked another piece of the puzzle, but the game was far from over.