Echoes of the Past

The ruins emanated an ancient and overwhelming energy. Each stone seemed to vibrate with a power that escaped Tharion and Ceyla's comprehension. The wind had ceased completely, and the silence was replaced by an almost inaudible whisper - voices that seemed to echo between the broken walls, like ghosts trapped in time.

'This isn't normal,' muttered Ceyla, her eyes fixed on the hooded figure standing in the centre of the ruins.

The figure didn't move, but its presence was suffocating. The black cloak he wore seemed to absorb the surrounding light, creating a dense shadow. Shadow creatures surrounded him, like watchful guardians, but they didn't attack.

'Who are you?' shouted Tharion, breaking the silence. He stepped forward, raising his improvised blade.

The figure slowly raised its head, revealing a pale, expressionless face. Its eyes glowed a deep red, like embers from an ancient fire. When it spoke, its voice was low, but it carried a weight that made the ground beneath Tharion's feet tremble.

'You are the light bearer,' said the figure, ignoring the question. 'The reborn who should not exist.'

Tharion frowned, narrowing his eyes. 'What does that mean? What do you know about me?'

The figure smiled slightly, and something in the gesture made the temperature around him drop even more. 'You're a fragment of the past, an anomaly. And like all anomalies... you will be eliminated.'

Before Tharion could reply, the figure raised his hand, and the shadow creatures advanced.

The Battle in the Ruins

The creatures rushed towards Tharion and Ceyla with brutal speed. Ceyla was the first to act, firing an arrow that pierced the skull of one of the beasts. The creature fell, but two others took its place.

'Look out!' she shouted, retreating to a more defensive position.

Tharion spun his improvised blade, cutting through two creatures in a single movement. But, as before, he felt that this was not enough. The golden glow emanating from his body began to grow, filling him with a strength that seemed impossible.

'You can control this,' he whispered to himself, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his improvised sword was covered in an intense light, transforming into something else - a blade of pure energy.

With a shout, he advanced against the creatures, his blade slicing through them as if they were made of air. Each blow scattered golden sparks, illuminating the ruins.

'Tharion!' shouted Ceyla, pointing at the hooded figure. 'He's doing something!'

Tharion turned in time to see the figure begin to trace symbols in the air, leaving a trail of black energy that pulsed with malevolence. It was a spell - something powerful and dangerous.

'I won't let you finish this,' he said, running towards the enemy.

The Encounter with the Unknown

Before he could reach the figure, Tharion was thrown backwards by a wave of dark energy. He fell to his knees, feeling the impact reverberate through his body. Ceyla fired another arrow, but it was deflected by an invisible barrier.

'You are so insignificant,' said the figure, its voice tinged with contempt. 'You don't understand what's at stake here.'

'Then explain it to me!' shouted Tharion, forcing himself to stand up. 'If I'm so insignificant, why are you trying to kill me?'

The figure hesitated for a moment, as if considering the question. Finally, he lowered his hand, and the energy around him began to dissipate.

'Because you carry a power that doesn't belong to you. A power that should have died with the ancient world.'

Tharion took a step forwards, ignoring the pain in his body. 'What is this power? Who gave it to me?'

The figure didn't answer, but raised his hand again. 'You'll find out... when it's too late.'

Before Tharion or Ceyla could react, the figure disappeared, shrouded in a cloud of shadows. The remaining creatures retreated with it, leaving the ruins in dead silence.

Answers and New Mysteries

Tharion fell to his knees, breathing heavily. The golden light around him disappeared, leaving him exhausted. Ceyla ran over to him, helping him up.

'Are you all right?' she asked, concern evident in her voice.

'Yes... I just need a moment,' he replied, taking her arm to balance himself.

She looked around, frowning. 'What was that all about? Who was he?'

'I don't know,' said Tharion, looking at the place where the figure had disappeared. 'But he knew something about me. Something I need to find out.'

While they were examining the ruins, Ceyla found an inscription on the ground, almost hidden under the dust. It was an ancient language, but something about the symbols seemed familiar to Tharion. He knelt down, touching them carefully.

'Can you read this?' she asked.

'No,' he replied, his voice low. 'But I feel like I've seen it before.'

The symbols began to glow faintly under his touch, and a vision flashed through his mind - flashes of a world in flames, a colossal battle and a figure shrouded in golden light. When the vision ended, Tharion stepped back, panting.

'Those symbols...' he muttered. 'They're linked to my past. And to the power I carry.'

Ceyla watched him in silence, realising the seriousness of what they had just discovered. 'So, what do we do now?'

Tharion stood up slowly, his eyes fixed on the forest in the distance. 'Now we've found more answers. Whatever that is, we can't run away from it.'

As the sun rose again, the ruins behind them looked darker than ever.