Chapter 4: The Watchers of the Mortal Realm

Eliam stood motionless, his eyes adjusting to the vast new world before him. He had escaped the abyss, defied the executioners, and ascended beyond what should have been possible for a mere soul. But he was not free. Not yet.

The portal had transported him to an unfamiliar land one that existed between the divine and the mortal. The sky was an unnatural shade of violet, swirling with dark clouds that seemed to pulse with energy. The ground beneath his feet was a polished black stone, etched with glowing golden symbols that hummed with a deep, ancient power.

He was not alone.

Across the horizon, looming structures of pure celestial metal stretched into the sky. Massive towers, each marked with the insignias of the gods, stood as silent guardians. And at the center of this place, a grand citadel shone like a beacon of divine authority. Eliam recognized it instantly.

The Divine Watchtower.

It was the realm of the Watchers beings tasked with monitoring the balance between life and death, gods and mortals. They were the last gatekeepers before one could truly re-enter the mortal realm. And they were not kind to trespassers.

A cold voice sliced through the silence.

"You do not belong here."

Eliam turned sharply, his body tensed for battle. From the shadows of the towering structures emerged a figure clad in flowing silver armor, a hood covering their face. Their presence radiated divine energy, the sheer pressure of it sending shivers down Eliam's spine.

A Watcher.

Then, more appeared. Dozens, surrounding him in a circle, each adorned with armor that shimmered with celestial power. Some held radiant halberds, others divine spears crackling with condensed lightning.

Eliam clenched his fists. He had just escaped one impossible situation, only to find himself in another.

"What is a soul tainted by the abyss doing in our sacred realm?" another Watcher demanded, stepping forward. Unlike the others, this one bore markings of a higher rank. Their voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority.

Eliam knew lying would serve no purpose. He met the Watcher's gaze and spoke firmly.

"I seek passage to the mortal world."

Murmurs rippled through the gathered Watchers. Some looked at him with scorn, others with curiosity. The high-ranking Watcher narrowed their eyes.

"A soul touched by the abyss has no place among mortals."

"Then stop me." Eliam's voice was steady, but inside, he was calculating. He knew he was outmatched. The Watchers were far stronger than the executioners he had faced before. Fighting them head-on would be suicide.

But he had no intention of fighting them on their terms.

The high-ranking Watcher studied him for a long moment before finally speaking.

"You are an anomaly. Your existence should not be possible, yet you stand here. That alone intrigues me."

The Watcher raised a hand, and the symbols etched into the ground flared to life. A golden light enveloped Eliam, and instantly, he felt something sharp grip his very essence.

Pain seared through him.

It wasn't physical it was deeper, something clawing at his soul itself. He dropped to one knee, gritting his teeth as the Watchers chanted in unison.

They were trying to bind him.

A binding ritual one designed to strip him of his will, to turn him into a mindless servant of the divine order.

Eliam's vision blurred, his strength wavering. But he refused to submit.

"No," he growled.

The abyss inside him roared in defiance. The golden light that sought to entrap him flickered, struggling against the dark power he had awakened. The ritual began to crack, splintering under the force of his will.

Gasps echoed among the Watchers as Eliam rose to his feet, the binding shattering around him.

The high-ranking Watcher took a step back, eyes narrowing.

"Impossible…"

Eliam exhaled, his breath misting in the cold air. He had survived their ritual. But he wasn't foolish enough to believe they would let him walk away now.

Then, a deep voice rumbled through the Watchtower, cutting through the tension.

"Enough."

The sky darkened, the very air trembling with power.

From the grand citadel at the center of the Watchtower realm, a figure descended taller than any Watcher, clad in black and gold robes, their face obscured by a radiant mask.

Eliam instinctively knew who this was.

The Arbiter.

A being neither god nor mortal, the Arbiter was the final judge of all souls that passed through the divine gates. Even the Watchers bowed as the Arbiter approached.

"This soul is not to be destroyed," the Arbiter declared, their voice echoing across the realm.

The high-ranking Watcher hesitated but lowered their head.

"But he is tainted by the abyss."

"And yet, he defied our binding," the Arbiter countered.

They turned their masked gaze toward Eliam.

"You wish to return to the mortal world. But do you even understand what awaits you?"

Eliam met their gaze without hesitation. "I do."

"You carry more than your own fate now," the Arbiter warned. "The gods will hunt you. The abyss will call to you. And the mortal world will not be as you left it."

"I don't care," Eliam said. "I will carve my own path."

A long silence followed. Then, the Arbiter extended a hand, and the space before them cracked open another portal, but this one pulsed with the unmistakable energy of the mortal world.

"Then go," the Arbiter commanded. "But know this your actions will shape more than just your fate. From this moment forward, you walk the path of the defiant."

Eliam stepped toward the portal. But just before he entered, the Arbiter spoke once more.

"Seraphine still exists. But her fate is bound to forces beyond even the gods' will."

Eliam froze. His heart pounded.

He turned, his voice sharp. "What do you mean?"

But the Arbiter merely gestured toward the portal.

"Go, and find your answers in the world beyond."

Eliam clenched his fists. He had no choice. He stepped into the light.

And in an instant, he was gone.