KIRAN 14.2

"Are you alright?" Sky turned to Eve, his gaze filled with concern as he examined her dirtied face and trembling hands.

"Yeah, but that's my line," Eve replied, attempting a lighthearted tone despite the gravity of the moment.

"That light back there—that was you?" Sky asked, his eyes reflecting a mix of awe and admiration.

"I'm very glad you're safe," Eve nodded, a small smile breaking through her tears. Sky smiled back, relieved that she was unharmed.

"We're not out of this yet." As Sky retrieved his blade, he noticed a strange device on the ground where Uriel had faded away.

The device was of golden craftsmanship, composed of spherical geometries and triangles forming a handle. Though old and rustic, it still appeared workable. Upon squeezing it, the mechanism contracted, revealing a crystal deep inside that glowed a bright ocean blue. The light projected an image of someone struggling to show a message left behind.

Distortion and fuzziness clouded the voice and image, as if they struggled for clarity.

"This is a message to all, Valor. I fear the worst has happened; we can no longer return home. Gabriel has destroyed everything. It is not safe for any of us. We have no choice but to go into hiding and seal away all traces of what has happened. The void has become too powerful for us to destroy, so the best we can do is seal it away until I find a way to contain it. You must ensure no one opens these ruins; no one must know. All of this has fallen onto me. I need to make it right. Once that is done, I shall come and find you again. This is my last command to you."

"The Valor?" Eve whispered, her heart racing with curiosity and dread.

Sky turned to face the door that Uriel had been guarding. The massive door, forged from black metal, loomed before him like a monolith, its surface cold and unyielding. Engraved with runes and symbols that felt both familiar and unsettling, the door exuded an air of ancient mystery. He recalled the unique symbol he had encountered before—one that resonated with a celestial aura, blending intricate patterns of spirals, circles, and sharp angles.

As Sky stepped closer, a soft hum reverberated through the air, drawing his attention. The door shimmered, and a brilliant blue light blossomed against the dark stone, illuminating the surrounding shadows. It glowed with an ethereal energy, casting a shimmering glow that danced across the surface, revealing the depth of the engravings.

The familiar intricate design, alive with motion, unfurled before him, incorporating the same ancient runes he had seen earlier. Each rune pulsed with a life of its own, spiraling outward in a mesmerizing pattern that seemed to breathe. Yet, as Sky studied the door more closely, he realized the symbols were not identical to those he had encountered before.

Instead, they formed a unique arrangement, as though they were a personal signature—each line and curve meticulously crafted, telling a story only they could reveal. The spirals intertwined with the circles, creating a sense of unity and harmony, while the sharp angles introduced an element of tension, as if they were guardians of the secrets hidden within.

Sky felt a magnetic pull toward the door, a deep sense of curiosity mingling with trepidation. He could almost hear the whispers of forgotten knowledge beckoning him closer. The light intensified, illuminating his face, reflecting the wonder and fear that churned within him. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the intricate symbol faded away, leaving the surface of the door stark and unadorned once more. In that instant, a profound silence enveloped the space, amplifying the tension in the air.

With a heavy grinding sound, the door opened, creaking on its ancient hinges. The sound echoed like a mournful sigh, a protest against the passaging time as it parted, revealing the darkness within. Dust and particles danced in the air, illuminated by the fading blue light, swirling like spirits caught in an ethereal ballet.

A thick cloud of cold air seeped from the opening they had created, wrapping around them like a shroud. Eve shivered at the biting chill, instinctively keeping close behind Sky as he led the way into the unknown. As they stepped inside, moonlight poured in, illuminating a vast circular chamber that lay in a state of disarray. Monuments of stone and marble were still being constructed, meant to seal the chamber, now standing as a pillar of unfinished deeds.

The floor was scattered with corpses, revealing the aftermath of a terrible battle in the silence that enveloped them. Deep within the chaos, at the center of it all, floated something all too familiar to Sky—a black orb, its surface reflecting the moonlight in eerie contrast. Cold frost seeped from it, yet it remained completely silent as Sky and Eve approached. Eve sensed Sky knew what it was, and she could see him approach it with cautious strides, fear hidden within his clenched hands. She huddled behind him, shaken by the unforgiving cold that surrounded them.

He suddenly noticed a group of blurred apparitions—men and women in flowing robes—moving toward the orb. They walked as if in a trance, passing right through the space where he and Eve stood. Clad in silk white and gold robes, hoods obscuring their faces. They conversed among themselves, their voices low and urgent as they discussed their intentions regarding the orb.

Upon its surface lay a maelstrom swirling ominously, a source of terrible power contained within mere inches of glass. The leader among the apparitions removed her hood, revealing a woman.

"Jaina, what do you think?" she asked. Another woman moved closer to the orb while examining the intricate rune markings etched into the ground surrounding it.

"This is ancient. An orb of the void," Jaina replied, deep in concentration. "These markings are older than anything we've seen."

Among them, a man lowered his hood, revealing a familiar face—Uriel. "It's volatile. Best that we keep our distance," he warned, his voice laced with concern, even as he longed to examine it more closely.

A young man, clearly among the least experienced, spoke up cautiously. "All the voices we've been hearing… they came from this thing?"

"More like a bleeding effect. Give me a minute. It won't take me long to 'understand' it." Jaina explained. "We've been hearing them ever since we came in. Imagine what it must have been like for these people. They were trying to build their temple around it, but they never finished because of this."

"They've been disappearing one by one," the young man protested, panic creeping into his voice. "Their bodies turned to ash. The people here are scared; this isn't something they were meant to toy with."

"And yet they worship it, like it's some kind of god," the leader added, her expression grim. "We must destroy it."

"I agree; this is beyond even our power. For now, let's seal it away. We'll report back to Sera on what to do about—Jaina, no! Don't touch it!" The leader's warning came too late; Jaina had already reached out, stretching her hand toward the orb. An invisible force grabbed her and pulled her in.

"Jaina!" the man screamed, rushing to her side.

"My hand is stuck! Help me!" Jaina cried, panic rising in her voice as the orb held her in place.

The others joined in, desperately trying to wrestle her free from the grip of whatever invisible force had ensnared her. The orb unleashed its chaotic power with the force of a tornado, pushing them back. Uriel stretched out his hand in a thrust position, attempting to crush the sphere from within.

"Uriel, what are you doing?" the leader shouted, alarmed, as they struggled to pull Jaina away.

"We have to destroy it!" he yelled, focusing his power on the orb.

The orb screamed in protest, releasing an enormous blast of energy before Uriel could strike. The shockwave sent them all flying, crashing against the walls and leaving them dazed.

"Is everyone alright?" the leader asked as they slowly regained their footing, but there was no sign of Jaina.

"Jaina? Can you hear me? Jaina!" The young man pulled her to his side, but the orb had left its mark on everyone, most of all on her. They turned back to see the storm within the orb swirl violently, leaving only glass crack marks where the orb had snatched Jaina's hand.

As the apparitions blurred out of existence, Sky froze for what felt like an eternity before snapping back to reality.

"What's wrong?" Eve asked, nudging him as he shook his head.

"Huh? Did something happen?" Sky replied, confusion clouding his eyes.

"You stopped and were staring into space for a minute. Are you okay?"

"Yes, of course, I'm fine. Let's focus on getting out of here." Sky reassured her with a gentle pat on her hands. They now stood before the orb, its presence awakening something deep within him as the maelstrom became crystal clear. Then a rumble echoed from its depths. Indistinct voices rose around them, as if something had awakened.

A moment of silence passed, and then a shockwave erupted. A pulse of energy radiated through the ancient stone city. Sounds emerged from the distance—not the breeze or falling stones, but something alive—groans and deathly voices.

Eve looked out to see shadows emerging from the darkness, moving toward the pyramid, their shapes coalescing into figures armed with weapons.

"What do we do?" Eve panicked, her heart racing.

As if awakened from a deep slumber, the figures surged forward. Sky grabbed Eve, pulling her back inside the chamber.

The shadows surrounded them; they were easily outnumbered and defenseless. Eve reached out her hands, desperately trying to summon her protective light, but the onslaught of shadows overwhelmed her focus.

As the shadows charged at them, Sky could hear the voices of the orb calling out to him, beckoning him closer.

He looked down at his hand, realizing there was only one thing he could think of.

"What are you doing?" Eve yelled, her hands clenched as she fought to summon her light.

"The only thing I know," Sky replied, placing his open palm against the orb. The instant he touched it, the gemstone around Eve's neck glowed brightly, creating a protective shield around her.

He expected to feel a snap in his wrist or hear the shrieks of dark languages, but the world froze, enveloped in a profound silence.

He turned to see Eve and all the apparitions, poised to attack, frozen in time.

"Eve?" he called out, but she didn't respond. Light spilled through the cracks of the entrance to the chamber. Driven by instinct, he pushed through the shadows and found himself transported to the city's open courtyard.

The area was alive with vibrant energy; people traversed their daily lives as warm sunlight poured through the stone openings, bathing the buildings in golden light.

Children ran about, laughing and playing games of chase with handmade wooden toys.

One child paused, turning to face him, her eyes wide with recognition. It was Kiran. She dashed back to her parents, revealing Uriel and his wife.

The world around him shifted and phased through time, now capturing the winter solstice. An argument erupted nearby, voices raised in fear and frustration over the mysterious disappearances plaguing their community.

In the midst of it all, Uriel tried to quell the crowd. Behind him, Kiran and her mother stood, anxiety etched on their faces, uncertain of what was to come.

Uriel had sealed the door to the orb chamber, much to the protest of the people. As the crowd swelled, Sky noticed a group of individuals gathering, whispering among themselves.

"This man is the cause of everything! He came to us, and then our people started disappearing. All the disappearances are his doing!"

"No, he came to warn us about the orb! He tells us it's evil!" protested another voice, only to be silenced by a knife thrust into his back, his body dragged away into the shadows.

"A man who follows in the deceitful ways of the emissary! The orb has given us great power, and this man wishes to take it from us!"

As the scene shifted again, Sky observed the growing battalion of radicals, led by an elderly man who stood proudly, sword raised high.

"The emissary has led us to believe the power of the orb is evil! We must crush this blasphemous liar and eliminate him and his family! They stand in the city, and we are many. Let none escape!"

The world shifted once more, and Sky found himself at the top of the pyramid. Uriel was there with Kiran and her mother, hurriedly preparing Kiran for their escape as he donned his weapons and armor.

"Daddy, where are we going?" Kiran asked, her voice trembling.

"We're leaving this place. The people don't want us here anymore. But they're looking for me. I'll distract them while you and your mother take the secret passageways to safety."

"No! Why can't we go together?" Kiran cried, fear etched across her features.

"Don't worry, I'll be right behind you." He smiled, lifting her chin to offer comfort.

In the distance, the roar of the crowd reached his ears, a cacophony of anger and fear as they marched toward the pyramid.

"It's time. Go!" Uriel urged his wife, who shared one last kiss with him before they departed. Kiran screamed, desperately reaching for him as her mother carried her away.

"No, wait!" Sky shouted, but he was a mere observer, powerless to intervene. He ran after them, retracing the steps Kiran had shown him, desperate to protect them.

He watched as Kiran's mother hid them beneath the rocks, using the shadows as cover. They navigated the rope bridge, but a soldier caught sight of them.

"I found them! The mother and child! After them!" he shouted, and a detachment of soldiers broke away to pursue.

"Where are we going, Mommy?" Kiran asked, fear lacing her voice.

"We're escaping through the door entrances," her mother replied, trying to reassure her even as panic filled her heart.

Sky followed closely, realizing they were retracing his own steps. "No, don't go that way!" he cried out, but they couldn't hear him. The entrance they aimed for was barred and blocked.

As they reached the end of the passageway, horror filled their faces. The soldiers had expected their escape route and sealed it off. They turned to flee, but the small detachment of soldiers had them cornered, pitchforks and torches casting long shadows as they advanced.

"Darling, hide!" Kiran's mother whispered urgently, pushing her behind what little cover there was. She drew her sword, ready to defend them to the death.

Kiran watched in terror as her mother fought valiantly, taking down a few soldiers, but she was no trained fighter. In an instant, a sword pierced her chest. She turned, pain etched across her features as she faced her daughter, blood spilling from her mouth.

"Mommy, no!" Kiran shouted, but it was too late. Her mother collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Kiran stumbled back, and the soldiers closed in, extending their hands toward her. "Come with us, little girl. We won't hurt you," one said, feigning kindness.

"No! You killed my mommy! You're bad men!" Kiran screamed, her voice filled with defiance.

There was a brief argument among the soldiers; she was just a little girl, they said, but their leader approached with a cold demeanor. "Let all blasphemers and defilers of the orb be eliminated!" He advanced, sword raised high above her head.

"Please don't hurt me!" Kiran sobbed, huddled behind the rocks, her tears flowing freely.

"Kiran, no!" Sky shouted, reaching out in desperation, but he could only watch as the scene unfolded. He was a mere observer, unable to intervene. The dark figure lifted his sword, and as Kiran closed her eyes in resignation, the world faded into blackness, ending with her last screams and the sickening sounds of violence.

Sky lay helpless on the ground, his heart aching as he fought back tears for what he had witnessed. All this time, Kiran was lost, and she yearned for her family.

Rising from the ground, he found himself enveloped in complete blackness. 

Where was he? 

All he could feel was the breath of the void, a chilling breeze that sent shivers down his spine. He looked at his hands, confirming he was still whole.

That's when he realized he had been looking the wrong way for too long.