Chapter 7: Into the Abyss

Lucas stared at the swirling portal, the last remnants of the mysterious man vanishing into its depths. The air still crackled with the energy from the blast, and his chest was tight with a mix of excitement and dread.

What just happened?

He turned to Elara, but she was frozen, her face pale, eyes wide with disbelief.

"You… You did that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the magic.

Lucas didn't have an answer. He was just as confused as she was. He had no idea where the power had come from, or why it had surged like that. All he knew was that the strange energy inside him was growing, threatening to overtake him completely.

"You could've killed it…" Elara muttered, her voice shaking. "You could've killed us all."

Lucas shook his head, unable to process her words. He hadn't meant to do it. He hadn't even wanted to do it. The power just… surged. And it felt right.

The portal was still open.

Without another word, Lucas stepped forward, his feet moving almost of their own accord.

"Elara…" he began, but she was already following him, her expression conflicted.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice a mix of frustration and concern.

"I… I don't know," Lucas admitted. "But I think I have to follow him."

Her eyes flashed. "And just walk into a portal? With that man? After everything he did?"

Lucas hesitated. The man hadn't exactly been friendly, but the fact that he had known about Lucas' power… that couldn't be a coincidence.

"I don't know what's happening," Lucas said quietly, more to himself than to her. "But I think he knows something… about me."

Elara studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a frustrated sigh, she took a step forward.

"I'm not going to let you do this alone."

She stepped toward the portal, and Lucas followed her in.

The world shifted around them, colors and shapes warping as they were pulled through the portal. It felt like being submerged in water, every sense stretched and pulled. The pull of the magic was overwhelming, but Lucas didn't fight it. It was a strange kind of comfort, like it was meant to be.

When the world finally stopped spinning, they found themselves standing in a dark, unfamiliar landscape.

The sky above was an eerie shade of purple, swirling clouds twisting ominously. The ground beneath their feet was jagged and cracked, stretching out into a seemingly endless expanse. Strange, alien creatures crawled through the darkened shadows in the distance, their eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

"This place…" Elara whispered, looking around with unease. "Where the hell are we?"

Lucas didn't answer. His mind was still spinning, trying to make sense of everything. But something about this place felt… wrong. It was like the world itself was alive, watching them.

He felt the stone in his hand again, pulsing, like it was calling to him. The energy inside him flared up, stronger than before.

He turned to Elara. "Stay close."

She nodded, but Lucas could see the fear in her eyes.

As they made their way forward, the sounds of the strange creatures grew louder. But it wasn't the creatures that caught Lucas' attention—it was the figure standing ahead of them.

He wasn't tall or imposing like the mysterious man, but there was an undeniable power radiating from him. His long white hair cascaded down his back, and his pale blue eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. He wore robes that shimmered with an ethereal glow, making him look almost like a ghost.

He was waiting for them.

"Welcome," the figure said softly, his voice carrying on the wind. "I've been expecting you."

Lucas froze. "Who… Who are you?"

The figure tilted his head slightly, studying them with an inscrutable gaze. "I am a guide. A soul keeper," he answered cryptically. "I've been watching you. And I can help you."

Elara's hand went to her dagger, her expression wary. "Help us? You're another one of them, aren't you? Another monster, hiding behind some power."

The figure's lips quirked upward in a slight smile, but there was no malice in it. Instead, it was almost as if he found her reaction amusing.

"I am no monster," he said calmly. "But the man you followed? He is not what he seems either. He is a puppet, a pawn in a game far beyond your understanding. And you, young one," he turned to Lucas, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You have been caught in it."

Lucas took a step back, the words striking him like a blow. "Caught? What game? What do you mean?"

The figure's gaze softened, as if he was considering how best to answer. "The game of fate. The game of the chosen."

Elara frowned. "What does that even mean?"

"The threads of fate have twisted around you," the figure continued, his voice now taking on a more somber tone. "You were never meant to come here. But now that you have, you must play your part."

Lucas' heart raced. "What part? What do you want from me?"

The figure stepped closer, his eyes intense. "I want nothing from you. But your choices, your actions, will decide the fate of not just this world—but of all worlds."

The ground beneath them rumbled, and Lucas could feel the weight of his words pressing down on him like a heavy storm. He had no idea what this man was talking about, but one thing was certain: there was no going back now.