Chapter 31: The Origin of the Orins & The Truth of the Stones

The Origin of the Orins & The Truth of the Stones

As the golden fire around Tanica dimmed, the celestial archive trembled. The very walls of reality shuddered as if recoiling from an unseen force.

Then—

BOOM!

A dark glyph ignited in the sky above them, pulsing with an ominous energy. Unlike the radiant Celestial symbols that had guided them before, this mark exuded an ancient, malignant presence.

A voice, deep and resonant, echoed across the archive.

"The Origin of the Dark Ones… The Orins."

Kirk and Tanica instinctively reached for each other as the air grew heavy. A Guardian—an ethereal being wreathed in silver mist—materialized before them.

The Beginning of Corruption

The Guardian's voice carried the weight of eons.

"Long before the Five Stones were forged, before the Celestians ruled the heavens and the Ve'khaarans protected the temples, there was a force unseen and unknowable. The Orins."

The dark glyph in the sky expanded, revealing a vision of a realm unlike any other—a vast, endless void swirling with shadows and whispers.

"They were not born. They were not created. They were... found."

Tanica shivered. "Found? By who?"

The Guardian continued.

"Before the Celestians, there were the First Beings—the Primordials. They discovered the Orins trapped within the folds of reality itself, a force with no shape, no will... just hunger. They believed they could control it. They were wrong."

Kirk's fists clenched. He had seen the damage caused by the Dark Ones, but hearing they had existed before time itself… that was something else.

"One of the Primordials, a scholar driven by arrogance, sought to bind the Orins to himself, to use them as a tool of creation. But the Orins do not serve. They only consume."

The vision shifted, showing a lone figure, his hands alight with cosmic energy, standing before a swirling mass of darkness. Then—his body twisted, corrupted, and from his ruin, the first Dark One was born.

"The Orins took his form, his knowledge, and his power, becoming something more. They learned. They adapted. And then… they spread."

The War of Shadows

The Guardian's misty form pulsed, and the vision changed again.

It showed the first war. The Celestians, the Ve'khaaran warriors, and the last of the Primordials battling against the growing horde of Orins.

Tanica inhaled sharply as she saw Damon Willo's ancestors—his father's bloodline—leading the charge against the darkness.

"The Ve'khaaran were chosen as the first Guardians, tasked with protecting the Stones, the only forces capable of resisting the Orins' corruption."

Kirk's heart pounded. His father's people were not just warriors—they were the first line of defense against the Orins.

But something didn't add up.

Kirk narrowed his eyes. "If the Orins were defeated, why are they still here?"

The Guardian's form flickered. "Because they were never truly defeated."

The vision shifted again—showing a towering Celestian Queen standing before a monolithic gate woven with pure light.

"The Celestian Queens—your ancestors, Tanica—sealed the Orins away using the power of the Five Stones. But it was not a permanent victory. The Stones had to remain separated, hidden across different realms. The moment they come together… the seal weakens."

Tanica gasped, realization striking her.

"The trials… the Stones… we're unlocking them."

Kirk's stomach twisted. "We're breaking the seal."

The Guardian's misty form darkened. "Yes. And the Orins knows it too."

The Darkness Awakens

The glyph in the sky shattered, sending a ripple of black energy through the archive.

Kirk and Tanica staggered, gripping their heads as a low, guttural whisper seeped into their minds.

"The time… approaches."

The air around them grew thick with unseen malice, and for the first time, Tanica felt it—a distant but undeniable presence, watching them from beyond reality.

The Orins were waking up.

And soon, they would come for her.

For Kirk.

For the Stones.

Another mind numbing buzzing could be heard and felt by Kirk and Tanica as a new Golden glyph appeared from out of nowhere and exploded before them and out of the explosion walked two ethereal figures Crown Prince Damon Willo And Queen Tunica Martin,

As Queen Tunica and Crown Prince Damon revealed themselves, a heavy silence fell over Kirk and Tanica.

Kirk started stuttering how.. are.. you... both.. here? Why are you here???

Damon said Time dilation and we can't Stay long

Tanica's breath caught in her throat. "So… all this time, we've been deceived?"

Her mother gave a small, sorrowful smile. "Not deceived, my love. Protected. If the Dark Ones knew the true distribution of power, they would have focused all their efforts on eliminating you both before you could awaken."

Kirk, still grappling with the revelation, clenched his fists. "And my powers… my instability… it was because I was carrying my father's Stones?"

Damon stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Kirk's shoulder. "Yes, son. When you were born, you inherited the Sight and Creation Stones from me. But because you grew up on Earth, disconnected from your true heritage, the Stones inside you reacted unpredictably. That's why you kept finding yourself drawn to the Celestian Temple when you had dreams it was trying to pull you back home."

Tanica turned to her Mother. "And you… you gave up everything. The throne, your destiny… for me?"

Queen Tunica cupped her daughter's face. "There was never a choice, my darling. You were my destiny. You are the future Queen, and Kirk is your protector, your partner… and more than that, your equal."

Kirk and Tanica exchanged glances.

The realization sank in—they weren't just participants in this cosmic battle. They were its fulcrum.

The Balance of Power

Damon's expression grew serious. "Now that you both know the truth, the final trials will be even more dangerous. The Dark Ones have surely sensed the shift. They will come for you."

Kirk said: What about you Father won't they come for you too??

Damon replied we are only remnants of the past collected by the Temple glyphs so we could help guide you both on the path.

Queen Tunica said: Tanica Kirk there will be a Crossroad on your future path seek help from your Trial acquaintances because you can't do it alone.

Kirk said; Which acquaintances should we seek??

Queen Tunica said: Arla and Semian Grood.

Damon said; Who are the why don't I know them??

Queen Tunica said; in time you will my friend, then smirked.

Queen Tunica's gaze softened. "The Heartstone and Soul Stone are yours to command, my love. And you and Kirk will share the Mind Stone, granting you insight beyond mortal comprehension."

Kirk exhaled sharply. "Which means… together, we can think as one."

Damon nodded. "And with Sight and Creation, you, Kirk, have the ability to forge realities, to see beyond the veil of time itself."

The weight of their power settled over them. The Dark Ones would never see this coming.

Tanica smiled, stepping closer to Kirk. "I think it's time we show the universe what we're capable of."

Kirk smirked back. "Let's finish this."

Tanica straightened. "Let them come. We're ready."

Damon smirked. "That's my son's partner."

—

With their true destinies revealed, Kirk and Tanica prepare for the final battles ahead. Can they master their Stones before the Dark Ones strike? And what hidden truths still await them?