Chapter 10: The Demon’s Awakening

The cold stone walls of the cult's hidden sanctuary echoed with the low murmur of whispers. The flickering torches cast unsettling shadows upon the figures seated around a massive stone table. The leader of the cult, his face obscured by a dark hood, leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the table. Beside him stood his most trusted ally, a silent figure whose pale eyes gleamed with a hunger for power.

"The boy is in Erisia," the leader muttered, his voice a harsh whisper, laced with both frustration and anticipation. "We know that much now, but the guardians are with him. They will not let him slip through our fingers so easily. Their magic surrounds him."

The trusted ally nodded solemnly, his gaze flickering to the map spread across the table. The map was marked with dozens of locations, each one a potential place of interest. Erisia, however, was marked with a large crimson circle, indicating that their attention was fully focused there.

"We cannot act directly," the ally said, his voice smooth, though the urgency in it was clear. "The barrier they have placed is too strong. And the boy... his power, whatever it is, is still a mystery. We know nothing of his true nature, but we know one thing for certain. He is the one. The one who must not be allowed to fulfill his purpose."

The leader's lips twisted into a grim smile. "Yes. The one sent by God. But even the strongest walls will crumble eventually. Patience is key. We wait. And in the meantime, we prepare."

The ally raised an eyebrow. "Prepare for what?"

The leader's smile deepened, and he stood, turning toward a set of dark wooden doors that led deeper into the bowels of the cult's sanctuary. "It is time to wake the demon."

The ally looked intrigued, but also cautious. "You believe the demon can help us?"

"There is no other way," the leader replied, his eyes burning with a madness fueled by years of seeking ultimate power. "The demon's slumber has lasted far too long, but with the sacrifices we've gathered... we will call him. Once he is awake, he will give us the strength we need. His power will allow us to break the guardians' barrier and take control of the boy."

The ally's lips parted, as if to argue, but he said nothing. The demon's awakening was a dangerous gamble, but they had few options left. The boy, wherever he was, was growing stronger each day. They could not afford to waste time.

With a wave of his hand, the leader motioned to a group of cloaked cultists who entered, dragging a large, monstrous creature between them. Its eyes glowed with a sickly red hue, its form twisted and unnatural. It let out a low growl as it struggled against its captors.

"This," the leader announced, "is the first of many. We will sacrifice it in the name of the demon. And when he awakens, he will bring us the power we need to seize control of the boy. And then... the world will be ours."

The cultists prepared the sacrifice, binding the creature to an ancient stone altar as the leader and his ally chanted in a language older than time itself. The air grew thick with dark energy, and the ground trembled as the demon stirred in the depths of its prison. The leader's eyes glinted with manic anticipation. This was just the beginning.

_______

8 years later.

Deep within the Sacred Sanctuary

Fifteen-year-old Ethan stood at the edge of a crystalline pool, his reflection rippling as a soft breeze stirred the air. The sanctuary had been his home for as long as he could remember—its walls, its ancient magic, its teachings. The guardians had raised him in seclusion, away from the dangers of the outside world. They had trained him in combat, in magic, and in the wisdom of the ages. But there was still something about him—something unfinished, something that felt like an empty void.

Despite the guardians' best efforts to protect him, Ethan had never been able to fully understand the power that lay within him. He had been told that the magic he wielded was not of this world, but every time he tried to tap into it, there was a barrier—a seal that prevented him from accessing his full potential. And though the guardians had made it their mission to protect him, they never spoke much about the seal, only telling him that it must remain intact until the time was right.

His crimson eyes, which had once been so filled with innocence, now carried a depth of knowledge and resolve far beyond his years. He had learned so much in his time with the guardians, becoming stronger and wiser with each passing year. His skills in combat had surpassed even the most seasoned warriors of the forest, and his magical abilities, though still unawakened, were undeniable.

But that power—his true power—was locked away. The seal around it kept him tethered, unable to fully embrace what he was destined to become.

As Ethan stood, deep in thought, one of the guardians approached, an older woman whose eyes were clouded with concern. She had seen the changes in him, the growing restlessness. She had witnessed the struggle within him, the frustration that gnawed at him as the years passed. The time was nearing, she knew that much. The boy would need to be ready, but the question was: could he truly break the seal when the time came?

"Ethan," the guardian said softly, her voice filled with an unspoken sorrow, "the world is changing. The guardians can only protect you for so long. Soon, you will have to face what lies beyond the sanctuary's walls."

Ethan turned, meeting her gaze with a look of quiet determination. "I know. I'm ready."

But in his heart, he wasn't sure. What lay ahead? The prophecy, the legends, the whispers of a boy sent by God—none of it made sense. He had grown up within the protection of the guardians, but he knew the world outside was full of dangers far greater than anything he had encountered in his sheltered life.

The guardians had always told him he was special. That he was destined for something great. But they had never told him how to unlock the power within himself. And now, as the weight of the world's fate hung over him, Ethan couldn't help but feel a deep fear. What if he wasn't ready? What if the power that lay within him was more than he could control?

The air in the sanctuary felt heavy, as though it too was holding its breath.

The ritual was complete. The monstrous sacrifice lay still upon the altar, its life force drained by the cult's dark magic. The demon's awakening had begun, though it was only the beginning of a long and arduous process. The leader of the cult stood before the altar, his hands raised in victory as the ritual's power pulsed through the chamber.

"The demon stirs," he said, his voice filled with greed and triumph. "And soon, he will awaken fully. Then nothing will stop us."

His trusted ally nodded, though a flicker of doubt crossed his expression. "What about the boy? It's been 8 years."

"We will wait," the leader replied, turning toward the shadows. "The boy will not escape us. We have time. Once the demon is fully awakened, we will have the power to crush the guardians and claim him for ourselves. The boy's destiny will be rewritten."

Outside, in the world beyond, the cult's plans continued to unfold. And in the heart of the Sacred Sanctuary, Ethan stood unaware of the growing danger. He had no idea that the cult was already preparing for the moment when they would come for him. All he knew was that his time to awaken was drawing near. And with it, the truth about his power—and his purpose—would finally be revealed.