DresdenShadows

in a quiet village nestled deep within the forest, **Harvey** and his sister **Julia** lived a peaceful yet mysterious existence—until the day their world was torn apart. The heart of their village, an ancient and enigmatic **Tree of Origin**, held secrets neither of them could have imagined. When soldiers from the Abadon Empire arrive to claim the tree’s power, a desperate struggle erupts, unleashing a catastrophic surge of energy.  

In the chaos, **Julia vanishes**—teleported away by the tree’s last defense, while Harvey is left behind, weakened and consumed by guilt, believing himself responsible for her fate. Captured by the soldiers, he is taken to Abadon, where he comes under the watchful eye of **Duncan**, a seasoned warrior who recognizes the dangerous potential within him. Yet even Duncan does not fully understand the power that lies dormant inside Harvey—the power of the **Void.**  

Bound by mysterious **energy-dampening cuffs** and forced to train under Abadon’s brutal survival regimen, Harvey must learn to control the force within him before it consumes him completely. But as he grapples with his abilities, **two lingering presences haunt his thoughts**: the **guardian of the tree**, who once spoke of self-control and restraint, and the **entity within the void**, a being that saw him, acknowledged him, and then dismissed him as something insignificant.  

With **no home to return to and no knowledge of Julia’s fate**, Harvey’s path is clear—he must survive, grow stronger, and seek the truth behind his lost sister and the power that now binds him. Along the way, he will face ruthless warriors, uncover forgotten knowledge, and make uneasy alliances in a world where strength dictates destiny.  

But the Void is not merely an ability. **It is an abyss that consumes.**  

And if Harvey isn’t careful, **it may consume him too.**

Through the void and back

The evening air was cool and heavy with anticipation as Harvey stepped out of the recruitment branch. Lantern light shimmered along the polished streets of Abadon's central district—a city of stark contrasts, where grand opulence and quiet suffering coexisted. There was no time for nostalgia tonight; the weight of his recent trial and the loss of his past propelled him forward.

Outside, amidst the bustle, Duncan appeared. Without fanfare, the older man took Harvey aside. His face was firm yet unreadable as he pressed a plain, worn leather chest plate into Harvey's hand. Its surface was unadorned, but the leather felt incredibly tough—harder than its humble appearance suggested.

"Take this," Duncan said in a low, deliberate tone. "It may look ordinary, but it's built tougher than it appears—just like the strength you're forging. Let it remind you: even the simplest things can offer great protection."

Harvey turned the chest plate over in his hand, feeling its rugged texture. Without a word, he accepted it, his grip steady despite the storm of emotions beneath.

"Your trial here is over," Duncan continued, his voice cutting through the ambient noise. "You've proven your resolve. Now, follow me." He led Harvey through the winding streets of Abadon until they reached a battered carriage waiting in a secluded courtyard. Inside, a small group of recruits murmured among themselves—each bearing a mixture of determination and anxious hope. Without needless chatter, they boarded the carriage, and as it rumbled away, the glittering facades of the city receded into memory.

The journey was long and quiet, and as they ascended a narrow mountain road, the scenery began to change. The well-tended streets gave way to rugged, open landscapes. Fields merged into rocky trails, and the air grew crisp with altitude. Soon, the carriage climbed to a plateau where the world seemed to stretch out in every direction.

At last, the carriage halted before an imposing stone gate carved directly into the mountainside. Beyond the gate lay the outer sect's recruitment outpost—a modest compound set high among the rugged peaks. As Harvey stepped off the carriage and approached the gate, his eyes widened at the view.

Spread out before him was a breathtaking panorama: lower peaks dotted with smaller branch offices, their structures clinging stubbornly to the slopes, and in the distance, a singular, majestic peak disappearing into swirling clouds. The highest summit was shrouded in mystery, its summit lost among the heavens. Murmurs among the recruits had long hinted at an even greater secret—a rumor that the sect leader might reside on a floating island above the clouds. Whether myth or truth, the tale lent an aura of unearthly wonder to the scene.

Duncan, standing at the threshold with Harvey, spoke in a measured tone. "This is your new beginning, Harvey. The world you're stepping into is as unforgiving as it is beautiful. Learn to navigate its challenges with the discipline you've earned here. Remember: survival is not just about strength, but control, awareness, and the willingness to adapt."

Harvey held the leather chest plate close, its rough surface a tangible reminder of Duncan's parting gift and the lessons of the past year. With a final nod to Duncan—who then turned and disappeared down a side corridor—Harvey stepped forward through the stone gate.

For a moment, he paused, letting the scenic majesty of the outer sect's domain wash over him. The rugged mountains, the cascade of valleys below, and that highest peak hidden in the clouds formed a silent promise of challenges yet to come. Without lingering in regret or self-doubt, Harvey set his jaw and walked boldly into this new world, determined to master his body and face the trials that lay ahead.

chapter 28: