Chapter 17: Realm Whisperer

The seventh realm had not sent scouts in centuries.

But this one — a cloaked figure named Merix — came not out of duty.He came out of desperation.

 The Mission

Merix, a Realm Whisperer, walked between borders of the Seven Realms — listening to echoes of imbalanced aura. When something unnatural stirred, the Realms trembled, and he was sent to investigate.

And for the first time in over a hundred years… the earth whispered from a tiny farming village.

"A presence has awakened…""The Void watches from within…"

He arrived under cover of fog.No one noticed his entry.No guards. No barrier. Just peaceful silence.

Too silent.

 First Sight

At the edge of the village, Merix spotted the boy.

Barefoot.Thin.Hands deep in soil.A blue glow gently circling his fingers.

It looked like farming.But aura was responding to him.

Obeying him.

Merix stepped forward, trying not to disturb the balance.

But the moment Kean turned…

Their eyes met.

And Merix's heart stopped.

This wasn't aura manipulation.This was something else.

Older.Untamed.Not of this world.

 A Glimpse of the Eye

Kean blinked slowly.His left eye shimmered faintly — not from training, but instinct.

For a split second, Merix saw it:

A spiral of blue flame within the iris.And behind it… a silhouette that didn't belong to any known realm.

Not even the Void.

Merix fell to his knees.Not in reverence — in terror.

"This… this is wrong. This shouldn't exist…""You're not from here. You're not… born. You're resurfaced."

Kean took a step forward.

"Who are you?"His voice was calm. Controlled. Almost too mature for his age.

Merix couldn't respond.He turned — and ran.

Not out of cowardice.But because he knew:

If he stayed any longer… the Realms would unravel just by proximity.

 A Whisper Left Behind

As Merix vanished into the forest, something fell from his cloak.

A crystal shard — faintly humming.

Kean picked it up.Held it in his palm.And heard it.

"The boy bears a name even the Void fears…"

And far away…In the Seventh Realm…The Council of Nine stirred.