Beyond the walls of Yrher's twisted ambition and Death's, far from the shadows they'd left behind, Luc led Adam and Arthur through a narrow corridor bathed in warm, ambient light. The air was calmer here, scented faintly with parchment and polished wood, and as they reached the end, a modest door opened into what looked like a scholar's private sanctuary.
Luc waved them in with a smirk. "Come, come! Don't be shy now you've already wandered just about everywhere else," he said with a light laugh.
The room was lined wall to wall with tall, ancient bookshelves, enchanted with faint golden light flickering across their surfaces. Luc strode toward one with purpose, placing a hand gently against the worn wood. "Bookshelf," he said clearly. "Locate any files that mention Eldir.. and instructions on how to find it."
A soft hum filled the room as the shelves lit up. Books began to shuffle and shift, sliding across one another with surprising precision, as if the library itself was thinking. Adam stepped back slightly, wide eyed and speechless, watching the display in disbelief. Arthur furrowed his brow, still trying to figure out if Luc was secretly casting spells or just casually defying logic again.
Moments later, one of the books glowed brighter than the others and floated gently down, resting itself on the center desk. Luc Smiled. "Perfect. Bring it here."
The book hovered over to the desk and opened on its own, flipping through aged, fragile pages until it stopped on a page containing an old map and strange symbols. Luc leaned in, muttering quietly as he scanned through the lines of ancient text. His finger paused on a passage. "Aha! Got it."
He looked up at them, his expression sharp with purpose. "To reach Eldir, we need to ascend the highest mountain range in this region. There's an old temple built into the cliffs hidden, ancient, sealed. And to open it, we need a key."
Luc turned his gaze to Adam. "That key.. is the Ring."
Adam's eyes widened slightly, instinctively resting his hand over the device on his finger.
"When the seal is broken," Luc continued, "the Ring will open a portal, one only you can pass through. You're the Chosen One, Adam. You can take others with you, but.. if anyone tries to enter without your permission or without Luros' blessing, the portal will disintegrate them. Instantly. No warning. So.. be careful."
Adam and Arthur exchanged a quick glance before nodding. "Got it," they both said on the same time "Understood."
Luc's voice softened. "I wish I could go with you. But someone has to stay and protect this place. This store.. it's more than just a shop. It's a vault of knowledge, a legacy, and I care about it. Deeply."
Adam smiled. "It's okay! We won't be gone long. We'll bring back some souvenirs for you."
Luc smiles, "Alright then. I'll hold you to that!."
Before they left, Luc turned to a nearby wardrobe and pulled out two dark, elegant cloaks. The fabric shimmered subtly, designed not for glamour but concealment. He handed one to each of them. "These should help you stay hidden. They'll mask your presence and help you blend in wherever you go."
Adam fastened his cloak, the fabric light but strong against his fingers. "Thanks, Luc."
Arthur nodded, pulling his hood up.
Luc stepped back and watched them, a quiet hope in his eyes as they prepared to take their next step toward the unknown.
As they began to walk out of the library section, Adam suddenly stopped, noticing a tall and stunningly beautiful woman walking by in elegant armor. His eyes followed her as she passed with grace and confidence. Arthur smirked and leaned on Adam's head.
"Wanna know who she is?"
Adam blinked, pulled from his daze. "Who?"
"That's the Knights leader. She's one of the captains and teaches the rookies," Arthur said with a grin.
"Wow.. she's just so beautiful."
"And hot!" Arthur laughed, nudging Adam. "Did you know many male knights have tried asking her out?"
"Really?" Adam said, surprised.
"Yup! She's turned down every single one. Nobody knows what her type is."
Adam thought to himself, Man... I wish she liked me back. She's just so beautiful.. oh well. We can't always get the girl.
Out of nowhere, the ring on Adam's hand began to glow.
"Uh.. Arthur, what's going on?" Adam asked.
Arthur turned and stared at the ring as it glowed. He tried covering it with his hands, but the glow pushed them away.
"I can't control it! What's happening?!" Adam said in a panic.
Then, a beam shot out of the ring visible only to Adam and hit the captain.
"Uhm.. what just happened?" Adam asked.
Arthur looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"
"A beam just shot out of my ring and hit the captain," Adam said.
Arthur blinked. "How? I didn't see anything! If it did, everyone here would have noticed by now.."
That's when Adam realized it must have been visible only to him.
A screen popped up on his ring and read:
"Effect will be set for good. In 10..."
The countdown began, a smirking face icon appearing beneath the numbers.
"Cancel, cancel, how do I stop it?!" Adam muttered, tapping at the screen. But it was no use.
3.. 2.. 1..
"Great choice! Have fun with the Love effect! This effect is not reversible."
The screen disappeared.
Adam looked at Arthur nervously. Arthur raised a brow at the ring. "Did the ring just do what I think it did?"
"I.. I don't know," Adam said.
"Should we check if she's okay?"
"Are you kidding?? No!" Arthur said. "We'll get caught! We gotta move!"
Adam sighed. "Alright, fine."
As they walked on, people began giving them curious looks. The cloaks they wore made them stand out.
"Let's just get out of here fast," Arthur whispered.
They tried to blend in, but something caught Adam's attention. An old man was being shoved out of a store.
"Useless old fool!" a young man shouted. "I told you to fix the handle, not replace it!"
The old man stumbled on the ground. "Please, I'm sorry! I tried my best with that sword!"
"I don't give a FUCK about the sword right now. You had ONE job, fix the handle!"
The young noble kicked the man down again. "I come from a noble family. I could have you killed if I wanted!"
Adam clenched his fists.
"I need to help him, Arthur. I just can't stand by and watch!"
"I don't like it either, Adam, but we can't! We'll be noticed!"
"I just can't!"
Adam ran ahead.
"Wait, Adam!" Arthur tried to stop him, but it was too late.
Adam rushed over and shoved the young noble, knocking him to the ground.
The noble glared at him with pure hatred. "How dare you.. I will have you SENT AWAY- for pushing me!"
Adam ignored him and turned to the old man. "Are you okay, sir?"
"Yes, my boy.. thank you!" the old man said gratefully.
The noble lunged at Adam with a punch, but Adam dodged it, grabbed his arm, and threw him into a wall.
The noble groaned and stood up, fuming.
"Okay, you wanna play rough?" he says, pulling out a magic book. "Let's see if you can dodge this!"
Bonk!
A fruit hit him on the head, knocking him out instantly.
Adam turned to see Arthur standing far off, smiling with a slight laugh.
Adam smiled back and helped the old man up.
"Thank you, young man. You saved my life. How can I ever repay you?"
"No, no, it's okay! No need," Adam said with a kind smile.
Then, a girl around Adam's age rushed over. "Father! Are you okay?!"
Adam turned in surprise.
The old man looked to her. "This young man saved me. I didn't even get his name."
He turned back to Adam. "My name is Alaric Carver. And this is my daughter."
The girl wiped her tears and hugged Adam tightly.
"Thank you for saving my father!" she said. "What's your name, mister?"
"Adam."
"Well, nice to meet ya, Adam! Please, if you ever need anything fixed, come to our shop!"
"Thank you again, young Adam," Alaric said, handing him a golden coin. "Please keep it as a thank you from me and my daughter."
Before Adam could walk away, the tall captain showed up.
"What's going on here?!" she yelled.
She looked down and saw the noble unconscious. "Who the hell knocked him out?!"
Adam slowly tried to sneak away, but she spotted him.
"Was it you, boy?!" she snapped, grabbing his hoodie and lifting him.
His hood fell back, revealing his face. Arthur's hood also slipped down as he turned toward them.
The captain turned to the guards. "Take him away. Lock him up until his parents show up."
Adam could only think, How tall is she?!
But then, as she looked at him again.. she paused.
"Wow.. you have beautiful ey-" she stopped herself.
"AHEM. Ignore what I just said! GOT IT?!"
The guards blinked, then quickly nodded and stepped back.
She looked back at Adam and placed him down.
"So.. care to explain what happened?"
Adam took a deep breath and explained the situation, from the noble's abuse to stepping in to protect the old man.
The captain listened and then nodded. "I see. Well, don't worry. Now that I'm here, you're safe."
She gently took his hand. "My name is Rheyna Thorne. May I know yours?"
"Adam?.."
"What a beautiful name," she said softly, a blush faintly showing on her cheeks.
Arthur ran up to them. "Adam, let's go! We need to leave!"
"Oh no you don't!" Rheyna said, tugging Adam's other arm. "Who do you think you are?!"
"I'm his friend!" Arthur protested. "Let him go! We need to leave!"
Adam stood between them, completely confused as they tugged from both sides.
Adam struggled as both Rheyna and Arthur tugged on his arms. "Arthur, do something!" Adam whispered urgently.
Arthur nodded, eyes sharp. "Got it! Sorry, Captain, but we need to leave. You can talk to him later." He looked at Adam and said, "Adam, close your eyes!" Then, with a sudden, bright flash of white light, the area around them was flooded with blinding light.
Adam shut them tight as the light briefly overwhelmed Rheyna, buying them precious seconds to escape.
Once the light faded, Arthur grabbed Adam's hand and pulled him away. "That was close, huh?" he chuckled.
"Yup," Adam replied, catching his breath.
As they put distance between themselves and the gates, Adam realized Rheyna still held onto his cloak.
Arthur noticed and smiled reassuringly. "It's okay. We'll get you a new one later, alright?"
Adam nodded, grateful, as they slipped out through the main gates and into the thick woods beyond.
Back at the gates, Rheyna's face twisted in frustration, her voice sharp and urgent. "No, I'm not just going to let him walk away! There's something about him.. something I can't explain. I have to understand it, this can't end here!" She clenched her fists, teeth gritting as she took off running after them, unsure where exactly they went but determined to catch up.
Meanwhile, Adam and Arthur disappeared deeper into the forest. Adam reached into his bag, pulling out the map and clues they'd gathered.
He looked at Arthur with determination. "Are you ready, Arthur? We're about to embark on a long journey, and I hope you're ready for the challenges we'll face."
Arthur nodded confidently. "Indeed I am. I'll teach you some new fighting techniques along the way, if you like!."
"Sure! Id love that," Adam smiled, feeling more prepared than ever.
Together, they stepped forward into the mysterious wonders of Eldir, ready to face whatever awaited them.
Adam pulled the crumpled map from his bag and carefully spread it out on a nearby rock. His finger traced the faded lines as he studied the route ahead.
"Okay," he said, pointing, "if we go through the Ancient Forest here, and after we cross to the other side, we have to climb the old mining area, which is just behind those mountains." He jabbed at the map twice. "Somewhere around here and here."
He glanced up, eyes landing on a large lake marked just beyond the abandoned mining site. "If we follow this huge lake behind the mining area, it should take us straight to the temple. Well.. it would take us all the way around the forest, so it might take a while." Nervously, he let out a short laugh.
Arthur leaned in, eyes narrowing as he examined the map. "Let me see that real quick," he said, reaching for the parchment.
After scanning it, he nodded slowly. "Hmm.. I guess your plan works. But wouldn't it be better to go through the mining area instead? Just climbing over it would take way too long."
Adam tilted his head, curious.
Arthur lowered his voice so Adam could hear better, pointing at a thin line on the map. "Once we reach the far side of the mining area, we can cut back through the forest here." He smiled a little. "Then we just follow that path along the mountain to Eldir's gates."
He sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Oh my lord, why does this place have so many mountains?"
Adam smiled, feeling the excitement building. "It's okay! We've got this."
Arthur clapped him on the shoulder. "Right!. Let's stick to this plan for now."
Adam rolled up the map and tucked it safely away. "Got it! This is our route."
Together, they looked toward the towering peaks ahead, knowing the real adventure was only just beginning.
Adam and Arthur stepped deeper into the Ancient Forest. The path ahead was quiet, surrounded by towering trees and the distant sound of birds echoing through the woods. As they followed the trail, Adam's pace slowed.
They reached a large mossy log stretched over a gentle dip in the forest familiar and quiet. Adam stopped in front of it, staring at the bark.
Arthur noticed and turned to him. "You doing okay?"
Adam kept his eyes on the log. "Yeah.. it's just this is where I found the Ring. Right here. And where I met Luros."
Arthur gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "I see. Well, we can come back to this spot later, okay? Let's keep going for now."
Adam nodded, wiping a tear from his cheek before walking forward beside him.
A few quiet minutes passed before the rustling of leaves broke the stillness. Something or someone was moving through the trees. Arthur stepped in front of Adam protectively, his hand on his sword.
"Get behind me," he said, eyes scanning the woods.
He stared into a thicket, narrowing in on the movement. "Come on out," he called, voice steady. "You're not fooling anyone, stranger."
Sliding his hand along the blade, Arthur's sword lit up with a soft white glow. Adam was shocked and a bit curious about the magic being used.
From behind a tree, a figure stepped out slowly, hands raised.
An elf.
Arthur furrowed his brows. An elf? Why is there an elf in this forest?
"I bring no harm!" the elf said quickly. "Please, don't attack!"
Arthur lowered his sword, the glow fading. "Then why were you watching us?"
The elf placed a hand on his chest. "Let me introduce myself first. My name is Vaelion. My people and I have lived in this forest for millions of years."
He gestured toward Adam. "And the reason I was watching is because of him."
"Me?" Adam asked, confused.
"Yes. That ring you're wearing. We felt a strong presence moving closer to our village, and I was sent to investigate."
Adam looked at the ring and nodded. "I found it when I was exploring the forest a while back. I didn't even know what it was until Luros appeared. He said he made this forest.. and the ring too. He told me only someone with a kind and bright heart would be able to use it."
Vaelion sat down on the grass, thoughtful. "Luros.. I know I've heard that name before." He blinked, then suddenly perked up. "Oh! Luros! The god of Omnipotence, right?"
Adam smiled faintly and nodded. "That's him."
Arthur sighed and plopped down nearby. "Oh boy, here we go again."
Vaelion laughed. "Our village leader actually knows of Luros. A little, at least. He was just a kid when Luros came through."
"He's still alive?" Adam asked, surprised.
"Why yes! Us elves live quite long. Like me I'm over 90!"
Adam's eyes widened. "What?! You look like you're in your 20s!"
Arthur, equally shocked, leaned back and accidentally fell over.
Vaelion chuckled, "Why thank you! But yes, Luros.. he created this world. And life."
Adam nodded. "Yup! And he chose me to be the next god."
"Oh really now?" Vaelion said, raising a brow playfully. "Prove it!"
"Prove it how?" asked Adam
Vaelion sat down and smiled. "Show me what you can do! I wanna see your power."
Adam looked over at Arthur, who just shrugged. "Just go with it, I guess?"
"Alright," Adam said. "What do you want me to do? Make iron? Gold? A new type of ore? Just.. not too much. I'm still learning."
Vaelion giggled. "Hmm.. how about a flower? Make one with light yellow petals, that glows a little, floats gently.. and has a fruity aroma!"
Adam blinked. "That's.. oddly specific."
"Oh! Here, take this," Vaelion said, handing him a small flower. "Use it as a reference!"
Adam sighed but took it anyway. "Can I have some privacy? It's hard to focus with people watching." "Sure," Vaelion nodded and stood up. He walked over to Arthur and sat nearby.
The two stayed quiet at first until Vaelion glanced over. "So.. how's your day going?"
Arthur blinked at the sudden conversation. "Oh.. it's going fine. You?"
"Can't complain," Vaelion replied calmly.
After a few minutes of silence, Vaelion leaned closer with a curious smirk. Arthur looked at him cautiously.
Arthur leaned back quickly. "Hey woah, what are you doing?!"
About ten minutes later, Adam finally stood up and brushed off his clothes. "Alright.. it's done!."
He gently pushed the flower toward them, then dropped to the ground with a tired sigh. "Jeez.. the longer and more detailed the request, the harder it is."
The glowing flower floated gently into Vaelion's hands, its petals shining softly and a sweet scent filling the air.
"This is beautiful," Vaelion whispered. "What's it called?"
Adam shook his head. "No idea.. I'm mentally drained. Without the Ring's help, that would've taken even longer."
Arthur knelt beside him. "Adam, this flower is amazing. You should definitely name it!
Vaelion nodded. "Yeah.. it's really something special."
He looked down at the flower and breathed in. Vaelion held the glowing flower gently in his hands, admiring it. He brought it closer to Arthur and said, "Here, smell it!."
Arthur leaned in and took a careful sniff. "Huh… it has this fruity scent. Kinda familiar, but I just can't remember what it is."
As he kept his eyes closed, thinking, Vaelion leaned in a little closer, his face now just inches from Arthur's. With a playful smirk, he softly asked, "Are you doing okay?"
Arthur opened his eyes and immediately flinched back. "Woah!" he shouted, scooting away a bit.
Vaelion chuckled to himself, clearly entertained.
As they playfully argued, Adam sat up and stretched. "I think I'm okay now!."
Arthur got up and helped him up. "Good. Let's move!."
"Wait," Vaelion said, stepping in front of them, holding the flower carefully. "You didn't name the flower yet! And.. if you really are the Chosen One, it's only fair that I guide you both to our village."
Adam hesitated, thinking for a moment. "Are you sure? You just met us not too long ago.."
He glanced over at Arthur.
Arthur sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm.. not really okay with it, to be honest. But if you wanna go, I'll tag along."
Adam looked back at Vaelion, then gave a small nod. "Alright. Sure."
Vaelion smiled warmly. "I'm offering, not forcing. If you're truly connected to Luros and that Ring, then you deserve to meet those who still remember him." And the name.. how about Maevyn? That's all I can think of at the moment," Adam said with a small, nervous laugh.
Vaelion's eyes lit up. "Maevyn.. I love it."
He turned and motioned them forward with a welcoming gesture. "Come on then, I'll show you the way to my village."
Adam glanced at Arthur again.
Arthur gave a light shrug and muttered, "Still not totally sold on this, but.. if you're going, I'm with you."
Adam smiled. "Alright. Let's go!."
After two days of walking and resting through the vast ancient forest, the scenery gradually began to change. The trees grew stranger in shape, their branches twisted in unfamiliar ways, and the air held a subtle shift something different.
Vaelion suddenly stopped and turned to them with a smile. "We're here!"
Adam and Arthur exchanged confused looks. In front of them stood nothing but a large stone wall.
"Uhm.. you sure?" Adam asked, blinking.
Arthur leaned toward Adam and whispered with a quiet laugh, "Not gonna lie, I think he might've hit his head or something."
Adam chuckled. "Maybe, yeah! but who knows?"
Vaelion laughed and gestured toward the wall. "I get it, I get it. Right now, it just looks like a boring boulder. But look closer notice anything about all the moss and branches gathered around this exact spot?"
Adam and Arthur squinted, stepping closer. Now that he mentioned it, there really was an unusual amount of moss, twined with thick branches that seemed unnaturally arranged.
Vaelion grinned. "You're about to be mind blown."
He placed his hand against the stone. Instantly, the boulder began to glow with a soft green light. The moss and branches responded, glowing with a warm yellow hue, then slowly unraveling and weaving together. The twisting mix began to spin rapidly, forming a circular pattern across the surface of the stone.
Vaelion stepped back and said, "You might wanna take a few steps back."
Adam and Arthur backed up just as the swirling moss and branches suddenly stopped, expanding outward. With a loud hum, the stone shifted and opened, forming a tall, ancient gate carved from the glowing mass.
Arthur's jaw dropped. "Okay.. you were right. That was mind blowing!." He laughed in surprise.
Adam nodded, still stunned. "I've never seen a gate like that before.."
Vaelion chuckled. "Yup! Pretty neat, huh? Alright, here you go!" He suddenly pushed both of them forward.
"Wait? Wha- AHH!" Adam and Arthur yelled as they were shoved into the gate, Vaelion diving in right after them. The gate sealed shut behind them.
They found themselves floating gently through a glowing green tunnel, drifting forward through a swirl of soft, magical energy. Adam looked around, eyes wide with wonder. "This is beautiful, Vaelion.."
He turned to Arthur to ask what he thought, only to see him spinning wildly through the tunnel.
"HOW DO I STOP THIS?!" Arthur screamed.
Adam burst into laughter, watching his friend flail and twirl uncontrollably.
A few moments later, they reached the end. The tunnel slowly released them.. or, at least, tried to. Adam floated out gently, landing on his feet.
Arthur, however, flew out still spinning and flopped straight onto the ground with a thud.
Vaelion walked over and crouched beside him. "Having fun, handsome?"
Still dizzy, Arthur groaned. "Nope!. I'm staying here for a bit.."
Vaelion giggled. "Suit yourself! I'll show Adam around. Catch up when you can!"
As Adam followed Vaelion, his eyes wandered across the area. The elven village was alive with quiet energy. Elves moved through stone paths lined with glowing lanterns, their shops and homes built into trees and roots. Some worked at smithies, others chatted or shared food. It reminded Adam of his own village.. though this place felt far more advanced, even elegant.
They eventually passed through the heart of the village, reaching the base of a massive staircase carved into the cliffside.
Adam blinked up at it. "Whoa."
Vaelion smiled beside him. "Yup. My father lives up there."
"Really?! That's so cool!"
Vaelion rubbed the back of his neck, a bit flustered. "Thanks, I guess. It's not that special.." he muttered with a small laugh.
"Come on! I'll take you to meet him."
Adam smiled and nodded, following Vaelion as they ascended the ancient steps toward the elder's hall.
The doors opened, revealing the interior of the elven stronghold and it was stunning. Glowing crystals lined the walls, illuminating ancient carvings and smooth wooden arches that stretched high above their heads. Elven soldiers stood along the corridor walls, dressed in sleek green armor that shimmered softly in the light.
Adam's eyes lit up. "Whoa! What kind of armor is that?!"
Vaelion smiled proudly. "That's Leaf Armor. We enchant it and infuse it with our own magic to make it more durable, lighter, and quieter. The guards inside here are part of our elite. Their tools and armor are far more advanced than the ones stationed outside."
Adam nodded. "That's amazing!"
As they walked down the hallway, A small blur zipped past them short and fast, clutching a stack of books tightly. It stumbled slightly, almost losing its balance, but managed to steady itself and slip through a tiny door tucked along the wall.
"What was that?!" Adam asked, surprised.
Vaelion chuckled. "That's one of our golems. They're small, but extremely fast and have perfect memory. We use them to archive everything."
At the end of the hallway, a grand wooden door opened into a majestic chamber. Vaelion leaned in and whispered, "Hey might be a good time to kneel!, just so things go smoothly."
Adam, unsure but respectful, did as asked.
Vaelion walked ahead, quickly climbing the steps beside the throne and taking his place next to the older elf seated there. The elf had long silver hair, regal robes, and a commanding presence. His eyes were sharp, yet calm.
"Welcome," he said, his voice smooth and deep. "I am King Silvren, ruler of this village. Tell me, young one what brings you here?"
Vaelion leaned over and whispered something to his father, who listened carefully, then sat back with a spark of interest in his eyes.
"So.. you are the new god? And this flower" he gently lifted it from Vaelion's hand" is your proof?"
He inhaled its sweet aroma. "Mmm.. what a scent. And this glow.. exquisite. You made this yourself?"
Adam nodded. "Yes, my king. It took some effort, but I created it."
King Silvren nodded with respect. "Remarkable." He clapped twice, and a maid quickly entered. "Take this to the lab. I want it studied and properly preserved in my office afterward."
The maid bowed and left with the glowing flower.
Adam stepped forward. "I didn't come alone, though. I have a companion he's outside resting from the trip."
"Indeed!," Silvren replied with a knowing smile. He snapped his fingers, and the large doors opened again. Two guards entered, carrying Arthur gently between them.
Arthur stood up as they set him down. "Thanks!"
As the guards turned to leave, one of them an elegant female elf removed her helmet just long enough to blow a playful kiss at Arthur, then laughed a bit and walked away.
Arthur blushed. "Dang shes pretty.."
"AHEM," Silvren said firmly.
Adam smacked Arthur's shoulder. "Arthur! Behind you!"
Arthur turned quickly and spotted the king, eyes going wide. "oh! I'm so sorry, sir!" He dropped to his knees.
"It's alright," Silvren said with a soft chuckle. "I just needed your attention."
The king straightened in his seat. "Now then. First, allow me to apologize if my son has behaved.. strangely around you. He has a habit of acting unusually when he takes interest in someone."
Arthur rubbed the back of his neck. "It's okay, honestly. To be fair.. I thought he was a girl at first. I had to take a closer look to be sure." He laughed awkwardly.
Silvren laughed with him. "Understandable! He has always had a feminine look!. Even though he'll be the next king, I keep telling him he needs to learn how to carry himself better." He gave Vaelion a subtle glance.
Vaelion shrugged with a bashful smile. "I'm working on it!" He laughs all embarrassed
Silvren turned his gaze to Adam. "Now then. You said Luros the original god passed his abilities on to you, correct?"
Adam nodded. "Yes, sir."
Silvren's expression grew serious. "Then.. I offer my condolences. He was a great being."
He then raised a hand, and a magical sphere began to form mid air in front of them.
"I must show you something. Consider this a warning."
Both Adam and Arthur leaned forward, curious. But as the sphere shimmered to life, an image of a dark figure appeared within tall, with haunting eyes.
Adam froze. "Yrher.."
Silvren glanced at him. "So you've already met."
Adam gave a slow nod.
Silvren continued, "We've been monitoring him. Unfortunately, he is in a place our magic cannot fully reach. What you see now is the best we can do. And even this has limits."
Arthur squinted at the image. "What's he doing? Where even is that?"
Silvren sighed. "We don't know. We only catch glimpses. But from what little we've seen.. we believe he may be preparing something. Something dangerous."
Adam's hands trembled slightly. "You think.. he's coming for me?"
"We're not certain," Silvren replied carefully. "But it's a strong possibility. And if that's the case, then you are in serious danger."
Arthur placed a reassuring hand around Adam's shoulder. "Hey.. it's gonna be okay. We'll face whatever comes together."
The magical sphere flickered and cracked, then faded away.
Silvren's voice softened. "I understand your fear. We wish we could see more, but pushing further risks breaking the spell entirely. This is all we can show for now."
Adam nodded, trying to steady himself. "I understand.."
Silvren stood. "Then it is time we help you prepare."
Before he could say more, Vaelion excitedly blurted, "He's going to give you both weapons and gear!"
Silvren gave him a tired look.
Vaelion shrank back into his chair. "Sorry!.."
Still, the king smiled faintly. "He's not wrong. We will support you in your journey."
Adam blinked. "Are you sure? That's.. a lot to offer."
Silvren nodded. "We are sure. From what we've seen even these small glimpses it's clear Yrher is not sitting idle. If he is preparing something.. then so must you."
Adam began to calm down and said quietly, "Then I accept. And thank you."