The place was filled with only ruins, no humans, no animals, even the monsters are not present here.
But on the other hand it was filled with blood, it filled the place and both Theo and Celia could barely walk away from that blood.
The scene here was very terrifying, the corpses filled the place and if a person stood from afar he would see two things, a river of blood, and a few thousand corpses on both sides of the river all the way.
The place was very terrifying and suffocating, and the atmosphere alone was capable of killing any life from what it seems from the corpses of the monsters on the road.
Theo was filled with blood he did not cause and his mood was sharp at that moment, whenever he ignored the things he sees so far they appear to him again.
'Damn it ! Wasn't it an abandoned kingdom ? why are there corpses everywhere ?'
On the other hand, Celia was very cold, and it seemed as if something was occupying her mind.
She had been moving for hours but she had not reached the intended place "The Silent Archive" and it seemed as if Theo was being enchanted from time to time while walking beside her.
Time was passing quickly in this place strangely perhaps they were preoccupied with their thoughts which makes time pass.
"I can't see the beginning nor the end are we stuck ?" Theo was muttering while the pupils of his eyes were heading towards his aunt.
"Theo go ahead of me and go wherever your body pulls you"
The voice was so cold that Theo automatically had already moved before his aunt finished her words.
He had already traveled with her enough to know when he can be late and when he cannot, and he knew that if he was late in carrying out her order now he might have wished for death.
Theo had left the usual road now and sometimes he enters the forests then leaves or even was jumping in the river !
He was doing what his intuition dictated now as ordered and Celia did not object to what was happening but followed him quietly.
Then what she had already feared happened, as they were no longer trapped and despite their exit from this trap or spell or whatever it was terrifying that all the blood and corpses had not disappeared yet !
Although they are now in front of what looks like a huge door, it was made of a metal other than iron and was engraved with strange inscriptions.
Both Theo and Celia did not pass by those inscriptions lightly as both of them recalled a different memory, but Theo remembered all those inscriptions that he passed by in the cave he was imprisoned in as they were almost similar !
Celia did not miss Theo's surprised expressions, even she was surprised as she was not used to the expressions that appear on Theo's face yet as he preferred to remain with an almost blank face but she did not speak and let him continue his dive into his thoughts.
'Why is this here ?' thoughts were invading Theo's mind and he did not know what was happening in front of him now.
'Didn't he say that my second calamity is at seventeen ? I still have 3 years left !'
Theo's current age was 14 years old already.
"Push the door, Theo"
Suddenly Theo woke up from his thoughts and noticed that Celia had tried to open the door but she couldn't, it was strange for him by all standards as he was thinking that if a 6-ring mage couldn't open the door then with what ability would he open it ?
Theo took two steps forward and became close to the huge door already and he had touched the door until it suddenly opened as if Theo had tried to smash it.
The door opened !
Theo was shocked at that moment and on Celia's face was a very dangerous expression.
'It seems that someone is dragging Theo to this place, could it be…. ?'
And indeed her thoughts were confirmed when she tried to enter until she retreated very quickly to the back and did about seven high-grade defensive spells consuming almost all her mana.
And suddenly a very thin beam appeared but it was very fast and perhaps if Celia was not a wind element mage she would not have been able to block it.
The beam passed quickly and was passing through her defense layers one after the other breaking every barrier in a few seconds.
Seven high-grade defensive spells were easily destroyed !
'Damn it I expected this !' Celia thought while she was already preparing for another defensive spell as she concentrated the mana in her right foot that was about to step through the door as she found that the beam was targeting it.
But the beam did not care and destroyed her toes that passed through the door before it disappeared.
On the other hand Theo was still turning around to see what happened behind him when the door opened !
Theo's eyes were widening slowly as he saw his aunt retreating with insane speed, and the moment he turned around completely, he saw the thin beam disappear, leaving behind his aunt's severed toes falling on the blood-stained ground. There was no sound, no scream, just a terrifying silence broken by the sound of flesh falling to the ground.
'What just happened ?' Theo's mind was screaming, while his body froze in place. He couldn't comprehend the scene. Celia, the powerful six-ringed mage, who always seemed like an unshakable mountain, had been injured so easily. That beam, where did it come from ? And what was it ?
"Theo, don't move !" Celia's voice came, cold as ice, Theo was already used to hearing it. She was pressing on her severed hand, blood gushing out, but her eyes were fixed on the door, on the black void behind it.
'She's been injured ! Badly injured !' Theo's heart was clenching. He had never seen her injured before. She was always the protector. This scene shook his very being. 'Is this the danger she warned me about ? Is this part of my calamity ?'
Celia had fallen to her knees, but she didn't take her eyes off the door. She was performing a quick healing spell, but the damage was severe. 'This is no ordinary beam, it absorbs mana and shatters the spiritual body.' She was thinking fast, 'I couldn't even track it. This place, it's more dangerous than I expected.'
"Theo, are you alright ?" Celia asked, her voice still carrying that usual coldness, but Theo felt the hidden concern in it.
"I... I'm fine. But you..." Theo couldn't finish his sentence, he felt guilty. He was the one who opened the door, he was the reason she was injured.
"Don't worry about me, focus on what happened." Celia said, and the blood from her hand had slowly started to stop. Her recovery power was amazing, even with this type of injury.
Theo was looking at the door, at the dark void behind it. There was nothing visible, no light, no sound. Just absolute blackness. 'What is in there ?'
"This place is not ordinary." Celia said, as if reading his thoughts. "The beam that hit me was not just an energy attack. It is an entity, or perhaps a part of an entity. It carries a power I have never seen before."
'An entity ? Does she mean a monster ?' Theo thought, but he said nothing. He trusted his aunt's intuition.
"The most worrying thing is that it only targeted me when I tried to enter." Celia continued. "It let you pass, but it rejected me."
'Why me ?' This question echoed in Theo's mind. 'Does this have to do with my calamity ? Am I destined to enter this place ?'
The engravings on the door were glowing slowly, as if responding to their thoughts. They were the same engravings he had seen in the cave, his first prison. 'Is everything connected ? Is there an invisible thread linking all these strange events ?'
"It seems the door chooses who enters." Celia said, and she stood up slowly, her eyes still fixed on the door. "You are the only one who can enter."
"But... what about you ?" Theo asked. The thought of entering this unknown place alone, after what happened to his aunt, was terrifying.
" I will wait here " Celia said, in a decisive tone. "You must enter. This place is calling you, and I am sure it has to do with your destiny."
'My destiny ? Is this the destiny that my future self spoke of in the cave ?' Theo remembered his previous encounter with himself in the cave, who had predicted his calamities. 'Is this the second calamity ?'
Celia had taken out a small bottle from her pocket, and drank from it. A faint green aura began to surround her severed hand, and the skin, muscles, and bones began to regenerate slowly. It was a painful process, but Celia showed no sign of pain.
"This place seems like a gateway to an isolated space." Celia said, while her hand was recovering. "The engravings, the energy I felt from the beam, all point to that."
'Another space ?' Theo was feeling dizzy. 'Does this mean we are not in an abandoned kingdom ? Was this all an illusion ?'
"The blood and the corpses... are they real ?" Theo asked, in a low voice.
"Yes, they are real." Celia answered. "They are the remnants of an ancient battle, or perhaps a curse. This place holds a dark history."
Theo was looking at the bloody river, at the scattered corpses on its sides. 'Is this the fate of those who try to enter this place ? Is this what awaits me ?'
"Don't be afraid." Celia said, as if she read his thoughts again. "You are different. This door chose you for a reason."
'Different ? How am I different ?' Theo was feeling confused. 'Is it because I carry that strange power that I don't understand ? Is it because I can hear things that others can't hear ?'
" Enter Theo " Celia said " I will wait here until you come out "
Theo took a step forward, towards the dark door. The air behind the door was cold, as if it absorbed all warmth. The smell of death was stronger here, mixed with a strange smell, like burnt metal.
' No turning back now ' Theo thought ' this is my destiny, or is it not ? '
Theo placed his right foot across the threshold of the door, into the black void. Nothing happened. No beam appeared, he felt no resistance. It was as if the door was waiting for him.
Then Theo stepped with his left foot, and entered completely into the darkness.
Theo disappeared.
Celia remained alone in front of the door, which closed slowly behind Theo, leaving her outside, with the corpses and the blood.
'He's inside now.' Celia thought. 'I hope he's okay. This place... it's more dangerous than I imagined.'
Celia was looking at the engravings on the closed door. They were glowing with a faint light, as if they were pulsing with life. 'These engravings... they are for the Berserkers.'
Celia began to examine the engravings closely, running her fingers over the complex lines. She could feel a strange energy emanating from them, an ancient and powerful energy.
Celia was a powerful mage, but she had never faced anything like this before. This place was beyond her comprehension. 'Is this the reason behind all those corpses ? Did many try to enter and fail ?'
Celia knew that time was precious. She had to find a way to enter, or else Theo would be alone in this unknown place. 'I must find a way. I can't leave him alone.'
Inside, Theo found himself in a completely different place. There was no blood, no corpses, just absolute silence. The air here was clean, cold, and carried a strange smell, like old dust and ancient books.
The place was a huge library, extending to infinity. The high shelves reached a ceiling that could not be seen, filled with dusty books. Faint lights emanated from glowing crystals suspended in the air, illuminating the narrow corridors between the shelves.
'The Silent Archive.' Theo realized. This is the place Celia was looking for.
Theo was walking slowly between the shelves, running his fingers over the covers of the old books. Some books were open, as if someone had just been reading them. The engravings on the book covers were similar to those he had seen on the door, and in the cave.
'What is this place ?' Theo wondered. 'Is this the source of all that knowledge ?'
Theo felt a strange feeling in this place. There was a sense of antiquity, of wisdom, and of something else, something dark and hidden.
'Is this the place where I will find answers about my destiny ?' Theo thought. 'Is this the place where I will learn about my power ?'
Suddenly, Theo heard a faint sound, like the whisper of the wind. He turned quickly, but saw nothing.
"Welcome, O chosen one of destiny." The voice came again, this time it was a little clearer, as if it was coming from everywhere at the same time.
'Who is speaking ?' Theo was feeling scared.
"I am the guardian of this place." The voice said. "I am the living memory of the universe."
A faint aura of light appeared at the end of one of the corridors, and it began to form slowly, creating a human shape. It was an entity of pure light, its features could not be seen clearly, but Theo felt an aura of power and wisdom emanating from it.
"I have waited for you for a long time." The entity of light said. "It is time for you to learn the truth."
'The truth ? What truth ?' Theo was feeling confused.
"The truth about your existence, about your destiny, and about the calamity that awaits you." The entity of light said. "But before that, you must prove that you are worthy of this knowledge."