Chapter 16 – Daren
Daren adjusted the straps of his satchel, the weight of ancient scrolls and vials pressing against his shoulders. Each step he took toward the distant valley carried the weight of urgency. The Taboo he sought was no ordinary figure; he was one of the few who had survived the System's early sweeps, a living relic of a time when mortals had walked close to the edge of divine power.
The journey was treacherous. Mountain passes shrouded in mist, rivers swollen from the previous week's storms, and the constant hum of lingering mana in the air—all were obstacles that would test even a master of magic. Daren moved with practiced caution, aware that any misstep could alert the System's monitors.
The world around him was silent in a way that felt unnatural. Trees bent as if whispering secrets, and the air itself thrummed with restrained energy. He remembered Aric back at the refuge, practicing his first elemental manipulations. The boy was growing, yes, but the knowledge Daren would gather today could be the key to unlocking far more than basic skill.
Ahead, a faint glimmer caught his eye. Mana currents danced irregularly, a telltale sign of someone tampering with the weave of the world. He slowed his pace, crouching behind a jagged boulder. There, in a clearing bathed in the pale light of morning, stood the Taboo—an elderly man, robes tattered but eyes sharp, hands tracing complex patterns in the air as the threads of magic bent and twisted at his command.
"Master Thalen," Daren whispered to himself. "Still alive… and still dangerous."
The man sensed his presence almost immediately, turning his gaze sharply. Recognition flickered across his face, followed by a wary smile. "Daren, is that you? It has been decades since I last saw another living soul brave—or foolish—enough to approach me."
"I bring urgent news," Daren replied, stepping fully into the clearing. "The boy—my son, Aric—is learning. But the System grows stronger. The world's magic is shifting in ways we cannot ignore. We need your guidance… your knowledge of the old ways."
Thalen's eyes narrowed. "Guidance? Ha. Do you know what it costs to meddle with powers that the world itself struggles to contain?"
"I know the risks," Daren said firmly. "And I am willing to pay them, for him… for the survival of what remains of our world."
The Taboo studied him for a long moment. The air thickened with suppressed energy, faint sparks flickering as Thalen extended his hands, tracing invisible runes that caused the ground beneath them to hum. "Very well. But you must understand, Daren… the knowledge I possess is not merely magic. It is insight into the fractures of reality itself. Mortal minds are often crushed under its weight. Many who have tried to wield it—divines even—have fallen into madness or ruin."
Daren nodded solemnly. "Aric is not just any child. He is… capable. He can carry the burden."
Thalen's eyes glimmered with curiosity. "You are confident, yet the System does not forgive arrogance. Even your son must understand that his growth will attract the attention of forces he cannot yet fathom. Gods, dragons, even entities beyond mortal reckoning…"
Daren swallowed, aware of the gravity in Thalen's voice. He had seen the first hints of divine intervention, the lingering shadows of dragons in distant mountains, and the whispers of gods manipulating mortal kingdoms. Yet still, the risk seemed necessary.
"Very well," Thalen finally said, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. "We shall see if your boy has the strength to walk the path. I will teach him what I can. But mark my words, Daren… knowledge is both a sword and a curse. Wield it wisely, or it will consume him—and the world with him."
Daren bowed. "Thank you, Master Thalen. I will make sure Aric understands."
As the sun rose higher, illuminating the valley in golden light, Daren and the Taboo prepared to depart. Each step forward was heavy with consequence. This journey was more than a search for knowledge; it was the first thread in the tapestry that would define the future—Aric's destiny intertwined with powers few mortals had ever approached.
And somewhere in the quiet hum of the world, the System pulsed, watching, learning, waiting for the moment when mortals would push too far…