"I think I've ever read about them in a book my parents gave me when I was young," Kael responded, trying to recall more details about the so-called people known as the Eclipsed. His brow furrowed in thought. The name, "Eclipsed," felt significant, a whisper of a forgotten history. He pictured the worn leather of the book, the faded illustrations within, and the stories his parents had shared, now hazy with the passage of time. The details, however, remained elusive, like sand slipping through his fingers. He needed to remember. The mystery surrounding the Eclipsed gnawed at him, a compelling force drawing him deeper into the unknown."Well, just for the record, the Eclipsed are beings who have awakened the dormant Chronis energy within them. This awakening grants them abilities beyond the comprehension of ordinary folk. Some might perceive it as a curse, others as a gift, but regardless, it sets them apart, forever marking them as something extraordinary. The Chronis energy, I've heard, is linked to the very fabric of time, allowing them to manipulate its flow in ways we can only imagine."Before Kael could speak out about what he was thinking, Juliet spoke up "The definition which Lyra told you is practically useless in this day and age, since most human beings no longer have this dormant energy in them. This is because over time, the concentration of the energy decreased. But some people still possess this innate energy, and you are included among the people who still have dormant energy within them.""So what do you want to do with..." Before Kael could finish speaking, he was knocked out, and everything went black When Kael next woke up, he found himself in the middle of a forest with a backpack. He zipped open the bag and found a note which read "I'm sorry for doing this to you, but the ritual has been done and you are now an Eclipsed. You have a fascinating gene structure, making you very powerful. A lot of different creatures are in search of powerful warriors to come and assist them, like the Lyrixen and the Order of the Meridian. There's a lot I would like to tell you, but for now, we need you to become stronger for us. You will train with my aunt for some time. See you in six months, love Lyra and Juliet Kael stared at the note, a mixture of disbelief and bewilderment washing over him. The words swam before his eyes, yet he knew, with a chilling certainty, that they were undeniably real. The idea that he was now an Eclipsed, thrust into a world of powerful creatures and ancient rituals, felt like a cruel jest, a nightmare unfolding in vivid color. He tried to rationalize it, to find an escape from this unbelievable truth, but the weight of the note, the stark reality of his surroundings, crushed any remaining doubt. The forest, once a backdrop to a confused awakening, now felt like the entrance to a world he never knew existed. A world where he, Kael, was no longer just an ordinary man."Hey, kid, you coming or not?" Kael looked up to see a perfectly sculpted woman speaking to him. Her eyes, the color of a stormy sea, held a glint of amusement and impatience. She was a vision of strength and grace, her form a testament to years of rigorous training, her attire practical and hinting at a life lived on the edge. A silent question hung in the air, a challenge to Kael to step into this unknown world and embrace his newfound destiny."Okay, so you must be Lyra's aunt. I'm Kael, but I guess you already know that. So, about this whole thing...I'm ready to learn everything. Tell me what's going on!"She ignored him and started to walk away. Kael, not wanting to be left behind, picked the bag up and followed her. After walking for a while, a large structure could be seen from afar"You're quite pathetic for someone who piqued the interest of my niece, but you've got potential and I'm going to exploit it." Her voice, a dissonant blend of fear and excitement, sent a shiver down Kael's spine. The unsettling combination of terror and anticipation left him with a growing unease, a feeling that he was about to enter something dangerous and exhilarating. He didn't trust the sound of her words, nor the predatory glint in her eyes.I'm Elara, by the way, but it's master for you," she said, frightening Kael. They finally arrived at the place Kael had seen, and there was a massive wall erected around the premises, but he didn't see any entrance. As he was trying to locate the entrance, he heard Elara say, "Your training begins now. Find a way to enter my house." In the blink of an eye, she jumped over the wall and entered, leaving him there. The imposing structure loomed before Kael, its massive walls a testament to its formidable nature. Elara's words, a cruel jest tinged with anticipation, echoed in his mind. The challenge was clear: He had to find a way into Elara's domain, a task that seemed impossible given the impenetrable barrier. The weight of his new identity, his forced transformation into an Eclipsed, pressed down on him. He knew this was no ordinary test; it was the beginning of his training, a crucible where his potential would be forged, whether he liked it or not. The glint in Elara's eyes, the predatory hunger in her voice, served as a stark reminder that he was now in a world of calculated power plays and brutal realities. He had to be clever, resourceful, and strong, or risk being nothing more than a broken cog in Elara's machinations.Kael stood before the wall. It wasn't just tall; it was insultingly perfect—a sheer, monolithic cylinder of dark stone that absorbed every hint of light. There were no seams, no vines, and no handholds; it was a physical declaration that he was unwanted.He ran his hand over the cold, smooth stone. This wasn't a puzzle for a lockpick or a grapple. This was a challenge tailored to what he had become.He closed his eyes, hoping that something would happen. He stayed in that position to the point that a passerby would think he was constipated. Soon after, he felt something change and summoned the darkness he now carried. The transformation he'd endured—the Eclipsing—was painful, a violent merging of his essence with something cold and cosmic. He focused on the shadow beneath his own feet, dragging the fragmented, ethereal power of the eclipse to the surface.The temperature around him plummeted. The air grew heavy and strangely silent. His outline, where the moonlight touched him, began to waver, turning fuzzy at the edges.He didn't try to climb or break the wall; he sought to un-be himself.He leaned into the stone, pressing his shoulder against the impossibly solid surface. Instead of meeting resistance, he felt a strange, cold give. The stone blurred, and the transformation accelerated. His body didn't shatter or crack the wall; it simply became congruent with the shadow it cast.His mass dissolved into a shimmering silhouette, a two-dimensional ripple of purple and gray that plunged into the solid foundation. It felt like falling through frozen water—a momentary shock, intense pressure, and then a profound, silent nothingness as he was suspended within the molecular space of the wall itself.He held his breath, guiding the phase-shifted darkness, battling the desperate urge to snap back to full reality. The pain was mental now, the agony of holding onto something that should not exist.Then, with a sudden, painful pop of displaced air, Kael reformed on the other side.He stood perfectly still in the manicured, silent courtyard of Elara's compound. The seamless wall behind him looked untouched. The only evidence of his passage was a small, lingering patch of unnaturally deep shadow near the base, which rapidly faded and dissolved back into the normal darkness of the night.He had passed the first test. He was inside. But soon he lost consciousness since he was not used to the mental drain.
