Elder Solryn's voice wasn't loud—
---
But it carried.
---
Clear.
---
Absolute.
---
"…Enough."
---
The Patriarch paused.
---
For a moment—
---
It looked like he would continue.
---
Then—
---
He stepped back.
---
Not out of weakness—
---
But choice.
---
He allowed Solryn to pass.
---
That alone—
---
Spoke volumes.
---
---
Solryn approached me slowly.
---
His expression calm.
---
A gentle smile resting on his face.
---
Not mocking.
---
Not testing.
---
Respectful.
---
Behind him—
---
Confusion spread among the elders.
---
Even Caelion—
---
Didn't understand what was happening.
---
---
Then—
---
Solryn stopped before me.
---
And bowed.
---
Not deeply.
---
But enough.
---
Enough to show—
---
Respect.
---
"…May this humble one ask…"
---
His voice softened.
---
"…the name of this Sovereign?"
---
---
Silence.
---
Absolute.
---
---
My mind stalled.
---
What…?
---
The elders froze.
---
The Patriarch's eyes widened slightly.
---
Even the air—
---
Felt uncertain.
---
---
The spectators began to murmur again—
---
Until a single glance from the Patriarch—
---
Sent them scattering.
---
Gone in seconds.
---
---
I opened my mouth to respond.
---
Instinctively—
---
To answer as usual.
---
But—
---
Something snapped.
---
---
My vision blurred.
---
Then sharpened.
---
---
My pupils split.
---
Beast-like.
---
Ancient.
---
---
And then—
---
A voice spoke.
---
---
Not from my mouth.
---
---
But from my very being.
---
---
"I am Velzahar…"
---
The air trembled.
---
"…The Burning Roar of the Heavens."
---
Space distorted.
---
"…Sovereign of the Azure Flame."
---
---
The words echoed.
---
Not as sound—
---
But as law.
---
---
Even reality—
---
Acknowledged it.
---
---
The elders reacted instantly.
---
They bowed.
---
All of them.
---
Even Caelion—
---
Lowered his head.
---
Instinct overriding understanding.
---
---
Only Solryn remained still.
---
Smiling.
---
As if he had expected this.
---
---
Seconds passed.
---
Then—
---
The pressure vanished.
---
---
My vision cleared.
---
My body returned to normal.
---
---
"…What was that?"
---
My voice came out low.
---
Uncertain.
---
---
The elders straightened.
---
All eyes locked onto me.
---
---
Questions filled the room.
---
But none dared ask first.
---
---
System…
---
You're explaining that later.
---
---
Solryn observed me quietly.
---
Then—
---
He raised his hand slightly.
---
A silent signal.
---
---
"Leave us."
---
---
The elders hesitated.
---
Even the Patriarch lingered.
---
His gaze still fixed on me.
---
Trying to understand.
---
Failing.
---
---
Then—
---
One by one—
---
They left.
---
Until only we remained.
---
---
Solryn turned back to me.
---
"You are confused."
---
I nodded.
---
"…Good."
---
---
That answer threw me off.
---
---
"Come."
---
He turned.
---
"Let us find the answer."
---
---
We stepped outside.
---
The remaining elders stood at a distance—
---
Discussing in hushed tones.
---
Trying to make sense of what they had witnessed.
---
---
We didn't stop.
---
---
We took flight.
---
---
The wind cut past us as we moved.
---
Fast.
---
Silent.
---
---
No words were exchanged.
---
---
Because none were enough.
---
---
Two minutes later—
---
We arrived.
---
---
The Elder Hall.
---
---
A structure set apart from everything else.
---
Isolated.
---
Important.
---
---
Its exterior was covered in intricate carvings.
---
Runes pulsed faintly across its surface.
---
Ancient.
---
Alive.
---
---
Solryn stepped forward.
---
He brought out his Elder token—
---
Pressed it against the door.
---
---
SWISH—
---
---
The massive doors opened.
---
Slow.
---
Heavy.
---
---
"Follow me."
---
---
I stepped inside.
---
---
And paused.
---
---
The interior—
---
Was breathtaking.
---
---
Vast.
---
Refined.
---
Filled with countless carvings and layered runes.
---
Each one humming with power.
---
---
"…Take your time."
---
Solryn's voice came calmly.
---
I gave a slight nod.
---
But kept moving.
---
---
We walked along a long crimson and gold carpet.
---
Beast patterns woven into it—
---
Dragons.
Tigers.
Ancient creatures.
---
---
At the center—
---
We stopped.
---
---
Seats surrounded the hall.
---
Far more than the number of elders I knew.
---
And one—
---
Elevated above all.
---
The Patriarch's seat.
---
---
My gaze lingered—
---
Then returned.
---
---
Solryn wasn't looking at the seats.
---
---
He was looking down.
---
---
At the floor.
---
---
"…Found it."
---
---
He bent down—
---
And pulled aside part of the carpet.
---
---
Revealing—
---
A circular seal.
---
---
Hidden.
---
Perfectly concealed.
---
---
I stepped closer.
---
"…What is this?"
---
---
Solryn shook his head slightly.
---
"I do not know."
---
A pause.
---
"But I know this—"
---
His eyes met mine.
---
---
"The one it is meant for…"
---
"…will know how to open it."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
I looked down at it.
---
Thinking.
---
---
"…Then let's try."
---
---
I raised my hand.
---
A small cut formed.
---
Blood gathered—
---
Then dropped.
---
---
The moment it touched the seal—
---
It reacted.
---
---
Crimson lines spread outward—
---
Like a living network.
---
---
Runes activated.
---
---
The seal trembled—
---
Then—
---
Disintegrated.
---
---
Dust.
---
Gone.
---
---
A hollow space remained.
---
---
Dark.
---
Silent.
---
---
Solryn didn't move.
---
Didn't stop me.
---
---
I activated my eyes.
---
Blue light filled my vision.
---
---
Then—
---
I jumped.
---
---
Darkness swallowed me.
---
---
For a moment—
---
Nothing.
---
---
Then—
---
Light.
---
Blinding.
---
---
My vision adjusted.
---
---
And what I saw—
---
Was not darkness.
---
Not ruins.
---
Not a hidden chamber.
---
---
It was—
---
A world.