The neutral sanctuary had never felt so heavy.
Even the winds moved differently now, slower and uncertain, as though the realms themselves were holding their breath after the revelation from the All Father's Book of Guidance.
Luke stood silently at the center of the crystal courtyard while the glowing prophecy echoed endlessly inside his mind.
The heir shall either restore creation… or witness the death of all realms.
At seven years old, those words felt far too large for his heart to carry.
The Father of All watched him carefully.
Lucien remained nearby, arms folded tightly, while Celestia's mother stood quietly beside the Spirit Guide.
Nobody knew what to say.
For the first time since his birth… Luke looked afraid.
That night, sleep refused to come.
Luke sat alone near the floating rivers beneath silver moonlight, knees pulled close to his chest while golden threads drifted weakly around him.
The sanctuary was peaceful.
But his mind was not.
Restore creation… or witness its death.
What if he failed?
What if everyone died because he wasn't strong enough?
The pressure wrapped around his small chest like chains.
"You're thinking too loudly."
Luke looked up immediately.
Lucien stood nearby holding two warm cups of glowing herbal tea from the neutral gardens.
Luke blinked.
"You can hear thoughts now?"
A faint smirk touched Lucien's lips.
"No. Your face simply looks exactly like your mother's whenever you overthink."
That made Luke smile slightly despite himself.
Lucien sat beside him quietly, handing him one of the cups. For a while, neither spoke. They simply listened to the rivers flowing through the sanctuary.
Then softly, Luke asked:
"Dad… were you scared during the wars?"
Lucien's expression darkened slightly.
"Yes."
Luke looked surprised by the honesty.
"Really?"
Lucien gave a quiet laugh.
"Only idiots feel no fear, Luke."
The boy stared into the glowing tea.
"What if the prophecy is right?"
Lucien became quiet again.
Then he leaned back against the crystal stone behind them.
"When your mother died," he said softly, "I thought the world had ended already."
Luke looked up slowly.
"I hated everything after losing her," Lucien admitted. "Even myself sometimes."
The confession startled the boy.
Lucien rarely spoke openly about pain.
"But then…" his voice lowered slightly, "you kept surviving."
Luke blinked.
"You smiled like her. Talked like her. Fought like her." Lucien looked toward the stars above. "And slowly… you reminded me that losing someone isn't the same as losing everything."
Luke's eyes softened quietly.
Lucien finally looked directly at him.
"You are not carrying this prophecy alone."
The words hit harder than any grand speech could have.
Because for years, Luke secretly believed he had to become strong enough to save everyone by himself.
But hearing his father say we instead of you eased something deep inside him.
Lucien placed a hand on his head gently.
"The realms may place impossible expectations on you," he said quietly. "But to me…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You're still my son first."
Luke's throat tightened slightly.
Before he could answer, the Spirit Guide suddenly appeared behind them, scales shimmering uneasily.
The currents are worsening.
Lucien immediately stood.
"What happened?"
The dragon's eyes darkened.
The forgotten gate has started leaking primordial influence into nearby infernal territories.
Luke rose instantly.
"What does that mean?"
Reality itself is beginning to distort, the Spirit Guide answered grimly. The Primordials do not merely destroy worlds physically. Their existence corrupts natural laws.
As if responding to those words, the skies above the sanctuary suddenly trembled.
CRACK...
A massive fracture spread across the stars overhead for several seconds before disappearing again.
Luke stepped backward nervously.
"That wasn't normal…"
"No," Lucien said darkly. "It wasn't."
Suddenly, ancient alarms echoed throughout the sanctuary.
Neutral spirits rushed through crystal pathways while guardian beings took defensive positions. Panic spread quickly now.
The Father of All appeared moments later, his aura brighter than usual.
"The distortions have reached the mortal realm."
Silence followed immediately.
Celestia's mother covered her mouth softly.
"So soon?"
The Father of All nodded grimly.
"Entire villages are reporting impossible phenomena. Rivers flowing upward. Time distortions. Living shadows."
Luke's eyes widened.
The Primordials were already affecting creation… without even fully escaping.
The Spirit Guide stepped beside Luke protectively.
This is how the first collapse began long ago, it whispered internally. The corruption spreads slowly at first… then all at once.
Luke clenched his fists tightly.
"There has to be a way to stop it."
The Father of All looked at him carefully.
"There may be."
Everyone turned toward him instantly.
The ancient being raised his hand slowly. Golden light formed another ancient page from the All Father's Book of Guidance.
But this page was different.
Half of it looked burned.
And written across it in ancient glowing script were words older than celestial language itself:
When chaos awakens once more…
The Heir of Balance must seek the Heart of Creation.
Lucien frowned immediately.
"The Heart of Creation?"
Even the Spirit Guide looked stunned now.
I thought it was only a myth…
Luke looked between them anxiously.
"What is it?"
The Father of All's expression grew heavy.
"It is the first source of Balance ever created."
The winds around the sanctuary suddenly intensified.
Then the ancient being spoke words that changed everything:
"And it has been lost since before the First War."