The moment both Arin and his shadow touched the crystal seal, the chamber beneath Willowmist forest erupted with power.
Light and darkness spiraled around the crystal like two storms colliding.
Arin felt a violent surge of energy explode through his body. It rushed through his veins like fire and ice at the same time.
He gasped and nearly collapsed.
The shadow beside him staggered as well.
"Okay… that's stronger than I expected," the shadow muttered.
The massive crystal between them began to glow brighter and brighter. Ancient symbols appeared across its surface, rotating slowly like a giant lock beginning to move.
Above them, the gate roared.
The skeletal creature screamed as the forest roots tightened around it.
Lira struggled near the entrance of the chamber, trying to avoid the monster's massive claws.
"Hurry!" she shouted.
The Watcher stood at the edge of the clearing, observing silently.
The roots of Willowmist forest began to rise higher and higher, wrapping around the giant creature like chains.
But the skeletal monster was powerful.
Too powerful.
With a violent roar it tore through several roots, sending massive chunks of earth flying through the air.
The gate cracked further.
Stone fragments fell like rain.
Inside the chamber, Arin clenched his teeth as the energy continued pouring into him.
Strange visions filled his mind again.
He saw the ancient world.
Massive cities made of white stone.
Giant towers glowing with magical energy.
Thirteen colossal gates standing across the land.
And at the center of it all…
a single figure.
A being made of both brilliant light and endless shadow.
It stood alone before an army of the Architects.
Arin heard a voice echo through the vision.
"You were never meant to exist."
The being smiled slowly.
"I am balance."
Then the vision shattered.
Arin fell to one knee.
The shadow grabbed his arm.
"You saw it too, didn't you?"
Arin nodded slowly.
"The First Being."
The shadow looked toward the glowing crystal.
"The original bearer."
Arin's chest tightened.
"No."
"Something worse."
Before he could explain, the crystal flashed violently.
A new symbol appeared across its surface.
A name.
Ancient.
Forgotten.
Arin whispered it without realizing.
"Vaelreth."
The moment the name left his mouth, the entire forest trembled.
The Watcher suddenly moved forward.
Its armored body stiffened.
"You spoke the forbidden name."
Lira blinked.
"Wait… that thing has a name now?"
Arin stood slowly.
"Vaelreth."
The shadow crossed his arms.
"Sounds unpleasant."
The Watcher's glowing eyes dimmed slightly.
"Vaelreth was the first creature born from pure balance."
Arin remembered the vision.
"But it couldn't control its power."
"Yes."
"It tried to reshape the world."
Lira frowned.
"Reshape how?"
The Watcher answered quietly.
"By destroying it first."
The skeletal creature outside roared again and slammed into the ground.
Half of its massive body was still trapped between the gate and the forest roots.
But it was breaking free.
Fast.
The shadow looked at Arin.
"We should probably finish sealing the prison before that thing escapes."
Arin looked back at the crystal.
The symbol with Vaelreth's name glowed brighter.
But something else appeared beside it.
Another symbol.
A second name.
Arin stared at it in confusion.
"What…?"
The Watcher stepped closer.
It studied the crystal carefully.
Then its voice dropped to a low whisper.
"That is impossible."
Lira looked between them.
"Okay someone explain."
Arin pointed at the glowing symbol.
"There are two names."
The shadow raised an eyebrow.
"That doesn't sound good."
The Watcher turned toward Arin slowly.
"The second name should not exist."
"Why?" Arin asked.
"Because the prison was built to contain only one being."
Arin felt a chill run down his spine.
"Then who is the second one?"
The crystal pulsed again.
The symbol brightened.
Arin felt the answer rising inside his mind.
But he didn't want to believe it.
The shadow looked at him carefully.
"You already know, don't you?"
Arin slowly shook his head.
"No."
"Yes," the shadow said softly.
"You do."
Outside the chamber the skeletal monster finally broke through several roots.
Its giant skull pushed further out of the gate.
The clearing shook violently.
Lira yelled again.
"Guys! The giant skeleton is winning!"
The Watcher raised its armored arm and summoned several massive roots from the ground.
They slammed into the creature's body, forcing it backward.
But it was only slowing it down.
Not stopping it.
Arin turned back to the crystal.
The second name burned across its surface.
He finally whispered it.
"Arin."
Silence filled the chamber.
Lira stared at him.
"Wait… what?"
The shadow laughed quietly.
"Well."
"That explains a lot."
Arin stepped backward.
"That's not possible."
The Watcher looked at the crystal again.
"The prison seal recognizes you."
"But not as the bearer."
Arin's heart pounded.
"Then what am I?"
The Watcher answered slowly.
"You are the second balance."
The shadow leaned against the wall.
"I told you earlier."
"You weren't chosen."
"You were created."
Arin clenched his fists.
"Created by who?"
Before the Watcher could answer, the skeletal creature roared again.
This time it tore completely free from the roots.
Its enormous body crashed into the clearing.
The ground shattered beneath its weight.
The gate behind it cracked even further.
Dark energy poured out into the forest.
Lira ran toward the chamber entrance.
"Problem!"
"Very big problem!"
The creature turned its burning blue eyes toward the chamber.
It saw Arin.
And it smiled.
Its skeletal jaw opened slowly.
"The second balance…"
Its voice echoed across the forest like a curse.
"You should have stayed hidden."
Arin felt the crystal pulse violently behind him.
The shadow looked toward the monster.
"Well."
"This day just keeps getting better."
The skeletal creature stepped toward the chamber.
Each step shook the ground like thunder.
The Watcher moved forward to block its path.
For the first time, the armored guardian raised both of its weapons.
Twin blades of ancient metal appeared in its hands.
The Watcher spoke calmly.
"The prison will not fall today."
The skeletal monster laughed.
"You cannot stop what is coming."
Far away beyond the forest…
another gate began to awaken.
Reader's Question:
If you discovered that you were connected to the same power as the world's greatest ancient threat, would you try to destroy that power… or master it?