The next morning came quietly.
No wind.
No birds.
Only the faint echo of a world that seemed… distant.
Jacob woke first.
The fire had died. The air was cold.
Alaric was gone.
He stood up slowly, scanning the area until his eyes drifted toward the valley below.
There He saw him , Alaric stood at the edge of the valley, facing the mountains.
Motionless.
As if he had been standing there for hours.
Watching.
Waiting.
Jacob approached him.
"…What are you doing?"
Alaric didn't turn.
"…Come here."
A pause.
"…I'm going to teach you something."
Jacob raised an eyebrow.
"…Teach me what?"
Alaric finally glanced at him.
"…Sit."
No explanation.
No room for argument.
Jacob hesitated… then complied He sat down, mirroring the position he had seen Alaric use before legs crossed, back straight.
"…Close your eyes," Alaric said.
"…And focus on the sounds of nature."
Jacob frowned.
"…That's it?"
Alaric's voice hardened slightly.
"…You ask too many questions."
A pause.
"…Just do it."
Jacob exhaled slowly Then He closed his eyes At first Nothing Just silence.
Empty. Hollow.
"…I don't feel anything," Jacob muttered.
Alaric stepped back.
"…Focus, idiot."
Minutes passed . Then more Something shifted Not outside But inside .Jacob felt it , A strange sensation As if he were… sinking Not physically But inward.
Deeper.
Further.
Into something he had never touched before . Darkness surrounded him Endless. Silent , And within it A flicker.
A point of light Appearing Disappearing Then A feeling..Sharp..Cold.
**Something was watching him.**
A shiver ran through his entire being His heart began to race.
*What… is this?*
He tried to open his eyes But he couldn't Because he wasn't in the real world anymore, Jacob stood Inside himself.
"…What is this?"
His voice echoed strangely.
"…A dream?"
Darkness surrounded him completely He could barely see his own body Then They appeared Two eyes Floating in the void.
One red + One blue.
Jacob froze , Then A voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
Wrong.
"Come… deeper."
"Do not be afraid."
Jacob's breath trembled.
"…What are you?"
The voice chuckled.
Low.
Amused.
"I am your companion."
A pause.
"Do you not remember me?"
Jacob's mind raced.
"You came to me… when you were a child."
"When fear wrapped around your heart…"
"When danger stood closer than breath…"
Silence.
"You relied on me."
Jacob stepped back.
"…No…"
"It's alright."
The voice softened.
Almost… comforting.
"You can rely on me again."
A pause.
"All you need to do…"
The eyes glowed.
"Is give me permission."
Jacob's heart pounded violently.
"Let me take your place."
"And everything will be… easier."
A whisper.
Closer now.
Inside him.
"I will give you power."
"The power to do anything you desire."
"No one will be able to stop you."
Jacob's breath grew heavier.
"I will take you out of the darkness…"
"…into the light."
The.The tone changed...Deeper.
Wiser.
Dangerous.
"The tragic irony…"
"Is that you possess knowledge… yet it governs nothing."
Jacob's pupils trembled.
"The human mind is condemned… to question."
"Endlessly."
"Relentlessly."
"And yet…"
A pause.
"It can never answer."
The darkness pulsed.
"Because the truth lies beyond its limits."
Jacob felt something tightening around his thoughts.
"Let me show you…"
"…what it means to truly understand."
A whisper Like silk wrapping chains.
"Knowledge is light."
"Ignorance is shame."
"To know… is to rise."
"To remain ignorant… is to crawl."
The voice deepened Almost divine.
"Are those who know… equal to those who do not?"
Jacob felt it A pull..A seduction. Not of the body But of the mind His resistance began to crack.
Alaric's expression changed.An hour had passed.
"…What's happening?"
His eyes sharpened.
"…What did you find?"
A pulse Sudden..Violent.
**BOOM.**
A surge of **purple aura** erupted from Jacob's body.
Wild.
Unstable.
Overwhelming.
Alaric stood instantly Without thinking He rushed forward and grabbed Jacob's arm.
"Jacob enough."
"Open your eyes!"
**BOOM.**
A punch.
Fast.
Brutal.
Alaric was thrown backward violently , A crack echoed , His arm Broken.
"…Damn it."
He steadied himself, his aura instinctively activating to reduce the damage.
"…If I hadn't reinforced myself…"
A pause.
"…That would've been worse."
His eyes narrowed.
*That strength…*
*Impossible.*
*He's just a kid…*
-A moment of hesitation , Then A decision.
"…I shouldn't do this."
A pause.
"…But we're outside surveillance."
In an instant Alaric moved He appeared behind Jacob , His hand raised Faintly transparent Almost unreal
And then He spoke.
"O restless soul…"
"Return… content and at peace."
Silence , Then , Light A powerful radiance burst from Alaric's body.
Pure.
Overwhelming.
The purple aura shattered , The darkness broke , Jacob's eyes snapped open.
"…What happened?"
He looked around, confused.
"…Didn't you tell me to focus?"
A pause.
"…I just closed my eyes for a second."
Alaric stared at him.
Silently.
*A second…?*
His thoughts darkened.
*I can't lower
my guard.*
*I don't know what happened in there…*
A pause. But I have an idea , He turned away.
"…That's enough for today."
A brief silence.
"…We don't have much time."
As they walked away ..Unseen..Unheard.
Something deep within Jacob…Was still watching.
*A ship is safe in the harbor…*
But that is not what ships are built for.