The teardrop-shaped crystal rested in Richard's palm, emitting a soft silver-blue glow. In the evening light, the swirls within the fragment seemed to come alive, as if containing a miniature storm. Although similar in size to the first fragment he had obtained in the previous temple, this one had a completely different essence—it felt surprisingly light, almost as if it wanted to float.
"This fragment seems... different from the first one," Richard commented, turning the crystal between his fingers. "I can feel something distinct in it."
Elyndra nodded, observing the fragment with a knowing look.
"Each fragment has its own nature, its own element. The first one you obtained was linked to pure knowledge, a kind of nexus between the fragments. This one," she pointed to the crystal, "is connected to wind and air, to the truth and secrets that travel on invisible currents."
Richard remembered the voice from the first temple, which had spoken to him about gathering the fragments to maintain balance between worlds. The number had changed in his visions and conversations with Elyndra, but the essence of the mission remained the same: find these objects of ancient power to reinforce the weakened veil between realities.
"How was your trial?" he asked Elyndra, without taking his eyes off the fragment.
She remained silent for a moment, her face showing the imprint of a profound experience.
"Different from yours," she finally replied. "The temples present challenges adapted to each visitor. For me..." her voice broke slightly. "Let's just say I had to face decisions from the past that I thought were buried."
Richard nodded, respecting her reticence. After what he had seen in his own trials—the visions of madness, of the devastated future where the veil had fallen, the doubts about his friends—he could imagine that Elyndra's challenges, being much older and more powerful, must have been especially intense.
They sat on a rock formation that offered them a panoramic view of the valley. The shadows lengthened as the sun descended, tinting everything in orange and violet hues. Below, the motionless bodies of the Veil Society agents lay where they had fallen, a silent reminder of how dangerous the temple could be for the unprepared.
"The first fragment showed me visions, spoke to me about the balance between worlds," Richard said thoughtfully. "Does this one also contain knowledge? How do I access it?"
Elyndra extended her hand toward the fragment, stopping a few inches away without touching it.
"The fragment you obtained in the first temple showed you the purpose, the mission. This one will give you tools to fulfill it," she explained. "The Primordial Fragments contain pure essences of power and wisdom. To access them..." she paused, carefully choosing her words. "You must incorporate them into yourself, just as you instinctively did with the first one."
Richard remembered that first experience, how the fragment seemed to have merged with his being. Now he understood that it hadn't been a coincidence.
"Absorb it?" he asked, looking at the crystal with renewed understanding.
"Yes. The fragment must become part of you, as the first one did."
Richard looked at the crystal cautiously again.
"Last time it was... intense. Is it safe?"
An ironic smile crossed Elyndra's face.
"After what we just went through? No, it's probably not 'safe.' But it is necessary. Each fragment will bring you closer to what you need to be."
Richard weighed her words. If he wanted to continue this path, if he truly wanted to understand what was happening and protect both worlds as the voice from the first temple had entrusted him to do, he couldn't turn back now. He took a deep breath.
"What should I do?"
"Hold it with both hands," Elyndra instructed. "Close your eyes and visualize the fragment dissolving, merging with your being. Your System will probably facilitate the process."
Richard followed her directions. He held the crystal between his palms and closed his eyes. At first, he felt nothing but the gentle cold of the crystal. Then, concentrating, he visualized the fragment melting, integrating with his body, his mind, his mana—similar to how the first fragment had united with him, but now in a conscious and controlled manner.
A subtle vibration began to emanate from the crystal. The cold gave way to a warmth that spread from his palms to his arms. Richard maintained the visualization, allowing the sensation to intensify.
Suddenly, the crystal emitted a flash so bright that Richard could perceive it through his closed eyelids. The warmth turned into a torrent of energy flowing through his veins, ascending from his arms to reach his chest. His breathing accelerated, and a growing pressure accumulated in his head.
And then, the physical sensations gave way to something completely different.
Richard found himself in the middle of a cyclone of images and sensations. He saw ancient civilizations building temples on impossible mountains. He witnessed rituals where wind masters created storms with simple gestures. He felt in his own skin what it was like to fly without wings, supported only by air currents manipulated with exquisite precision.
Knowledge about the nature of air and wind flowed into him: how air transports energy, how it interacts with other elements, how it can be shaped to create anything from the lightest breeze to the most devastating tornado. But beyond mere physical manipulation, he understood more subtle aspects: how air is the medium for sound, voice, word. How wind can transport memories, emotions, truths.
As the avalanche of knowledge continued, Richard experienced a strange sensation, as if something inside him was expanding to accommodate this new information. It wasn't painful, but intensely disorienting, as if the boundaries of his being were being redefined.
Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the experience ended. Richard opened his eyes, gasping. The crystal had disappeared from his hands. He looked at Elyndra, who was observing him with a mixture of fascination and concern.
"Are you okay?" she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Richard nodded, unable to speak for a moment. His mind was processing the experience, trying to integrate the torrent of information. He felt different, as if there was something new inside him, something vast and intangible at the same time.
Then, a notification from the System appeared:
**[Primordial Fragment acquired: "Breath of the Sage"]**
**[2/7 Primordial Fragments collected]**
**[New skill unlocked: "Current Comprehension"]**
**[Skill "Wind Shield" improved → "Wind Manipulation"]**
**[Mana reserve increased: 25 → 30]**
"Two out of seven," Richard murmured, reading the notification. "One more step on the path."
"Each fragment will bring you closer to completing the cycle," Elyndra confirmed. "Seven fundamental aspects of reality, created when the Veil was formed. The first fragment showed you the purpose; the others will give you the power to fulfill it."
Richard focused on the new abilities he had acquired. "Current Comprehension" seemed to allow him to perceive the air flows around him in greater detail, like a specialized version of his "Echo Vision." And "Wind Manipulation" was clearly an evolution of his "Wind Shield," offering him more versatile control over the element.
He tested the new skill, extending his hand toward a small nearby stone. He visualized a current of air lifting it. To his surprise, the stone rose gently, floating a few centimeters off the ground before falling back down when his concentration broke.
"Amazing," he whispered. "The first fragment gave me knowledge, but this one... this one gives me real power."
"And this is just the beginning," said Elyndra, with a note of admiration in her voice. "Each fragment you acquire will expand your capabilities in ways you cannot even imagine. But also..."
She interrupted herself, looking toward the horizon with a concerned expression.
"Also what?" Richard pressed.
"It will also make you more detectable," she completed. "Each fragment you absorb changes your energy signature. Those who seek the fragments will be able to sense you more easily."
"The Veil Society," Richard murmured, remembering his encounter with the blue fire wizard and, more recently, with the agents and the Seeker they had faced after leaving the temple.
Elyndra nodded gravely.
"And others. As the first fragment showed you, there are forces beyond the Veil that have been waiting for a long time. If the Veil weakens enough..."
She left the sentence unfinished, but Richard could imagine the implications. The vision of the devastated future he had witnessed in the Temple of the Whispering Peaks returned to his mind with terrible clarity: a world where beings from both sides were trapped in a fragmented reality, neither alive nor dead, condemned to an existence of eternal horror.
The daylight had almost completely faded, giving way to a deep twilight. The first stars were beginning to shine in the eastern sky.
"We should rest here tonight," Elyndra suggested. "Tomorrow we'll need to begin the journey to the next temple."
Richard nodded, helping her prepare a small camp protected by the rocky overhang. As they lit a modest campfire, Richard couldn't stop thinking about everything he had learned and experienced in a single day.
"Where is the next temple?" he finally asked, as they shared a meager dinner of rations.
Elyndra took out a small worn map from her bag. She spread it between them, in the flickering light of the fire.
"Here," she pointed to a spot in a region that seemed to be covered with dense vegetation. "The Temple of the Deep Roots. It's in the heart of the Shadow Forest, several days' journey from here."
Richard studied the map. The distance was considerable, and the terrain seemed complicated.
"What do you know about that temple?"
Elyndra seemed to hesitate before answering.
"If the Temple of the Whispering Peaks is linked to air and truth, the one of the Deep Roots is associated with earth and time," she explained cautiously. "It's said that inside that temple, time flows differently. Some who have entered came out minutes later only to discover that years had passed outside. Others..."
"Others what?"
"Others aged decades in what were seconds for the outside world," she completed with a grave voice. "The temple plays with the temporal flow."
A shiver ran down Richard's spine. The implications were terrifying.
"And what fragment does it guard?"
"The 'Core of the Eternal,'" Elyndra replied. "It contains knowledge about the nature of earth and time, about permanence and change."
Richard remained silent, processing this information. Each new fragment represented immense power, but also a growing risk. And there were still five to find.
That night, while Elyndra slept, Richard remained awake, contemplating the stars. He experimented with his new ability, creating small air currents that made the flames of the campfire dance. He felt the mana flow differently now, more natural, less mechanical.
Something was changing in him, something fundamental. The Richard who had begun this journey no longer existed. The question was: what was he becoming?
As he contemplated this idea, a soft sound alerted him. He turned quickly, scanning the darkness. For an instant, he thought he saw a figure among the distant rocks, watching them. He activated his "Echo Vision," but when he looked again, there was nothing there.
A residual illusion from the temple? Or something more sinister?
Richard remained on guard for the rest of the night, but nothing else disturbed his vigil. However, the sensation of being watched persisted until the first ray of sun appeared on the horizon, announcing the beginning of a new stage in his journey.
With two fragments in his possession and five still to find, Richard knew the road would be long and dangerous. But he also knew that each step brought him closer to understanding the true purpose of his mission and the role he had to play in the balance between worlds.
**[SYSTEM STATUS]**
**[User:** Richard Wonder]
**[Level:** Apprentice of the Veil (level 2)]
**[Guardian Lineage:** 48% awakened]
**[Mana:** 30/30]
**[ACTIVE SKILLS:]**
* **[Wind Steps (Level 2)]**: Allows movement at increased speeds, improved agility, and enhanced jumps. Consumes mana per second of activation (0.8/second).
* **[Echo Vision (Level 2+)]**: Allows perception of energy traces, recent past events, and detection of hidden presences. Enables tracking of arcane patterns. Consumes 2 mana points.
* **[Wind Manipulation (Level 1)]**: Evolution of Wind Shield. Allows control of air currents for defense, attack, and environment manipulation. Variable consumption based on complexity.
* **[Current Comprehension]**: Allows perception and understanding of air flows and their patterns, including distant sounds and presences that alter the environment. Minimal consumption (0.5/minute).
* **[Improved Arcane Reading]**: Allows deciphering complex arcane inscriptions and extracting meaning from magically encoded texts. Consumes 1 mana point.
* **[Arcane Synchronization (Level 2)]**: Allows synchronizing energy with external arcane patterns, enabling the manipulation of foreign magical energies. Variable consumption.
* **[Elemental Sense (Air)]**: Detects alterations and patterns in the air within a determined radius. Identifies presences, movements, and subtle atmospheric changes.
**[PASSIVE SKILLS:]**
* **[Inscription Comprehension]**: Provides intuition for interpreting ancient or magical glyphs and symbols.
* **[Arcane Bond]**: Allows establishing temporary energetic connection with other mana users.
* **[Mana Shield]**: Provides passive resistance to magical and physical attacks.
* **[Meditation]**: Technique to recover mana at an accelerated rate during deep concentration.
**[LINKED OBJECTS:]**
* **Guardian Seal**: Grants +15% mana efficiency when active. Allows access to hidden places.
* **Vision Scroll**: Content hidden until the user is prepared.
* **Core Fragments**: 2/7 collected.
* **Emily's Amulet**: Conduit and amplifier of arcane energy.
* **Harmonization Disc**: Amplifies energy channeling in conjunction with other artifacts.
**[ACTIVE MISSIONS:]**
* **Find the remaining Core fragments (2/7 completed)**
* **Travel to the Temple of the Deep Roots**
* **Discover the truth about the Book of Ur-Kigal**