The Forsaken Seal

Layron couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at his mind. He knew Gramps was hiding something. The way his voice wavered, the way his hands had stilled at the mention of the six stones—Layron wasn't imagining it. And Zorthaal's silence? That only made it worse.

Why now?

All day, he had been lost in thought, replaying the morning's conversation. Even when Anya and Gramps called him for dinner, he ate mechanically, barely registering the food on his plate. Anya noticed, of course.

"You look like a corpse," she said, frowning.

Layron just grunted in response.

The weight of the unanswered questions pressed down on him. Gramps wouldn't tell him the truth. Zorthaal refused to speak. Then how do I find out?

It was obvious.

He had to return to the place where it all started.

"THE RUINED SHRINE"

Layron stood alone in the ruins, his breaths shallow. The night air was thick with an eerie stillness, yet it was nothing compared to the void he felt within.

"Zorthaal."

No response.

Silence.

Not even a whisper.

Layron's fists clenched. The voice that had once haunted him, manipulated him, was now absent. And the worst part? He wanted to hear it.

"What the hell is happening…?"

For the first time since this nightmare began, Layron felt alone.

And then - He heard a voice....

----

But somewhere far from this quiet village, others had already begun discussing the storm brewing in the shadows.

A Meeting in the Lower Council Chambers

Inside an underground hall of cold stone and dim candlelight, the lower council of the Protectors had gathered. They were not the highest-ranking elites, but their word still carried weight. And tonight, their voices trembled with urgency.

"We must bring this to the Supreme Overlords!" one of them urged, his voice sharp with concern. "The seal is failing! If we don't act now—"

A heavy silence fell over the room as footsteps echoed down the corridor. Slow. Measured. Each step radiated authority.

The doors creaked open.

And he entered.

A man of unwavering presence, dressed in black and silver, with a cigarette resting between his fingers. His eyes, sharp as a blade, scanned the room.

The air turned heavy. The council members immediately stood, bowing their heads.

"House Vaelor has arrived."

He has another name.The strategist and he can read anyone's mind in his range he is the most intelligent among the...

"NOBLE CLASS AND STILL POWERFUL TOOO...."

"Lord Vaelor," one of them greeted formally. "We—"

A single flick of his fingers silenced the room. He removed the cigarette from his lips, exhaling a slow trail of smoke. Then, with a calm, measured voice, he spoke.

"I see the lower council is troubled tonight."

No one dared to speak.

House Vaelor. A name that carried weight. Their lineage stood just beneath the Supreme Overlords themselves, wielding influence that few could challenge.

He stepped forward, his voice smooth yet commanding. "It's time for a meal , I guess?"

The council exchanged uneasy glances. One of them finally spoke.

"My lord, the seal is weakening. We believe this matter should be taken directly to the Supreme Overlords before—"

A slow chuckle escaped Vaelor's lips. He tapped the ash from his cigarette, his expression unreadable.

"I don't intend to trouble the highest authority over something we can handle ourselves." His voice remained polite, yet absolute. "Let me ask you all—do you understand what happens if we fail to control this situation?"

The room remained silent.

Vaelor took another slow drag of his cigarette before continuing.

"If that day comes," he murmured, his gaze distant yet piercing, "the world will turn upside down."

A cold pause.

"If he awakens completely… there will be no 'Protector Order' to maintain. No Supreme Overlords. No nations. No laws." He exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "Nothing but destruction."

The council members stiffened.

"But that day has not arrived yet," Vaelor continued smoothly. "And if we act wisely, it never will."

His eyes scanned the room, the weight of his words pressing down on every person present.

"So I suggest," he said slowly, "that we handle this situation before it becomes something that even the Supreme Overlords cannot stop."

The council members exchanged tense glances before nodding in agreement.

"My lord," one of them spoke cautiously, "then… what is your command?"

Vaelor smiled slightly, tilting his head.

"I have a plan....We watch. We wait. And when the time comes..."

His fingers flicked, sending the last ember of his cigarette to the ground.

"...We eliminate the problem but we must know his location first

Lord Vaelor's gaze swept over the council one last time.

"This meeting is over," he declared. "Return to your posts. Search for the boy's location."

As he turned to leave, his footsteps echoed once more, a reminder of the power he carried.

The shadows had begun to move.

And soon, fate itself would be forced to choose a side.