THE SHATTERED REALM: FORGOTTEN ECHOES

The sun's rays spilled over the horizon, bathing the Kingdom in golden light. Streets adorned in red and gold shimmered with the promise of celebration, and smiles lit the faces of all who passed. It was a day of joy, a day dedicated to Princess Lia—beloved by all—who stood at the door to another path in her life: her first step into cultivation.

Yet, behind the walls of the palace, joy had given way to silence and shadows. If the people knew what was truly happening, it was a wonder how they would feel.

Aramith lay unconscious, unresponsive since the day before. Mozrael, usually composed, was unable to stay calm anymore. She kept moving between her chambers and Aramith's bedside. In her eyes, one could feel the fear they held. What if she lost him? The mere thought tore through her. Aramith was more than a brother to her—he was her anchor in a world that often felt unsteady.

Lia fared no better. Guilt gnawed at her, sharper than any blade. She hadn't meant for things to go this far. She'd only wanted to share a moment of fun with her brother, but her impulsiveness had cost him dearly. She was sure of that, but whatever it was that came over her to make her go so far, she could not tell. Now, on the day meant to celebrate her future, she could only bury herself under the covers, wishing she could disappear entirely.

It felt so different to be outside in a place filled with color and beauty, a stark contrast to the gloomy room he often stayed in, consumed by fear and isolation.

The event would take place in the evening, so Hordin had the whole day to himself, though he had no idea what to do with it. He was more than grateful and accepted when someone arrived that morning, requesting to take him on a tour of the land.

He rarely left his room in the Bone Kingdom, and when he did, it was only for official matters. It wasn't because he wanted to—each time, he felt the disapproving glances of the people who pitied him for his lack of talent. They pitied the King even more for having such a useless son.

As Hordin stood there, he shuddered involuntarily. Some noticed but said nothing. Like everyone else, they also looked down on him.

After cleaning up and changing into fresh clothes, he joined the attendants waiting to escort him. He wasn't the only one. Several other carriages awaited, each carrying someone important from a neighboring Kingdom.

The journey passed quietly until Hordin heard gasps of awe. Looking out, he saw a tall, beautiful fence with flowering plants weaving through the diamond-shaped spaces between. The colors of the flowers shifted from one shade to another, mesmerizing with their hypnotic flow.

Before long, the carriages arrived at the royal garden—reserved for only the most privileged eyes. The gates were as beautiful as the fence, intricately designed with symbols that spoke of an ancient elegance.

The carriages slowed to a trot, giving the passengers a chance to take in the view. They were awestruck, unsure how to react to their surroundings.

The garden was vast, stretching endlessly with an indescribable beauty. No words could truly capture its grandeur.

Each carriage was accompanied by an attendant who provided information about the garden. The various types of flowers and herbs were pointed out, each one more impressive than the last. Some had healing properties, others were used to create powerful elixirs. With each new discovery, the respect for the Vermillion Kingdom grew.

At one point, they arrived at a section where the plants grew more intricate, and everyone was asked to disembark and continue on foot.

Hordin followed, his curiosity piqued, and took in the sight. He noticed the others inhaling deeply and exchanging glances of astonishment. The air around certain plants seemed to have a calming effect. But even that couldn't explain what Hordin saw next.

One of the visitors—an experienced herbalist, it seemed—looked at a plant with disbelief.

"This... this is Bruise bay leaf! I thought it was extinct," he said, his voice filled with awe.

The others reacted in surprise. Bruise bay leaf, once believed to be lost forever, was known for its supreme healing properties. It could create elixirs capable of saving lives on the brink of death.

Hordin's gaze swept over the garden again. As he took in the plants around him, he noticed more rare species—Drake Marjoram, Emerald Oregano, Star of Quassia, and even Elf Rijon stalks. Plants that should not have been able to grow in this environment.

How was this possible?

Some of these plants required specific climates—cold, mountainous regions for the Flame lotus, and hot environments for others. Yet here they were, thriving under the same roof.

As the group exchanged theories, a woman in a red gown, unlike the others, approached them. Her outfit bore a gold flower on the back—something related to her rank, they assumed.

She introduced herself as the tour guide for the day. Hordin counted at least thirty-five people, including himself.

The woman knew every herb by name, its characteristics, and what it could be used for. She shared this valuable knowledge freely, adding to the wonder of the place.

After a while, the question that had been on everyone's mind came to the forefront.

"How is it that these plants can thrive in environments that shouldn't support them?" someone asked.

The guide smiled softly and knelt down. With a deft finger, she traced an intricate alchemy formation into the ground in mere seconds. To the alchemists present, the speed and precision were remarkable—something that would have taken them hours to accomplish, but to appear skilled, they passed different comments.

"Ah, I remember this formation," one spoke

"Mhm, I was just teaching my grandson when he was five. He should be twelve by now."

"My fastest in drawing this was ten seconds," another bragged

"Ha! Last year, I did that in five seconds. I haven't used it again, so I don't know how fast I can do it," another came in

"My group was investigating how to make this transferrable."

Their lies were getting more and more ridiculous, but none of them wanted to appear ignorant before the other.

As she finished, the formation glowed green beneath their feet. Smaller formations appeared, each one unique to the plant it surrounded. Some rotated around the stalks, others danced over the leaves.

"These formations provide the environment these plants need to grow," she explained, as the group watched in awe.

"This was discovered two years ago," she added.

Eyes darted around as some cleared their throats

"So I guess this one is different from the one I was talking about."

"Mmm, I agree. it sounds familiar and performs the same functions, but it seems the formation is different after all."

"Yes, I agree on that."

Hordin's eyes widened. This was a secret the Vermillion Kingdom held—alchemy formations that could alter the environment itself. It was a technique no one else seemed to know. But why were they sharing it so easily? This should be hidden. All those present were learning new things. The only idiots were the ignorant ones who pretended to know what they did not know

As the guide continued her explanations, Hordin couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him. It wasn't one of the people around him. It wasn't even human. Something—or someone—was observing him from the shadows.

The tour came to an end, but they were to continue on another through the city. Hordin, however, declined. The thought of being out among so many strangers unsettled him, and he longed for the quiet of his room. At least there, he felt safer, away from the unfamiliar eyes that seemed to follow him.