SWNOVELXO Chapter 7: WHISPERS OF THE PAST
The days that followed the battle with the Order of the Shadows were tense.
Ryuu and Aeris traveled at a rapid pace, never staying anywhere long. The pressure weighed heavily on them, and the fact that they didn't speak spoke volumes more than anything that could have been said.
Ryuu understood that Aeris was worried, but she remained silent, her thoughts only on their travels.
As they moved through dense forests and across mountain ranges, Ryuu couldn't shake the impression that someone was watching them.
His gut was screaming that danger lurked everywhere, always lurking just around the corner. Even with his burgeoning powers, he couldn't help but feel vulnerable.
"We need to find a safe location," Aeris said one evening as they camped along a serene river. "The Order will stop at nothing. They will find us again."
Ryuu nodded but said nothing. He was used to this constant pressure, this feeling of being hunted. But the Master, the Order's head, sent shivers down his spine. Who was he? And why would this man chase him?
Aeris, as if sensing what he thought, spoke once more.
"The Master isn't someone you can overwhelm by sheer force of will. They're a master manipulator, and they wield darkness and illusions to control people. You need to be ready, Ryuu. You need to find out more about the power that you've unleashed. The Heartstone isn't a weapon—it's a key."
"A key to what?" Ryuu asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I don't know," Aeris replied, her tone doubtful. "But the Heartstone's power is ancient. It has been used to shape the world in ways we can't yet comprehend. That's why the Order wants it. They know its true potential."
The fire crackled and spat as Ryuu processed her words. The Heartstone wasn't just some artifact—it was part of a much larger picture, one that had the potential to change the course of history. And it was up to him to find out its secrets.
Later that evening, when Ryuu kept guard over their camp, he detected something unusual. A noise in the woods—a quiet, near-subaudible noise, like someone was creeping through the underbrush. He stiffened, his hand reflexively seeking his dagger.
Aeris, having perceived his tension, was already up, sword in hand. "Stay vigilant," she breathed. "We might not be alone."
Before they had a chance to react, a figure stepped out of the blackness, into the moon's silvery light. She was a young woman, with dark hair flowing behind her and moving as though not quite natural.
Her eyes glowed softly, two pools of liquid gold, and she wore a cloak that blended with the shadows themselves.
"Who are you?" Ryuu snarled, moving forward, his dagger at the ready.
The woman didn't falter. She smiled, a very small, sad smile. "I am not your enemy," she said, her tone soft but unyielding. "I'm here to help you."
Aeris slid her sword into its sheath, though her eyes remained vigilant.
"How do you know who we are?"
The woman's smile widened. "I know more than you think, Aeris. And I know what you're running from."
Ryuu's mind spun as he tried to make sense of the tableau before him. Who was this woman, and why did she know Aeris's name? He'd never laid eyes on her before, and yet she somehow felt familiar. Something in her movements, something that made him uneasy.
"What do you want?" Ryuu asked, his voice low and cautious.
"I've come to warn you," the woman said, looking over at Ryuu. "The Order is only the beginning. There are forces involved who are a great deal more dangerous than they are."
"More dangerous than the Order?" Aeris said, her voice skeptical. "That's impossible."
The woman's face grew dark. "The Order has a greater purpose. They are nothing but pieces in a game far beyond them. The enemy, though, is much greater, much older, waiting centuries."
Ryuu stepped closer, curious. "What do you mean?"
"The Heartstone," she breathed. "It's not just a power source. It's a signal, a beacon. And when it's activated, it will open something—something that's been dormant for thousands of years."
The woman stepped closer, her golden eyes never leaving Ryuu's.
"You're not just some random descendant of the individuals who forged the Heartstone, Ryuu. You're its key, its form. But that's only half of it. The Heartstone was never intended to be used by one person. It was meant to unlock the gates of another world."
"A different world?" Ryuu asked quietly. "What do you mean?"
"The Heartstone is part of an ancient mechanism," she continued. "A mechanism to open a portal to a world other than your own. But this world is not peaceful. It is a world of chaos, a world of desolation."
Aeris stepped forward, her expression grave. "And you expect us to believe that? That Ryuu is a doorway to another world?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. And I believe that Ryuu is the only one who can stop it."
Ryuu's mind reeled. Another world? Destruction? His thoughts reeled with confusion and uncertainty. How was any of this possible? And why was he the one who was selected for this task?
"Why me?" Ryuu asked, his voice shaking. "Why am I the one who must accept this responsibility?"
The woman's eyes softened. "Because your family is bound up in the Heartstone. You're the blood relative of the people who created the key, and you're the one who has to protect it now. But we don't have much time. The powers that seek to take control of the Heartstone are moving in on us day by day."
"You said you're here to help us," Aeris broke in. "But who are you, really?"
The woman paused, her eyes flashing with something enigmatic. "My name is Selene. And I am a Guardian of the Heartstone."
"Guardian?" Ryuu asked, his curiosity engaged. "What is that?"
Selene took a deep breath, her eyes for a moment appearing distant as though lost in thought.
"Guardians are the custodians of the secrets of the Heartstone. We have watched over its power for centuries, ensuring that it would never end up in the wrong hands. But we cannot do that alone. The time has come for you to fulfill your destiny, Ryuu."
Ryuu had no time to answer when the noise of movement in the distance cut through the tension. Air thickened again as if something else was approaching.
"We'll talk about this later," Selene replied, her voice firm. "Right now, we need to leave. The Order is not far behind."