Lord of The Mysteries:Rebirth of The Absolute Being

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting faint light into Liam's modest room. It was a reminder of the dichotomy he now faced: the brightness of the waking world versus the comforting embrace of the shadows that whispered to him in the night.

He ran a hand through his hair, staring at the pocket watch resting on the desk. The Codex's cryptic whispers from the previous night lingered in his mind, a constant pull to dive deeper into his abilities. But he couldn't allow himself to rush. This world required caution, patience, and planning.

First, I need to strengthen my control over the shadows. Then, I'll start gathering the resources for the next sequence and finally figure out in which part of the timeline I am in.

---

Liam stepped into the bustling streets of Tingen, the crisp morning air carrying the faint aroma of freshly baked bread and coal smoke. His first destination was the marketplace—a hub of activity where merchants hawked wares ranging from common household goods to peculiar trinkets.

As he wandered through the market, his eyes darted from stall to stall, taking in the sights and sounds. He spotted a vendor selling books and paused, pretending to browse while his true focus was elsewhere.

The Codex mentioned that knowledge is power, he thought, his fingers grazing the spine of a thick tome titled Mysteries of the Arcane.

The whispers stirred faintly in his mind as he handled the book. It wasn't strong enough to confirm its importance, but he made a mental note to revisit this vendor later.

---

As Liam turned to leave, he felt a faint tug at his awareness—a subtle shift in the shadows nearby. His eyes flicked to an alley where a small boy darted into the darkness, clutching something shiny.

Liam's heart skipped a beat. A pickpocket? He instinctively patted his pocket and found the small pouch of coins missing.

"Damn it," he muttered, stepping into the alley.

The shadows welcomed him like an old friend, wrapping around his form as he allowed his abilities to take hold. His presence diminished, blending with the dim light.

The boy, unaware of his pursuer, stopped to examine his loot under the faint light of a gas lamp. Liam stepped closer, his movements silent as the shadows muffled his footsteps.

"Nice trick," Liam said, his voice low but firm.

The boy jumped, dropping the pouch in fright. He turned, his wide eyes searching the darkness. "W-who's there?"

Liam stepped into the faint light, allowing the shadows to peel away just enough for the boy to see him. "The one you stole from."

The boy's lip quivered. "I-I didn't mean to! I was hungry—please don't hurt me!"

Liam studied him for a moment. The boy was scrawny, his clothes tattered and his face smeared with grime. It was clear he wasn't a hardened criminal, just a desperate child trying to survive.

Liam sighed, picking up the pouch and tossing it back to the boy. "Take it. But next time, ask."

The boy stared at him, bewildered. "You're… letting me go?"

"I'm not here to make your life harder," Liam said. "What's your name?"

"Elliot," the boy mumbled.

"Alright, Elliot. Consider this a warning. If you keep stealing from the wrong people, you'll end up in worse trouble than me."

The boy nodded quickly, clutching the pouch to his chest. "Thank you, sir!"

As the boy ran off, Liam couldn't help but sigh while shaking his head "I am such a good person" ,he couldn't help but chuckle at his own thoughts.

---

That evening, Liam returned to his room, the shadows once again his sanctuary. He lit a single candle, its flickering flame casting soft light across the space.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he placed the pocket watch in front of him and closed his eyes. The whispers came immediately, guiding him as he reached out to the shadows around him.

This time, he focused on precision. He summoned a small tendril of darkness, commanding it to lift the pocket watch. The tendril obeyed, coiling around the object and raising it into the air.

Good. Now let's try something more complex.

He willed the tendril to split, creating two smaller ones. Each wrapped around a different object on the desk—a quill and a candleholder. The effort was taxing, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he maintained control.

The tendrils wavered, threatening to dissolve, but Liam gritted his teeth and pushed through the strain. Slowly, the objects moved, floating gently across the room.

When he finally released the shadows, letting the objects fall softly onto the bed, he slumped back with a gasp. His energy was drained, but the sense of accomplishment was undeniable.

---

As Liam caught his breath, the whispers from the Codex grew louder, clearer. A single phrase stood out among the murmur:

"The shadows remember."

He frowned, trying to decipher the meaning. Closing his eyes, he focused inward, searching for the source of the phrase.

Images began to flood his mind—fragments of memories that didn't belong to him. He saw a dark forest under a starless sky, creatures made of shadow slinking between the trees. He felt the weight of their presence, their silent power.

When the vision ended, Liam opened his eyes, his heart racing. The Codex was showing him glimpses of what could be.

The shadows remember, he repeated to himself. Perhaps they hold knowledge of the past—secrets waiting to be unlocked.

This revelation sparked a new determination within him. If the shadows could guide him to greater power, he needed to deepen his connection to them.

----

The next morning, Liam prepared for the day with a renewed sense of purpose. He would continue to hone his abilities, but he also needed to start gathering information about the ingredients and rituals for the next sequence.

He decided to return to the marketplace and the bookstore. Both held potential leads, and he couldn't afford to waste time.

The path of the Absolute Being isn't just about strength, he reminded himself. It's about knowledge, understanding, and control.

As he stepped into the streets of Tingen once more, Liam felt the shadows at his back, a constant presence that filled him with both confidence and curiosity. His journey was just beginning, and the world was his to explore.

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