The Forgotten Power

The clearing was still. The night air, thick with the tension of the battle, gradually settled into an uneasy calm. Alex stood motionless, his heart still pounding from the fight. The dark mist left behind by the fallen enemies slowly dissipated, leaving no trace of the twisted figures that had nearly overwhelmed him. The eerie glow of the monolith flickered faintly, like the last embers of a dying fire, as if it too had been drained by the conflict.

Alex wiped sweat from his brow, his body trembling with exhaustion. The power of the Ethereal Vision still buzzed faintly in his mind, the new ability sharp and fresh. It had saved him, allowing him to see his enemies' weaknesses, but the strain of using it, combined with Shadow Step and the Spectral Blade, had left him drained. He had won the battle, but just barely. He couldn't afford to feel victorious—he had come too close to losing everything.

He sheathed the dagger, turning his attention back to the monolith. The relic had been activated, and while the system had confirmed his success, the sense of danger still clung to the air like an invisible shroud. The enemies he had fought were not ordinary creatures—they were tied to the relic somehow, part of the ancient order the Watcher had warned him about. And now, he knew for certain that more would come.

But beyond the threat, something else gnawed at Alex's mind: the vision. The fleeting glimpse of the towering figures, the whispers of the Forgotten. It had felt like a memory, or perhaps a warning. He could still hear their voices, faint and distant, speaking in a language he didn't understand but felt deep in his bones. They had been watching him, guiding him—maybe even testing him.

The system chimed again, its tone softer, less mechanical than before.

New Quest: Discover the Secrets of the Forgotten.

Objective: Find the next relic and unlock the knowledge of the ancient ones.

Alex frowned, glancing at the monolith one last time. The next relic? How many more were there? And what exactly were these secrets the system kept hinting at? He had unlocked the power of the Forgotten, but he still had no idea what it meant—why it had chosen him, or what role he was supposed to play.

He felt the weight of his father's secrets pressing down on him once again. His father had known something, had been part of this hidden world of relics and ancient powers, yet he had kept Alex in the dark. Why? What had he been trying to protect him from?

The Watcher's words echoed in his mind: Your father believed that by keeping you out of it, he could protect you from the dangers that come with the knowledge of the Forgotten.

But now, there was no turning back. The power was his, and the danger was growing with every step he took.

Alex pulled the map from his pocket and unfolded it. The spiral symbol that had marked the monolith was now crossed out, and in its place, a new symbol appeared—a jagged, star-like mark that pulsed faintly with energy. His next destination. The relics were connected, guiding him along a path that seemed preordained.

But where would this path lead? And what awaited him at the next stop?

Alex took a deep breath, his body still aching from the battle, but his resolve firm. He couldn't afford to hesitate. The enemies were moving, hunting for the same relics, and if they reached the next one before him, it could mean the end—not just for him, but for whatever balance the relics were protecting.

Before he could set off, a soft sound caught his attention. A faint rustling from the edge of the clearing, barely audible but enough to set his nerves on edge. He turned sharply, his hand instinctively moving to the dagger at his side.

The shadows at the tree line shifted, and a figure stepped into the moonlight.

It wasn't the Watcher.

It was a woman, tall and graceful, her movements smooth and deliberate. She wore dark robes similar to the ones the enemies had been cloaked in, but hers were different—cleaner, more refined, with intricate patterns woven into the fabric. Her hood was pulled back, revealing sharp features framed by long, jet-black hair. Her eyes, glowing faintly with an unnatural light, locked onto Alex with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.

"Impressive," she said, her voice low and smooth, like the calm before a storm. "I didn't expect you to survive that."

Alex tensed, his hand gripping the hilt of the Spectral Blade. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "Someone who has been watching your progress with great interest."

"Watching?" Alex's mind raced, trying to figure out if she was part of the same ancient order as the enemies he had just fought—or something else entirely.

"Don't look so surprised," she said, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. "You've been stirring up quite a bit of attention lately. The power of the Forgotten tends to do that."

Alex's pulse quickened. She knew about the Forgotten—about the relics. That made her dangerous. "If you're here for the relic, you're too late. It's already been activated."

The woman raised an eyebrow, her expression one of amusement. "I'm not here to fight you, Alex. In fact, I'm here to help."

Alex didn't trust her for a second. "Help? How?"

She stepped closer, her movements slow and deliberate, as if trying to show she wasn't a threat. "You've been thrown into this world with little understanding of what's truly at stake. The relics, the power of the Forgotten—they're just the beginning. You've only scratched the surface of something far greater than you can imagine."

Alex narrowed his eyes. "And you're here to enlighten me, is that it?"

The woman stopped a few paces away, her gaze unwavering. "In a way, yes. The enemies you've faced are just pawns—members of a forgotten order that seeks to control the relics for their own gain. But there are others—others like me—who want to see the power used for its true purpose."

"And what's that?" Alex asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

"To restore balance."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Alex frowned. "Balance? What kind of balance?"

The woman's smile faded slightly, her expression growing more serious. "The Forgotten were not just beings of power. They were guardians—protectors of an ancient balance between worlds. But that balance has been broken. The relics are the key to restoring it."

Alex's heart raced. The vision he had seen when he touched the monolith—the towering figures, the swirling clouds of shadow and light. Was that what she meant? The balance between worlds?

"I know this is a lot to take in," the woman continued, her voice softer now. "But the truth is, you don't have much time. The order that hunts you—they want the relics for themselves, to control the power of the Forgotten for their own ends. If they succeed, the balance will be destroyed, and the consequences will be… catastrophic."

Alex took a step back, his mind reeling. This was more than just a quest for power. The relics, the Forgotten, the ancient order—they were all part of something much larger, something that could reshape the world itself.

The woman took a step forward, her eyes locked on his. "You've already unlocked part of the power. But if you want to survive—if you want to stop them—you'll need more than just strength. You'll need allies."

Alex hesitated, his instincts screaming at him not to trust her. But there was something in her words, something that rang true. The enemies he had faced were growing stronger, and the relics were connected to forces beyond his understanding. If she was telling the truth, he couldn't do this alone.

"How do I know I can trust you?" he asked, his voice hard.

The woman's gaze softened, though her expression remained unreadable. "You don't. But ask yourself this: Do you really have another choice?"

Alex's grip on the dagger loosened slightly, but he didn't lower it completely. She was right—he was outmatched, outnumbered, and out of time. If she could help him, if she knew more about the relics and the Forgotten than he did, then he needed her. At least for now.

"Alright," Alex said, his voice cautious but firm. "I'll listen."

The woman smiled again, this time with a hint of genuine warmth. "Good. We

don't have much time. The next relic is closer than you think.".