The soft, rhythmic clack of their shoes against the pavement echoed in the cool evening air as Arman and his friends made their way back to the Mira Bagh Palace. His body moved on autopilot, but his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.If Kabeer is dead… then who was the one with us?His brows furrowed as the weight of the thought settled in. The more he thought about it, the more the question gnawed at him, sinking deeper into his chest. His expression darkened, and he unconsciously picked up his pace, walking slightly ahead of the group without even realizing it.The streetlights blurred as his mind spiraled further, his thoughts turning frantic. The CCTV cameras… That jewelry shop hed cameras in it. What if someone finds out? What if the police find out it was me?The blood drained from his face, and his hands grew cold. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. He took in a sharp breath, trying to steady himself, but the thoughts didn't stop—they only grew louder."Listen to me, kid."Arm

The landscape stretched infinitely before Arman—a strange mix of terrain. Jagged rocks jutted from patches of sand, while lush grass fought to reclaim the ruins of towering structures. Though broken and crumbling, these ruins carried an undeniable grandeur, as if they had once been wonders of the world.Arman stood in silent awe, taking in the scenery. But then, something in his hand twitched.The Key of Emptiness—smooth, cold, and unassuming—began to slip from his grasp. Before he could react, it floated upward, defying gravity. His eyes followed as it hovered in front of him, spinning slightly, as if drawn by an invisible force.Then, without warning, it rushed toward him.A sharp gasp escaped his lips as the key pierced his chest, disappearing into his body.At first, a faint warmth spread across his chest—a subtle, almost soothing sensation. But then, the warmth turned to fire.Arman gritted his teeth, fingers digging into his shirt as he yanked it down to see what was happening.

Arman lay sprawled across the cracked stone floor, his chest rising and falling with ragged, uneven breaths. Every muscle in his body throbbed like a war drum, each pulse echoing pain. The mist around him curled like smoke from an unseen fire—silent, endless, and ghostly. It drifted lazily across the void, as if the Realm of Emptiness itself had exhaled and then gone still.Not peaceful—just… still.He couldn't feel the ground beneath him anymore. Couldn't feel anything except the pounding in his head and the dull ache swimming under his skin.Beside him, the spirit crouched in the shadows, cloaked in stillness. His expression was unreadable, pale eyes glowing like twin moons in the fog."I knew it," he murmured, the words low but laced with conviction. "I knew you had potential. That's why I chose you."His voice wasn't loud, but it carried—a calm tide cutting through the silence of the void."You don't know it yet," he continued, gaze turning skyward, "but something is coming. Somet

After finishing his breakfast, Arman stepped into the hallway, the quiet click of the door echoing behind him. The polished marble floor beneath his feet gleamed in the soft golden light pouring through the high windows, casting long shadows across the ornate walls. The palace halls, though quiet, felt alive with history—tapestries rippled faintly as if whispering secrets in the breeze drifting through arched windows.He made his way toward the garden, each step light but purposeful.As he pushed open the tall wooden doors and stepped outside, a hush fell over him.The garden unfurled before him like a painting brought to life.A warm breeze brushed his face, carrying the fragrance of jasmine, roses, and freshly cut grass. Dew still clung to the petals of tulips and marigolds, sparkling like scattered gems beneath the rising sun. Stone paths wound through patches of wildflowers, and the air was filled with the gentle hum of bees and distant chirping of birds flitting from branch to br

"Arman, you're coming with us—to the Order of Aethen."The woman's voice was flat, calm, and unnervingly certain. Her face was unreadable, like a statue carved to conceal emotion, and yet her words carried an invisible weight — the kind that made the room feel smaller.The fluorescent light above his bed flickered, throwing brief shadows across the walls. The faint scent of incense still hung in the air from the stick he'd burned earlier, now cold and lifeless in its tray. His blanket clung damp to his legs, twisted like a rope, a reminder of the uneasy sleep she had just broken.Arman shot upright, eyes narrowing."What the hell is the Order of Aethen?" he snapped. "And what are you doing in my room? Who the hell are—"He never finished.THUD!A sharp, blinding pain erupted at the base of his neck. The world spun sideways, his breath caught in his throat, and the floor seemed to lurch upward to meet him.What the hell just happened? he thought, seconds before the darkness swallowed h