The Realm of Wonders

Chapter 4: The Rite of Unsealing

The ruined temple fell into a deathly hush as Alan knelt before the Warden.

Kaela stood by the archway, hand on her bowstring, ready for any sign of treachery. But even she was silent now. The Warden’s presence commanded reverence, not by force, but by the ancient weight of history.

The old man’s palm hovered just above Alan’s forehead. “You must be sure,” the Warden said gravely. “Once unsealed, your soul will never be the same. You will remember pain that is not yours. Sins that are not yours. Power that may consume you.”

Alan’s breath hitched, but he didn’t look away. “I have to know who I am,” he said. “Do it.”

The Warden nodded solemnly and closed his eyes. “Then let the past return.”

He pressed two fingers to Alan’s brow. And the world exploded.

.Inside the Vision.

Flames devoured the sky. A kingdom shattered beneath the weight of collapsing stars.

Alan stood on a battlefield a different self, clad in black armor etched with lightning. A massive blade of obsidian pulsed in his grip.

Across the field, gods and demons warred. Behind him stood an army, not of mortals, but titans cloaked in wind and shadow, lightning dancing at their feet. A name echoed in the sky.

“NIHROS!”

The army roared, surging forward. Alan’s chest burned as memories crashed into him, centuries of war, forbidden rituals, divine betrayal. The Eye had once been a fragment of a celestial being, ripped from the skull of a fallen god and sealed into the bloodline of its last wielder. That wielder… had been him. Or someone who bore his face. And with that power, he had once destroyed a god.

.Back in the Temple.

Alan’s eyes snapped open. He fell backward, gasping, eyes glowing red and silver. Lightning crackled from his fingertips before flickering out. The Warden caught him with a hand on his shoulder. “It is done.”

“I—I saw…” Alan clutched his head. “A war. A god. Me—but not me. Who was that?”

“Your ancestor,” the Warden said, voice like wind through stone. “Or perhaps a past incarnation. The Eye does not give answers—it remembers. Now so do you.”

Kaela stepped closer, tension in her frame. “So what now? Is he going to explode or something?”

“Not yet,” the Warden said with dry humor. “But you must move quickly. The Order will return. And there are worse things in the world than masked zealots.”

He turned to Alan. “Take this.” From his robes, the Warden drew a small scroll sealed with silver wax.

“This map leads to the Shrine of the Sleeping Flame. There, you will find the Ember Sage—one of the few who can teach you to channel divine chi without destroying yourself. He owes me a favor.”

Alan nodded, gripping the scroll tightly. The Warden’s tone turned grim.

“But beware, others seek the Shrines too. Not for knowledge… but for conquest.”

.Three Days Later — Valley of Glass.

The journey through the crystal canyon was treacherous. Shards of glass jutted from the earth like spears. Alan and Kaela moved carefully, using the stars to guide them toward the shrine.

They spoke little, Kaela was watchful, Alan was consumed by the visions that still echoed in his mind.

But that night, as they camped under a ridge, Kaela finally broke the silence.

“You weren’t supposed to have power,” she said. “I mean, you were nobody. Weak. Broken. I used to feel sorry for you.”

Alan looked into the fire. “Yeah. I used to feel sorry for me too.”

“Now I don’t know what to think.” He glanced at her.

“Then don’t think. Help me survive long enough to figure it out.”

She smirked, slightly. “Fine. But you owe me ale when this is over.” They didn’t hear the footsteps behind them until it was too late.

From the shadows above the ridge, figures in violet armor dropped down like wolves.

Not the Order of Binding, something else. Their armor bore sigils shaped like burning crowns. Their eyes glowed green.

Kaela cursed. “The Crimson Heirs. Bounty hunters.” One stepped forward, blades drawn. “Alan Smith. The Eye is priceless. Hand it over. We’ll make your death painless.”

Alan stood slowly, medallion pulsing at his side. “I’m tired of people telling me to die.”

He stepped forward. And for the first time, he called to the Eye. Chi exploded from his core.

Silver flame engulfed his body, transforming into armor of light and storm. The ground cracked beneath him as his feet left the earth, just an inch.

The Heirs hesitated. Alan raised his hand. “Run.” They didn’t. Lightning answered.