AUDEL EMPORIO
The familiar voice calling my name calmed my racing heart as I turned to see the man's face. At first, it was hard to make out his features in the dim light, but the room soon brightened as another man lit a torch with his finger. The scene revealed itself to be an ancient stone-walled dungeon, lined with rows of empty cells.
I stood next to Agrieveous, whose calm demeanor masked a deadly intensity. Three other figures joined us: Maria, Lieutenant Utah, and my mentor, Lord Vestiron. A flame burned steadily on Utah's index finger, casting flickering light across the gloomy room.
Lord Vestiron, my mentor, raised a hand to silence me before I could speak. "Save the greetings for later. We mustn't waste a single second." He turned to Agrieveous, his tone sharp. "Lord Agrieveous, have you brought the artifact?"
"I have," Agrieveous replied, his voice steady. He began walking deeper into the dungeon, gesturing for us to follow. "Come. We must see what fate has in store for us."
The five of us moved in silence, our footsteps echoing through the empty dungeon. I glanced around, noting the ancient structure. The dungeon had to be at least a century old. The sight of rotting skeletons in the cells left a bitter taste in my mouth, but Maria seemed to be holding herself together, her expression composed.
But I knew better. Deep down, she was scared. Seizing the opportunity for a bit of mischief, I manipulated the remaining mana in one of the skeletal corpses, making its arm reach out toward Maria's foot.
She didn't scream, but she jumped in fright, her hands instinctively gripping my shoulders. When she realized it was just me playing a prank, her eyes narrowed, and she drove an elbow into my stomach. I hadn't braced myself, and the impact sent me sprawling to the floor.
"Anything wrong?" Utah's voice echoed through the dungeon. He paused briefly, but upon understanding the situation, he simply shook his head and continued walking.
"We're here," Lord Vestiron announced, bringing the group to a halt. We stood before an occupied cell, its interior teeming with rats and cockroaches. Maria's disgust was evident, but her focus quickly shifted to the lone figure sitting on the floor.
The man stared blankly at a nearly extinguished candle, his distant gaze locking with mine. His brilliant purple eyes reflected my own image, and I felt an inexplicable connection.
Agrieveous stepped forward, motioning for us to gather closer. "This is Kreg Jeviliar, a high-ranking official from the other continent. He holds the rank of 'Leyten,' equivalent to a lieutenant or low-ranking major in our system."
Utah stepped into the cell, kicking aside a cluster of rats. "Lord Agrieveous, why is he being detained? And why have you called us here? This must be significant."
"Indeed," Agrieveous replied, his gaze shifting to me. "What do you think, boy? Notice anything?"
I shook my head, unable to decipher the old man's riddle. "No. Who is he?" Then, I made an educated guess. "Is he connected to my reincarnation?"
"Exactly," Lord Vestiron interjected. "When you were brought to this world, your essence was fragmented. This man is one of those fragments—a part of you. His mana reserves are responding to your every impulse."
Maria stepped forward, ignoring the filth around her. "Wait. So, does that mean Audel controls all the mana within this man? And that he was created from an image of Audel? How did he end up here?"
Agrieveous let out a low, devious chuckle that sent a chill down my spine. "Fate. Fate brought him to Audel. He is a variable created by Audel's past actions, a thread woven into the fabric of destiny. A mere variable."
Lord Vestiron sighed, clearly impatient. "Enough with the riddles, Agrieveous. Share your wisdom plainly."
"Very well," Agrieveous said, leaning closer to me. "You bargained with the Architect to be sent ten years into the past. But your integration into this world was incomplete, and fragments of your being were scattered across time and space. Fate is like a tapestry of threads, all converging at a single point. If one thread strays, the main path—time itself—will force it back into alignment. That's why you are destined to reclaim your original powers, Audel. At least, that's my current understanding."
The explanation was overwhelming, and many things still didn't make sense. Before I could process it further, Lord Vestiron placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered, "Absorb his mana and end this. We mustn't let him suffer any longer."
I understood the task. I looked at the man, who stared back at me with desperate, bloodshot eyes. A mix of guilt and determination churned within me. We were at war, and I needed to grow stronger.
I extended my hand toward the man, my will overpowering my hesitation. Mana began to surge from his body, flowing into me. He screamed, his eyes turning red with agony. Lightning crackled around my hands as I drew his mana into myself.
"Amazing!" Utah exclaimed, captivated by the display but oblivious to the emotional turmoil within me.
But then, the man's voice broke through, distorted and desperate.
I was alone. All alone. It was dark.
"Judgement Day will come... billions must perish... my family... myself... A thread will be pulled, and others will follow... Save us, KRE-?!@#-G... Save us, AU-(@*#!&-DEL!"
I woke up with a jolt, my heart pounding. The candles on my desk had melted, their wax oozing like molten lava. A pile of books lay scattered across the table. The horror of what I had just experienced lingered, shattering my sense of reality.