The Sanctuary of the Lost stretched before them, a monument to forgotten history. The hall was endless, lined with floating orbs that shimmered in the dim light, their surfaces flickering with ghostly images. Whispers echoed through the chamber, not in any language Raine recognized, but in a way that he could almost understand.
He took a cautious step forward, staring at one of the orbs. Inside, he saw a battlefield suspended in time—warriors clashing beneath a shattered sky, titanic figures waging war against an unseen enemy.
"What… is this?" he murmured.
Seraphis walked past him, her silver robes trailing behind her. "These are Echoes—fragments of the past, preserved within the Sanctuary. The Rift has not forgotten what was lost, even if the world has."
Sylara crossed her arms, her emerald gaze scanning the chamber warily. "So, this place is a giant library of memories?"
Seraphis inclined her head. "In a sense. But knowledge is a dangerous thing. The truth hidden here is not one the world is ready to accept."
Raine frowned. "What do you mean?"
She stopped before a massive pillar of swirling golden light, resting a hand against it. "You asked why you are here, Raine. Why you—a human—possess power that should not exist. The answer lies within these walls."
Raine's heart pounded. He had spent so long searching for answers, stumbling from one fight to the next, always reacting but never understanding.
Now, he was finally about to learn the truth.
He exhaled. "Alright. Show me."
The First Truth: A Broken World
Seraphis motioned toward one of the largest Echoes—a shimmering sphere that pulsed with an eerie blue light. As she raised her staff, the orb expanded, surrounding them in a veil of mist.
Then, the past came alive.
The walls of the Sanctuary vanished, replaced by a vast city of gleaming spires and crystalline towers. The air shimmered with magic, and the streets were filled with figures of all kinds—elves, humans, even creatures Raine had never seen before.
It was a world before the divide.
Sylara's breath caught. "This… this can't be real."
Seraphis's expression was grim. "This was Elyndra. Before it fell."
Raine turned, his mind racing. Elyndra. The lost elven kingdom. The place where Sylara had been meant to rule. But this wasn't a city in ruins—it was alive.
"How…?" Sylara whispered. "How is this possible?"
Seraphis gestured, and the vision shifted.
The sky above the city ripped open.
A great tear in reality appeared, just like the Rift they had entered—only this one was unstable, volatile, out of control.
From the void beyond, something emerged.
A being wrapped in golden fire, its form ever-changing, its voice shaking the heavens.
"The Balance is broken."
Raine's stomach twisted. This wasn't a war.
This was a collapse.
The vision fractured again. This time, he saw a group of figures standing atop the tallest tower in Elyndra. Their faces were obscured, their hands outstretched toward the Rift.
They were trying to seal it.
But something went wrong.
The energy lashed out, consuming them. The Rift expanded, swallowing the city.
And then—
The vision ended.
The Second Truth: The Chosen
Raine staggered backward, his mind spinning.
Sylara's hands trembled as she stared at the now-empty space where the Echo had been. "That… was the truth? The Rift wasn't created—it was unleashed?"
Seraphis nodded. "The ancient rulers of Elyndra believed they could control the power of the Rift. But they failed. The balance between the worlds collapsed, and reality itself began to unravel."
Raine swallowed hard. "And the figures at the end?"
Seraphis hesitated. "They were the first Chosen."
Sylara's gaze snapped to her. "Chosen?"
Seraphis sighed. "Not everyone was meant to wield the power of the Rift. It chooses individuals, those who are tied to its existence. The ones who tried to seal the Rift were among them. But instead of closing the gate, they were… consumed."
Raine frowned. "And what does this have to do with me?"
Seraphis turned to him, her silver eyes burning with intensity. "Because, Raine… you are one of them."
The words hit him like a hammer.
He took a step back. "No. That doesn't make sense. I'm not from this world."
Seraphis's gaze did not waver. "A Chosen can be born anywhere. Even beyond the Rift. The power within you was not given—it was awakened. You were always meant to return."
Raine felt his pulse pound in his ears.
This wasn't just some accident.
This wasn't just him stumbling into another world.
He had been brought back—because he had never truly belonged anywhere else.
Sylara's expression was unreadable, her lips pressed into a thin line. "So you're saying… Raine is one of the people meant to fix this mess?"
Seraphis nodded. "And so are you."
Sylara froze.
"What?"
Seraphis stepped closer. "You carry the blood of Elyndra. But your lineage is older than you realize. The first Chosen were not only warriors—they were rulers. Your bloodline was meant to guide the power of the Rift, to keep the balance."
Sylara shook her head, her fists clenched. "No. I'm not part of this."
Seraphis tilted her head. "You cannot run from your own blood, Sylara."
Sylara's expression darkened. "Watch me."
She turned and walked toward the edge of the chamber, her movements sharp, restless.
Raine watched her go, his mind still trying to process what he had just learned.
He was a Chosen.
Sylara was meant to lead.
And the Rift… was waiting for them to decide their fate.
A New Threat Rises
Raine was still lost in thought when the chamber shook.
The floating orbs of memory flickered, the entire structure trembling as if something was trying to break in.
Seraphis's eyes widened. "No. It's too soon."
Raine's stomach dropped. "What's happening?"
The air around them cracked, and suddenly, a deep, resonant voice filled the hall.
"You have seen the past. Now, face the future."
The golden light around the Sanctuary shattered, and in its place, a figure emerged.
Cloaked in shadows, its form rippling like the Rift itself, its eyes burning with an otherworldly power.
Seraphis's breath hitched. "No…"
Sylara turned, her sword already drawn. "Who the hell is that?"
The figure raised a hand—
And the world exploded into chaos.