THE BLACK CRYSTAL
1361 Words
The journey back to Elaria was unusually quiet.
Ren walked beside Kael while Mira carried the sealed black crystal in a small wooden box.
None of them wanted to talk about what they had found.
The symbol of the Demon King had changed everything.
According to the quest information, the goblin cave was supposed to be nothing more than a nest that had become too large for local hunters to handle.
Instead, they had found organized goblins, forged weapons, and a mysterious crystal bearing the mark of an enemy who was supposedly dead.
Ren kept thinking about the voice he had heard in his dream.
He has awakened.
Was it talking about him?
Or someone else?
"Ren."
Kael's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Ren looked over.
"You've been quiet."
"Just thinking."
"About the crystal?"
"Among other things."
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"I don't understand much about ancient magic, but even I know that crystal isn't normal."
Mira walked ahead of them.
"It isn't merely magic."
Ren looked at her.
"What is it?"
She hesitated.
"I don't know."
That answer surprised him.
Mira was usually confident when discussing magic.
"That's the first time you've admitted you don't know something," Kael said.
Mira gave him an irritated look.
"Enjoy the moment."
Kael laughed.
Ren smiled.
Despite everything, he was beginning to enjoy being around them.
For the first time since arriving in Asteria, he didn't feel completely alone.
---
They reached Elaria shortly before sunset.
The city gates were crowded.
Merchants waited with wagons while guards checked travelers.
Ren noticed something unusual.
Several guards were wearing heavier armor than before.
"What's happening?" he asked.
Kael shrugged.
"Probably nothing."
Mira shook her head.
"No. Something is wrong."
A guard approached them.
"Adventurers."
He looked at their equipment.
"Where have you been?"
Kael showed him their guild cards.
"Goblin cave."
The guard's expression changed.
"You came from there?"
"Yes."
"Did you find anything unusual?"
Mira immediately looked at Ren.
Ren understood.
They couldn't discuss the crystal in public.
"Just the usual monsters," Kael answered.
The guard studied them for a moment before stepping aside.
"Report to the guild immediately."
They entered the city.
Ren glanced back.
The guard was still watching them.
---
The Adventurer Guild was busier than usual.
Several adventurers stood around the entrance.
Whispers spread through the room.
Ren heard words like missing caravans, monsters, and northern forest.
He followed Mira toward the receptionist.
"We need to speak with the guild master."
The receptionist looked at the three of them.
"Is this about your quest?"
"Yes."
She noticed the seriousness in Mira's expression.
"Wait here."
A few minutes later, the guild master appeared.
His name was Gareth.
He had gray hair, a scar over his left eye, and the calm expression of someone who had survived many dangerous battles.
"You found something."
It wasn't a question.
Mira placed the wooden box on the table.
"We found this."
Gareth opened it.
The moment he saw the crystal, his expression changed.
"Close the doors."
The receptionist immediately obeyed.
The guild master locked the office.
Ren felt the atmosphere become heavier.
Gareth picked up the crystal with a cloth.
"Where did you find it?"
"In the goblin cave," Kael answered.
Gareth stared at the black crown.
"This shouldn't exist."
Ren frowned.
"You said that before."
The guild master looked at him.
"You don't understand."
He placed the crystal on the table.
"The Demon King was defeated fifty years ago."
Mira nodded.
"We know."
"No."
Gareth shook his head.
"You know the story. You don't know the truth."
Ren leaned forward.
"What truth?"
Gareth sighed.
"Fifty years ago, the kingdoms claimed that the Demon King was destroyed by the Seven Heroes."
"Wasn't he?"
"Nobody knows."
Silence.
Gareth continued.
"The heroes disappeared immediately after the final battle."
Ren's heart skipped.
"All seven?"
"Yes."
"That's strange."
"It gets stranger."
Gareth opened an old cabinet.
Inside were several ancient documents.
He placed one on the table.
"This was recovered from the ruins beneath the royal capital."
Ren looked at the page.
There was a drawing of a black crystal.
The same symbol.
Underneath it were ancient words.
Mira translated them.
"When the crown awakens, the world shall remember its forgotten enemy."
Ren felt a chill.
"What does that mean?"
Gareth shook his head.
"We don't know."
Suddenly, the crystal began glowing.
Everyone froze.
A pulse of black energy spread through the room.
Ren felt something inside his body respond.
His hand began burning.
He looked down.
A strange mark had appeared on his palm.
A black crescent.
"Ren!" Mira shouted.
Ren stepped back.
The crystal cracked.
A voice whispered from inside it.
"Otherworlder..."
Ren's eyes widened.
The crystal shattered.
A wave of dark energy exploded across the room.
Gareth raised his hand.
A golden barrier appeared.
The windows rattled.
Then everything stopped.
Ren stared at his palm.
The mark was gone.
"What just happened?"
Nobody answered.
Gareth looked frightened.
"You're an Otherworlder."
Ren's heart sank.
He had hoped nobody would discover that.
Kael looked confused.
"What's an Otherworlder?"
Mira stared at Ren.
"You came from another world."
Ren slowly nodded.
"Yes."
Kael's mouth opened.
"You're serious?"
"I didn't exactly plan to keep it secret forever."
Kael stared at him for several seconds.
Then he laughed.
"You're telling me my new teammate is literally from another world?"
Ren sighed.
"Apparently."
Mira looked more concerned.
"Then the crystal reacted to you."
"I know."
Gareth looked toward the broken crystal.
"This changes everything."
---
That night, Ren couldn't sleep.
He stood on the balcony of the inn, staring at the moon.
The dream returned to his mind.
The silver-haired girl.
The black moon.
The door beneath the world.
Then he heard footsteps.
Ren turned.
Mira stood behind him.
"Can't sleep?"
"No."
She walked toward the balcony railing.
"I wanted to ask you something."
Ren waited.
"Why did you come here?"
"Because a goddess made a mistake."
Mira looked at him.
"A goddess?"
Ren nodded.
"She said my death was accidental. She gave me this life as compensation."
Mira was silent.
"Do you trust her?"
Ren looked at the moon.
"I did."
"And now?"
He looked at the strange mark that had disappeared from his hand.
"I don't know."
Mira nodded.
"I understand."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Mira said quietly:
"Whatever happens, you're not alone anymore."
Ren looked at her.
She smiled faintly.
"You have us."
Something warm filled Ren's chest.
"Thanks."
Mira turned away.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She walked back inside.
Ren smiled.
Maybe this new world wasn't so bad after all.
---
The following morning, Ren returned to the guild.
Kael was waiting outside.
"You won't believe this."
"What?"
Kael pointed toward the main quest board.
A new announcement had been posted.
URGENT QUEST
Multiple monster sightings reported near the northern forest.
Several caravans missing.
Possible connection to ancient Demon King activity.
Recommended Rank: C
Ren read the message carefully.
Then he noticed something at the bottom.
A small black crown had been stamped onto the paper.
His expression became serious.
"This isn't a coincidence."
Kael nodded.
Mira joined them.
"We should investigate."
Ren looked at both of them.
"Are you sure?"
Kael smiled.
"You're not getting rid of us that easily."
Mira nodded.
"We're a party now."
Ren smiled.
A party.
The word felt strangely comforting.
He reached for his sword.
"Then let's find out what's happening."
The three of them left the guild.
But none of them noticed the silver-haired girl standing across the street.
She watched Ren disappear into the crowd.
Her eyes filled with relief.
"Finally..."
She touched the pendant around her neck.
It glowed faintly.
"You're here."
Behind her, a hooded figure appeared.
"You found him?"
The girl nodded.
"Yes."
"Should we approach him?"
She shook her head.
"Not yet."
The hooded figure looked toward Ren.
"Why?"
The girl whispered:
"Because he hasn't remembered me."
She turned toward the northern sky.
"And when he does..."
Her expression became worried.
"...the goddess will know he's awake."
Far above the city, hidden behind the clouds, a golden eye opened.
Someone was watching.
And a familiar voice whispered:
"Ren Takahashi."
The adventure had only just begun.
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