Chapter 6 — The Golden Core
2770 Words
The golden flame inside Arin’s chest suddenly became brighter.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The ancient hall was completely silent. Even the shadow warriors seemed frozen by what they had witnessed.
Kael stared at Arin with an expression of genuine fear.
“The Golden Core,” he whispered.
Arin looked down at his hands. Silver light flowed between his fingers, but beneath it burned a tiny golden flame.
“What is happening to me?”
Kael stepped closer.
“Listen carefully. Whatever happens next, you must not lose control.”
“I don't even know what I'm controlling!”
“You don't need to control it.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
Kael looked into his eyes.
“Listen to it.”
Before Arin could ask what he meant, a terrible roar shook the hall.
The enormous shadow creature raised its hand.
Dark lightning gathered around its fingers.
Kael immediately drew his sword.
“Arin, get behind me.”
Arin shook his head.
“No.”
Kael looked at him.
“I've been running since I entered this forest. I don't know who I am, why these creatures are hunting me, or why everyone keeps telling me to hide.”
He clenched his glowing fist.
“I'm done running.”
The creature released the lightning.
BOOM!
A black wave tore through the hall.
Kael raised his sword and created a wall of blue fire.
The darkness crashed against it.
The entire hall shook.
“Stay back!” Kael shouted.
Arin watched as Kael struggled to hold the barrier.
More shadow warriors entered through the broken doorway.
Ten.
Twenty.
Then dozens.
Kael fought them with incredible speed, but there were simply too many.
One warrior slipped past him.
It rushed toward Arin with a black sword raised above its head.
Arin raised his hands.
A silver shield appeared.
CRACK!
The warrior struck it.
The shield fractured.
Arin stepped backward.
The warrior attacked again.
The shield shattered.
Arin fell to the floor.
The warrior raised its sword.
Then everything became silent.
Arin could hear only his heartbeat.
Boom.
The Golden Core pulsed.
Boom.
Something inside him changed.
Arin looked at the warrior's sword.
For the first time, he could see the magic inside it.
It wasn't simply energy.
It was like a thread connecting the sword to the warrior.
Arin slowly reached toward it.
His fingers touched the blade.
The warrior froze.
“What are you doing?”
Arin closed his eyes.
He could feel something hidden inside the weapon.
Anger.
Pain.
Fear.
Memories.
He saw a battlefield.
A burning village.
A young warrior crying beside a dead friend.
The sword had absorbed all those emotions over centuries.
Arin whispered,
“You don't have to carry this anymore.”
The Golden Core flashed.
Golden light flowed through his hand.
The black sword immediately turned silver.
The darkness disappeared.
The warrior stared at it in horror.
“What did you do?”
Arin didn't know how to answer.
“I... don't know.”
Kael had seen everything.
His expression changed.
“You awakened it.”
Arin looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
“You awakened the magic inside the weapon.”
“I changed it.”
“No.”
Kael shook his head.
“You reminded it what it was before it became corrupted.”
Arin stared at his hand.
“I can do that?”
“Only because of what you are.”
Before Arin could ask another question, the enormous shadow creature stepped forward.
The smaller warriors immediately moved aside.
Its red eyes fixed on Arin.
“You remember.”
Arin frowned.
“I don't remember anything.”
“You will.”
The creature raised its hand.
A gigantic sphere of darkness formed above its palm.
Kael's expression became serious.
“Arin, run!”
The creature released the attack.
Dark energy exploded across the hall.
Kael raised his sword.
A blue barrier appeared.
The impact pushed him backward.
His boots scraped across the stone floor.
“Arin!”
Arin stepped forward.
Kael shouted,
“Don't!”
But Arin closed his eyes.
He didn't fight the darkness.
He listened.
Beneath the roar of the energy, he heard something.
A whisper.
Help me.
Arin opened his eyes.
“I hear you.”
The Golden Core exploded with light.
A wave of golden energy spread through the hall.
The darkness stopped.
Black smoke began turning gray.
Gray became white.
Thousands of glowing particles floated through the air.
Every shadow warrior dropped their weapons.
The enormous creature stepped backward.
“No...”
Arin stared at it.
“What are you afraid of?”
The creature's red eyes burned brighter.
“You.”
Arin felt a chill.
“Who am I?”
The creature smiled.
“The Heir.”
Then it disappeared into smoke.
Silence returned.
Kael slowly lowered his sword.
Arin turned toward him.
“You knew.”
Kael didn't answer.
“You knew this would happen.”
“I knew your power was awakening.”
“How many layers does it have?”
Kael hesitated.
“Seven.”
Arin remembered the seven thrones.
“The Seven Realms.”
“They are connected.”
Arin looked toward the empty seventh throne.
“Then tell me everything.”
Kael looked away.
“Not yet.”
Arin's anger returned.
“Why?”
“Because knowing the truth can be more dangerous than fighting a monster.”
“I deserve to know who I am.”
“You deserve to survive.”
“I've already apparently died once.”
Kael froze.
Arin stepped closer.
“That creature said I had a first death.”
Kael closed his eyes.
“You were born in the First Realm.”
“What is the First Realm?”
“Before the Seven Realms were separated, there was one world.”
Kael pointed toward the seven thrones.
“It was called the First Realm.”
“Who ruled it?”
“The House of Aureon.”
Arin's heart began beating faster.
“Who are they?”
Kael looked directly at him.
“Your family.”
Arin stared at the empty throne.
“You're saying I was royalty?”
“You were the final heir.”
A sudden flash entered Arin's mind.
He saw a magnificent palace floating above the clouds.
Golden towers.
Silver bridges.
Thousands of magical creatures.
And himself standing on a balcony beside a young woman.
The woman looked at him lovingly.
Arin recognized her.
“Elara.”
The vision changed.
The palace was burning.
Shadow creatures filled the sky.
People were running.
Warriors were dying.
Arin stood before a massive black portal.
Elara was behind him.
“Don't do this!” she cried.
“I have to.”
“You don't have to sacrifice yourself!”
“If I don't close the gate, the darkness will enter every realm.”
Elara grabbed his hand.
“I don't care about the realms. I care about you!”
Arin looked at her sadly.
“I love you.”
Then he turned toward the portal.
Golden light exploded from his body.
The vision vanished.
Arin fell to his knees.
Kael caught him.
“She loved me,” Arin whispered.
Kael said nothing.
“What happened to her?”
“She disappeared.”
“She's dead?”
“I don't know.”
Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed through the hall.
“Arin...”
His eyes widened.
“Elara?”
The black portal appeared again.
Kael grabbed his arm.
“Don't go.”
“She called my name.”
“It wants you to enter.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I've seen this before.”
The voice came again.
“Arin... please.”
Arin stepped toward the portal.
Kael blocked him.
“If you enter, you may never return.”
“I need the truth.”
“You'll get it.”
“From whom?”
Kael looked at the portal.
“The woman who betrayed you.”
Arin froze.
“She betrayed me?”
Kael nodded.
Before Arin could answer, the voice returned.
“He's lying.”
Arin stared at the portal.
Kael's face became pale.
The voice continued.
“Arin, don't trust him.”
Arin looked between Kael and the portal.
Then he heard another whisper.
“Remember.”
The Golden Core pulsed.
Arin suddenly understood something.
His power wasn't created by anger.
It wasn't created by revenge.
It was created by choice.
He could choose what his magic became.
And he could choose what he became.
Arin raised his hand.
Golden light surrounded his body.
Kael stepped backward.
“Arin, stop.”
“I need to know the truth.”
The portal pulled him forward.
Kael grabbed his wrist.
“Don't!”
Arin looked into his eyes.
“You said I was the Heir.”
“Yes.”
“Then trust me.”
Kael hesitated.
That was enough.
Arin released a burst of golden energy.
Kael was thrown backward.
Arin stepped through the portal.
The world disappeared.
For a moment, there was no ground, no sky, and no sound.
Arin felt as if he were falling through an endless ocean.
Then memories appeared around him.
The Seven Realms.
The Fire Realm.
The Water Realm.
The Sky Realm.
The Crystal Realm.
The Shadow Realm.
The Light Realm.
And finally, the First Realm.
He saw it before its destruction.
It was beautiful.
At the center stood a magnificent palace.
Arin knew it was his home.
Then he saw Elara.
She was standing beside him.
“You're leaving again,” she said.
“I'll come back.”
“You always say that.”
“This time I mean it.”
She smiled.
“Promise?”
Arin took her hand.
“I promise.”
The memory changed.
The black portal opened.
Arin walked toward it.
Elara screamed his name.
He turned toward her.
“I love you.”
Then the Golden Core awakened.
The portal swallowed him.
The memory shattered.
Arin saw Elara standing alone.
The portal had closed.
She was crying.
Then someone appeared behind her.
A man wearing a crown made of shadows.
The Shadow King.
He placed his hand on her shoulder.
“You failed.”
Elara turned.
“I saved him.”
“You condemned him.”
“He will return.”
The Shadow King laughed.
“When he returns, he will belong to me.”
Elara raised her hand.
Golden magic surrounded her.
“I will never let you have him.”
The vision ended.
Arin opened his eyes.
He was standing inside a dark castle.
Elara stood on a balcony.
Their eyes met.
She whispered,
“You came back.”
Arin's heart raced.
“Elara.”
She smiled through tears.
“I waited a thousand years.”
Arin stepped forward.
“Did you betray me?”
Her smile disappeared.
“No.”
“Then why did Kael say you did?”
“Because he needs you to hate me.”
“Why?”
“Because hatred awakens the Golden Core incorrectly.”
Arin frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“If you awaken through hatred, the Shadow King can control you.”
Arin looked toward the dark sky.
“Who is the Shadow King?”
Elara shook her head.
“He isn't the true enemy.”
Arin stared at her.
“Then who is?”
Before she could answer, a gigantic golden eye appeared behind the clouds.
The entire castle shook.
Elara grabbed Arin's hand.
“He found you.”
“Who?”
“The one who created the Shadow King.”
The sky split open.
A gigantic black hand reached through the clouds.
Elara pulled Arin toward the castle.
“Run!”
They raced through the corridors.
Behind them, the walls began collapsing.
They finally reached an ancient chamber.
At its center floated a crystal containing a golden flame.
Arin stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Your original Core.”
“My Core?”
“When you sealed the darkness a thousand years ago, your power was divided into seven layers.”
Arin stepped closer.
“This is one of them?”
Elara shook her head.
“This is the source.”
The crystal began glowing.
Arin reached toward it.
Elara grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
“If I touch it?”
“You'll remember everything.”
Arin looked at her.
“That is what I want.”
“You may not survive the memories.”
“I have to.”
He touched the crystal.
A massive wave of memories entered his mind.
His birth.
His childhood.
His training.
His coronation.
His first meeting with Elara.
His first battle.
His discovery of the Shadow Gate.
And then—
A secret.
Someone had opened the gate before Arin arrived.
Someone he trusted.
Arin saw the person standing before the Shadow Gate.
It was Kael.
But Kael was younger.
Beside him stood the Shadow King.
“You promised me the First Realm,” young Kael said.
“I promised you power.”
“And Arin?”
“He is the key.”
Kael looked toward the gate.
“And Elara?”
“She will never know.”
The memory shattered.
Arin pulled his hand away.
He fell to the floor.
Elara caught him.
“You remembered.”
Arin stared at her.
“Kael opened the gate.”
Elara nodded.
“He caused the war.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“He was watching us.”
“Who?”
“The Shadow King.”
A terrible roar shook the castle.
Kael suddenly appeared at the chamber entrance.
His sword was drawn.
“Arin!”
Arin looked at him.
For the first time, he didn't see the Guardian.
He saw the man from his memory.
The man who had opened the Shadow Gate.
Kael lowered his sword.
“You remember.”
“Yes.”
Arin's golden energy began surrounding him.
“You lied to me.”
Kael closed his eyes.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“To protect the realms.”
“You destroyed my kingdom.”
“I made a terrible choice.”
“And Elara?”
“She tried to stop me.”
Arin looked at Elara.
Kael continued.
“The darkness was already inside the First Realm. I believed sealing it was the only way to save the other realms.”
“Did you know I would die?”
Kael's voice became quiet.
“Yes.”
Arin's fists tightened.
“And you still did it.”
“I thought you would return.”
Elara stepped beside Arin.
“He didn't know how.”
Kael looked at her.
“I was wrong.”
The castle shook again.
A dark voice echoed across the sky.
“Enough.”
The golden eye above them opened completely.
The Shadow King appeared in the clouds.
“You have awakened the Heir.”
Arin looked up.
The Golden Core burned brighter.
The Shadow King smiled.
“But you still haven't awakened the seventh layer.”
Kael raised his sword.
“Arin, don't listen to him.”
The Shadow King laughed.
“You think Kael can protect you?”
He pointed toward the ancient sky.
“The Seven Realms are already falling.”
Arin looked upward.
Far beyond the castle, seven enormous cracks appeared across the sky.
The realms were beginning to collapse.
Elara looked at Arin.
“You must choose.”
“Choose what?”
“Power or people.”
Arin looked at the Golden Core.
Then at the broken sky.
He finally understood.
His true power wasn't simply awakening magic.
His greatest power was the ability to decide what magic became.
Arin raised his hand.
Golden light spread across the castle.
“I choose the people.”
The Golden Core answered.
A wave of golden energy shot into the sky.
The cracks stopped growing.
The Shadow King's smile disappeared.
“What have you done?”
Arin looked at him.
“I awakened the first layer.”
Kael stared.
“The first layer?”
Arin nodded.
“But this time, I awakened it by choice.”
The Golden Core pulsed again.
Seven symbols appeared across his chest.
One of them began glowing.
The second layer was awakening.
And somewhere beyond the Seven Realms, an ancient voice whispered:
“The Heir has begun to remember.”
The war had finally begun.
But Arin was no longer the lost boy who had entered the forest.
He was becoming something far more dangerous.
He was becoming the true Heir of the Seven Realms.
To be continued...
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD