Kael led Allocen through the winding streets until they reached the place where he had seen the wall shift the night before.
"This is it," Kael whispered, pointing at the smooth stone surface. "I swear it was here."
Allocen pressed his palm against the rock, letting his magic flow across it. "Are you sure? Nothing feels unusual… no cracks, no hollow chambers."
"I know what I saw," Kael insisted, running his hands over the wall. "The messenger knocked, and it just opened."
Allocen narrowed his eyes. "No words, no incantation?"
Kael shook his head. "Just his fist."
Allocen exhaled, then raised his hand. Stone spikes erupted along the wall, but one patch of rock remained stubbornly untouched. His expression sharpened. "Interesting. My magic works on every part of this wall... except here."
Kael leaned closer. "Why?"
"Because this isn't natural stone," Allocen muttered. "It's forged with magic."
He summoned his golem, a hulking shape of dirt and earth. At his command, the creature slammed its fist into the wall. The stone cracked, splintering apart. As the dust cleared, a tunnel stretched before them, dark and silent.
Kael's eyes lit with excitement. "There it is!" Without hesitation, he rushed inside.
Allocen followed, sealing the entrance behind them with a fresh wall of rock.
Kael glanced at him. "Why close it?"
"So no one follows," Allocen replied calmly, walking ahead.
The tunnel was long and oppressive, the air thick with dust. Soon, the natural rock gave way to smooth black obsidian, its polished surface glimmering faintly in the torchlight Kael carried. Neither of them noticed at first, but this was the same obsidian used in the chambers of the Seven Sages.
Minutes passed. Their footsteps echoed. Finally, faint voices drifted toward them.
Allocen raised his hand sharply, halting Kael. "Voices. Quiet."
They crept forward, until a glow of firelight revealed a wide chamber ahead. Cloaked figures stood in a circle. Most wore black hoods, but one figure stood bareheaded, ancient wrinkles etched deep across his face.
Kael's breath caught. "That's… him. The old man from the hospital."
Allocen's eyes flicked between the figures. Each one radiated power, their presence suffocating. These were no ordinary elders.
The bareheaded man spoke, his voice carrying a grave weight. "So, Hiero. Have you decided?"
The old man, Hiero, hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. The day you granted me was enough to make my choice. I am ready."
"Few are given that luxury," another cloaked voice rasped.
"Bring me the body of the death sage!" the first elder commanded.
Two of the sages stepped forward, carrying a frail, lifeless body. They laid it between Hiero and the circle.
The ritual began. The corpse fractured into countless shards of stone-like fragments, each piece glowing as it pierced into Hiero's body. He convulsed, skin tearing, blood spilling, yet he did not die. His flesh knit back together, new skin stretching over his frame. When it was done, he looked ten years younger.
Allocen and Kael could barely breathe.
The old man stood tall, his voice steady and deep. "It is done."
"Welcome back, Lord of Stones," the Sages intoned together.
Kael whispered, horrified, "What in the hells did we just see…?"
Allocen's sharp gaze scanned the room. Something gnawed at him. 'Where's the messenger?'
His instincts flared. He turned, Kael did the same, but it was too late.
"Looks like I found you."
The messenger stood behind them, hands glowing with earthen power. With a violent gesture, he hurled them forward into the chamber. They crashed onto the obsidian floor. The circle of Sages erupted in alarm.
"Intruders!" one cried.
"Deal with them, Jarko," commanded the bareheaded Sage.
The messenger, Jarko, grinned. "Gladly." He hurled jagged stone shards. Smoke filled the chamber as the projectiles struck.
When it cleared, Allocen's golem stood shielded in front of them.
"Oh?" Jarko tilted his head mockingly. "Another one with earth magic? But yours is dirt… pathetic. You can't control the obsidian here."
He slammed his fist against the wall. A massive obsidian hand burst forth, seizing Allocen's golem in its crushing grip.
Kael reacted instantly, his magic wrapping around the stone hand, locking it in place.
Jarko's eyes widened. 'That power… could it be him?'
He flung a shard toward Kael, striking his arm. Kael cried out, collapsing to the floor, blood seeping through his sleeve.
"One down," Jarko sneered, turning toward Allocen. "Your turn."
The obsidian hand swung toward him with brutal force.
Allocen grit his teeth, freeing his golem just in time. It lunged at Jarko, trading blow for blow, but the obsidian hand smashed it aside. The golem fell to one knee, barely holding together.
Allocen's eyes narrowed. Then it has to be this.
'Guess I have to use it...' Allocen watched behind, Kael was not seeing anything, he was unconsciousness, the seven sages? they were too scared to see.
"Acotinium profondium!" Spikes erupted from the ground, half brown, half black.
Jarko landed lightly, understanding what they were doing, he smirked. "Obvious. If I hadn't noticed, I'd be drained already. Clever, but not clever enough."
He pushed the obsidian hand forward again, faster this time.
Allocen didn't move. He stayed still, watching Kael unconscious behind him.
Because there were spikes under Jarko's feet too, but they were completely black, you could not tell the difference with the terrain.
The spikes under Jarko's feet pulsed faintly. The ones he had seen were just bait, there were more, hidden, their black sheen blending perfectly with the obsidian floor.
Jarko faltered, energy draining from his limbs. "W-what…?" He dropped to one knee, the obsidian hand weakening, then dissolving completely.
Allocen's trap had worked.
"Arghhh!" Jarko roared in fury before collapsing.
"Enough!" the bareheaded Sage's voice thundered, silencing the chamber.
Allocen steadied Kael as he stirred awake, groaning.
"Why are you here?" the Sage demanded, his gaze piercing through them.
Kael, still weak, lifted his head. "We… we followed the old man. We wanted answers." He pointed at Hiero. "Him."
The rejuvenated Sage stepped forward. His eyes, now burning with unnatural life, locked on Kael. "The Hiero you knew is gone. I am no longer that man."
The bareheaded Sage, the Keeper of Silence, exhaled heavily, his expression grave. "Then perhaps it is time. You've seen enough. You deserve the truth."
He gestured for the others to stand down. Slowly, he lowered himself to the floor.
"Sit," he told them, his voice carrying both command and weariness. "I will tell you everything… starting with how Therya was truly created."