THE BLACKTHORN CODEX
Episode 25 — The Shadow Keeper
November 16, 2023 — 5:30 AM
The Codex vibrated faintly, as if to confirm their decision. The first journey would take them far from Marseille, across Europe, in the footsteps of the ritual masters and the still-active altars. But already, a shiver ran through their bodies: the knowledge of the ancients carried a latent danger, and each step toward the altars risked awakening forces far more powerful than anything they had faced so far.
And as they left the room, sunlight fell on the open Codex, casting shadows on the wall that already seemed to be spreading, announcing that their quest was only just beginning.
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The morning mist covered Marseille when Léandre and Clarisse left the city. The Codex was carefully packed in a reinforced bag, but its weight seemed heavier than ordinary books. Every vibration of the stone bridge reminded us that the First Altar continued to beat like a dull heart.
"The first node is in Spain, in a forgotten cloister," Leander murmured, his gaze fixed on the map traced by the Codex.
"And from what I sense… we won't be alone," Clarisse added.
The journey was silent, punctuated only by the rustling of pages and the residual whispers of the First Altar. Each word read seemed to activate something in the air, as if the Codex itself were preparing their encounter with ancient forces.
7:45 AM — Arrival near the Spanish Cloister
The cloister was shrouded in mist, its gray stone walls covered with ivy and moss. The arches seemed to breathe, and a thick silence hung over the place. Clarisse placed a hand on the wall, sensing a presence: something, or someone, was watching them from the shadows.
"We are not alone…" she repeated.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness. A humanoid, yet undefinable, shape floated above the ground. Its eyes were black wells, and its hands seemed to melt into the shadows. The Codex vibrated violently in Leander's hands, projecting luminous runes onto the walls.
"The guardian of the node…" Leander murmured. "It was activated by our arrival."
The creature moved forward, its movements fluid and silent, but each step seemed to cause waves of fear and disorientation. The stones around them shuddered, as if responding to the guardian's presence.
"We must pass without being destroyed," Leander said, clutching the Codex. "This is no ordinary enemy… this is a test."
Clarisse closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. The entity within her, though repulsed, still seethed, as if ready to seize the slightest weakness. She focused her will, and when she opened her eyes again, a green glow burst into her pupils.
The guardian stared at them, analyzing, sensing Clarisse's strength and the authority of the Codex. Then he bowed slightly, but not in submission. As if the test had just begun.
"We must move forward..." Leander murmured. "Stay close to me."
And as they entered the cloister, every shadow seemed to stretch, every stone to whisper, reminding them that the network of altars and their guardians was alive, and that with each step, they were getting closer to the heart of ancient knowledge... or to absolute danger.