The Authority of the Void – Fragment I
Chapter 1 – Whispers of the Forest
The wind drifted softly across the plains, carrying with it the faint echoes of a broken world.
Ryo had been walking for days — alone, without direction, yet guided by something he could not name.
It was not hope, nor duty… but the quiet pull of peace he had never known.
Before him stretched the endless forests of Enora — a vast ocean of green where ancient trees swayed like guardians of forgotten ages.
The air was different here: pure, gentle, alive.
Each breath seemed to carry a memory older than time.
> "Gabriel…" Ryo murmured.
"This place… it feels alive."
Gabriel's voice answered, calm and steady, echoing within his mind like a soft breeze.
> "It is not just a place, Ryo.
This is a sacred land. The Forest of Enora existed long before the kingdoms of men.
Even the wind here remembers."
Ryo closed his eyes.
He could hear the whispers of leaves, the distant songs of birds, and the heartbeat of the earth beneath his feet.
For the first time in years, his soul felt still.
> "Maybe peace hides in places like this," he said with a faint smile.
Gabriel's voice grew quieter, yet carried a strange warmth.
> "Peace never hides, Ryo.
It simply waits… until you're ready to see it."
As he ventured deeper, the ground began to glow faintly.
Ancient runes pulsed beneath the moss and roots, their light weaving patterns like veins of forgotten power.
Ryo knelt, tracing one with his fingertips.
> "These markings… they look like those of the Void, but older."
A sudden tremor passed through the forest.
The air thickened.
And before Ryo could react, his next step crossed an unseen threshold.
A wave of energy rippled outward.
The trees shuddered.
Birds scattered into the sky, and silence fell once more.
The very light of day seemed to change — denser, golden, almost divine.
> "Gabriel… what was that?"
> "A barrier," the voice replied, calm yet distant.
"You've entered a forgotten domain — one even the gods no longer dare to name… the Realm of Dragons."
Ryo stood motionless.
The forest around him felt alive, vast, infinite.
Then, from somewhere beyond the mountains, a roar thundered — ancient, heavy, and filled with power.
He looked up at the sky.
And for the first time, he understood — his journey had only just begun.
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Chapter Summary
After leaving the village, Ryo travels through the vast Forest of Enora.
Guided by Gabriel's calm voice, he discovers a place of ancient tranquility and hidden power.
But without realizing it, he crosses the barrier protecting the long-forgotten Realm of Dragons.