The flickering glow of candlelight danced along the stone walls of the sanctum, casting elongated
shadows that seemed to move with a life of their own. Zerathis sat in quiet contemplation,
his fingers tracing the worn edges of an ancient tome that lay open before him. The words
etched upon its pages spoke of forgotten battles, of warriors lost to time, and of a history
that felt eerily familiar.
His conversation with High Priest Aedric had left him unsettled. There had been too many half-truths,
too many veiled warnings. He had always known he was different, but the way Aedric had spoken
hinted at something far greater, something deliberately hidden from him. A sudden knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Enter," he called, closing the book with a measured sigh.
A young acolyte stepped inside, bowing deeply. "High Priest Aedric summons you to the inner sanctum."
Zerathis frowned but nodded, rising from his seat. He had expected this.
The walk through the silent corridors felt heavier than usual. Priests whispered prayers under their
breath, their gazes lingering upon him for a fraction too long. It was as if they knew something
he did not.
Upon reaching the sanctum, he found Aedric waiting, flanked by two elder priests. The air was thick
with incense, and the golden light of the sacred flame illuminated the chamber.
"You seek answers, Zerathis," Aedric said, his voice calm yet unreadable. "And yet, answers often
come with a price."
Zerathis met the priest's gaze. "Then I am ready to pay it."
Aedric studied him for a long moment before gesturing toward the altar. "Then step forward, and
see for yourself what has long been hidden from you."
A sense of foreboding gripped him, but he did as he was told. As he placed his hands upon the
etched surface of the altar, a wave of energy pulsed through his body. Visions flashed before his
eyes-ancient battlefields, a woman clad in silver armor, her gaze fierce yet sorrowful. His pulse
raced as recognition struck him.
Selene Vaelcrest.
His mother.
The vision faded, leaving him breathless. He staggered back, his mind reeling.
"What... was that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"The beginning," Aedric said. "The beginning of your truth."
As the sacred flame flickered behind the high priest ,
Zerathis realized-his journey for answers had only just begun....