The house had long been abandoned by light. Its walls cracked like memories silenced by time. In the deepest corner of the dusty living room, where the window allowed the night wind to enter without permission, two bodies lay in a weariness that belonged not just to flesh, but to the soul.
Elena took a slow breath, her palm tracing the scars on Kael Juno's chest—wounds not of the body, but ancient symbols of betrayal, remnants of the schism that shattered Arkanum Veritas into shards of dead names. She felt her heartbeat quicken, the mix of fear and hope nearly suffocating her.
"Do you remember what we fought for back then?" she whispered, her voice trembling softly yet sharply, not merely a question, but more like a spell to keep the spirit alive. Her gaze met Kael's, and in that moment, all the bitter memories whirled between them.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside the house, a heavy sound that unsettled them, and Elena sensed a thick tension enveloping them. In an instant, she shifted her hand in front of Kael's face, signaling him to be silent. "We don't have much time," she said quietly, her voice laced with anxiety. They both fell silent, listening to the approaching footsteps, their hearts thumping loudly, anticipating the worst.
Kael turned, his face still bearing the remnants of the idealistic youth from a decade ago, but now his gaze was filled with weariness and skepticism, as if every word Elena spoke was a burden too heavy to bear. "I remember too much. And all those memories make me afraid to hope again," he said, his voice dark and bitter, hinting at the frustration lurking beneath the surface. He bit his lower lip, creating a subtle crease between his brows. A shadow moved beyond the window, and without warning, Elena quickly pulled Kael into a darker area of the room, avoiding the light that could expose their presence.
With bated breath, she whispered, "They won't stop looking for you, Kael. We have to hurry!" The tension between them escalated, matched by the sound of footsteps growing closer. His thoughts drifted to the larger conflict, how the nobles of Gaia would destroy them if they were even a moment late. This hiding was merely the first step, and what would happen next would determine the fate of both them and everyone in Arkanum Veritas.
Elena sat down slowly, pulling a thin blanket that was more symbolic than functional around her. She felt the weight of reality pressing down on her chest. Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps jolted her instincts awake. She held her breath, sensing the tension in the air around her. "But if we don't awaken it again, who will? You know the nobles of Gaia are manipulating the law. Fitran has vanished. And all the voices in this world are starting to sound like lies," her voice grew more urgent, each word striking her racing heart as anxiety and anger swelled within her. In the silence accompanying her words, Elena felt a nearly invisible threat approaching. Moments later, the door beside her was kicked in, and two helmeted figures with weapons raised stormed in. They appeared more like predators of the night stalking their prey than heroes fighting for justice.
Kael observed everything with caution, his mind quickly devising a strategy. With only a moment to spare, he shook his head and took a protective stance in front of Elena. He rushed forward, throwing a direct punch at one of the attackers, while the other approached him with a drawn weapon. "Don't!" he shouted, "We have to leave now!" The expression on his face reflected an intense inner struggle, caught between a hope that refused to die and a frightening reality. He averted his gaze, as if fearing that looking directly into Elena's eyes would shatter the emotional walls he had built over time. They exchanged looks, realizing that the fiery feelings between them could not be extinguished, even amidst the tension that surrounded them.
"I believe in what we once tried to build," Elena replied, her voice trembling yet firm, as if each word that escaped her lips was a fragment of a heart laden with wounds. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes, usually brimming with hope, were now filled with longing and uncertainty. "It's not just an organization. It's an idea. A space where truth is not controlled by crowns or swords, but by hearts that do not yield, hearts entangled in injustice."
However, outside the room, the sound of approaching footsteps resonated like an unavoidable threat. Elena glanced briefly, sensing the tension in the air as a dark shadow passed by the window. "We need to hurry," Kael whispered in a low voice, his eyes glinting with vigilance.
The silence pressed heavily on the atmosphere once more. Outside, the wind rustled through dry branches, creating a sound reminiscent of an old clock impatiently awaiting the next calamity. Elena could feel the weight of each tick, as if they were urging her to take action.
Suddenly, the creaking of a door opening sent their hearts racing. Kael pulled Elena back, shielding them from the gaze of anyone who might be peering in. In the darkness, they listened intently as the footsteps grew closer, threatening to reveal their hidden presence. Without hesitation, Kael steeled himself, preparing his plan to navigate through the perilous and shadowy path ahead.
Kael reached out, touching Elena's face, a symbol of his desire to hold onto the meaningful moments of their past. However, as his fingers brushed over her cheek, a depth of sorrow welled up in his eyes. "We are no longer the same people, Lena," he said, his voice hollow, as though he were speaking to the ghost of the person he once was.
"But this world is no longer the same," he replied, his tone rising with the surge of emotions pressing against his chest. "And because of that, we are needed again. Not as saviors, but as remnants that refuse to fade away, like a dim light that still radiates a glow." In that tension, they heard the distant sound of screams from outside, reflecting the political chaos that loomed over them. Every second felt precious as they were forced to choose between saving themselves or fighting for something greater.
They kissed not out of love, but from a deep and bittersweet understanding, layered with thick tension in the air. Their bodies merged in silence, a testament that amidst destruction, only the courage to keep believing remained; a flicker of hope in the midst of the suffocating darkness. Yet, as they gazed into each other's eyes, that peace was suddenly threatened by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching, interrupting their intimate moment. Kael straightened up, feeling the thrum of his heartbeat, while Elena expressed the same tension. That night, it was not only love that bound them, but also the shadows of danger hanging overhead.
"We have to go," Kael whispered, his soft voice laced with urgency. He took Elena's hand, signaling her to move. They stepped cautiously, trying to distance themselves from the sound, but the tension grew stronger as the foreign footsteps drew nearer. Their bodies slipped through the shadows, striving to remain out of reach from the figures searching for them. In this escape, they felt the complexity of the fate that bound them to both darkness and the same hope, fighting for survival while suppressing the burning desire within them.
And on the floor of that old house, amidst the cracks in the wood and the muffled voices of the past, a new seed of Arkanum Veritas was planted again—not in the earth, but in the hearts of two individuals who understood that the truest hope is born in desperation, even if it meant burying many shattered dreams to ignite a new hope. As the threatening actions approached, Kael felt tension in his neck, as if a delicate web formed each time they found themselves ensnared in a deep mutual trust. Raul, the ambitious leader of the gang, had picked up their trail and was preparing to confront Arkanum Veritas—a political conflict that would ignite fierce battles between ideas and power.
"Elena," Kael said slowly, still enveloped in the cold embrace of the night and the silence of the aging house, "are you truly sure you want to open that?"
"If we don't use it now, then that right will be buried forever."
He stood up, reaching for a small metallic box hidden behind the false wall at the back of the fireplace—a mysterious legacy concealed since the founding era of Arkanum Veritas. The box, sealed by blood oaths and ancient contracts written with ink made from shimmering gold and the founders' tears who once fought for justice, now rested in his hands, carrying the weight of a long history.
Inside was a copy right—a valuable document and legal glyph affirming Arkanum Veritas's status as equal to the Kingdom of Gaia, at least within ancient doctrine. This document was created as a power balance, a 'fourth pillar' entering the arena beyond the power of nobility, the church, and the people. However, after the Silencio Pact was forcibly implemented three decades ago, that right sank into darkness, erased from the timeline of history, while its owners were hunted and silenced in the shadows of fear.
Kael observed the glyph, its faint reflection in the moonlight creating an illusion of life within the symbols. A creaking sound disturbed the silence of the night, causing him to momentarily awaken, sensing something lurking in the darkness. "If we activate this... Gaia will call it rebellion," he murmured, emphasizing the perilous step they were about to take.
"It's not rebellion," Elena replied firmly, her face conveying a strengthened conviction. "This is a constitutional demand. We will appear not as bearers of weapons, but as the rightful heirs of a system they have destroyed." As she spoke, Kael caught a fleeting shadow moving among the trees. His heart raced; they were not alone.
Kael closed his eyes briefly, seeking calm amidst his anxiety. "They killed five of their own leaders, Lena. And they accuse anyone who dares to speak out as the mastermind behind it all. If we reveal ourselves..."
With a sudden calmness, Elena glanced toward the source of the sound. Someone was approaching, clad in a black robe that obscured their face. "We need to go now!" exclaimed Kael, grabbing Elena's arm and stepping back toward the shadows of the trees. They tried to conceal themselves, sinking into the darkness as the figure drew nearer.
"We don't need to reveal ourselves. Let the old name speak for us," Elena replied with a faint smile that hinted at hope. "Arkanum Veritas doesn't need a face. What's needed is the documented truth, ready to be unveiled."
However, as they spoke, heavy footsteps echoed closer down the hallway. Kael and Elena exchanged worried glances, tension coursing between them. "They're starting to suspect us," Kael whispered urgently. Quickly, they shifted to the side of the room, hiding behind a pile of ancient books that was nearly collapsing. Their hearts raced as a shadow moved along the narrow path in front of them, a bright spotlight threatening to reveal their position.
He pointed to the bottom of the document adorned with a triple-sealed emblem, a mark of authority that could only be activated by two voices—the holder of the old code and the successor of the pact. Elena, with her latent strength and confidence, was one of them. Kael, despite his heavy heart, was the other. "If we don't move now, all of this will be for nothing," Elena asserted, her breath hitching with tension. "We have to take the risk. This is not just about us; the whole system is at stake." Kael felt the same urge in his heart, even as cold sweat trickled down his back.
With intense focus, they sat cross-legged on the cold, hard floor, placing their palms over the glowing glyph. Instantly, a soft light began to glow, flickering like a flame awakening from a long slumber, casting playful beams across the corners of the room. The glyph resonated—not through sound, but as ideas slowly intertwined with the legal fabric of the old world: the dark and mysterious underground library, the arcane notaries guarding secrets, the grand royal archives, even infiltrating the active magic-lawmind system within the palace of Gaia.
Suddenly, the door to the room in front of them had to be opened. They exchanged glances, their hearts racing uncontrollably. A soldier armed with a weapon appeared, staring directly at them. With agility, Kael jumped, pushing Elena aside, and used the momentum to ambush the man, driving his knee straight into the opponent's stomach. The soldier fell, but the sound of commotion began to echo outside the room, signaling that their presence had been detected. "We must move quickly!" Kael shouted, pulling Elena to hide as another threat approached.
A name echoed, rising from the darkness of its tomb, piercing the silence surrounding them.
Arkanum Veritas: Codex Reclaimare.
And in the silence of the old house, two shadows began to rewrite history—with ink sharper than a sword and quieter than death. Outside, footsteps approached, disrupting the stillness and escalating the tension. Elena looked at Kael with anxiety, sensing the looming threat as if enemies lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Kael moved his fingers, gesturing towards the half-open door. "We need to move. They're almost here." His whisper echoed in the tense night, reminding Elena of the danger they were in. Quickly, they crouched and began stepping towards the basement, avoiding the moonlight that illuminated the slippery path.
With each heartbeat, the tension escalated, and Elena felt adrenaline pumping through her veins. Armed men, breaking the silence of the night, had picked up their trail. A voice echoed from behind, shaking their resolve. "Don't let them escape!" shouted one of them, and the rustling of weapons added to the assault in the calm night.
Elena grabbed Kael's arm. "What should we do?" she asked, her voice reflecting a mix of panic and courage. Kael looked into Elena's eyes with conviction, "We face them, or we will lose more than just our lives." With renewed determination, they prepared to confront the approaching enemy, united in their purpose and the tension binding their hearts. As they readied themselves, the awareness of the political conflict threatening their kingdom added weight to each step they took, further strengthening their resolve to survive.
Suddenly, Kael stopped in his tracks.
"You go ahead; I will find you later. You must deliver the message to everyone," Kael said.
Elena paused for a moment, then quickly turned her face away from Kael before running off, her steps filled with confusion and anxiety.
"It should be far enough," Kael murmured.
The soldiers were already upon Kael, brandishing their spears. Kael could only manage a slight smile.
"From the slightest tremor, emptiness is born."
"Echo of Despair .......
"Level 1 – Whisper of Emptiness ....
The pursuing soldiers began to sense the emptiness. They lost interest in trivial matters: food tasted bland, voices sounded distant, and everything felt insignificant.
It was as if a dark curtain had descended over their minds, while an unsettling feeling seeped into their hearts. Some of them began to moan unconsciously, scratching their heads as if trying to drive away something unseen. The figures around them appeared hazy, familiar faces now felt foreign, as if they were living in a never-ending dream.
Among the soldiers, a man named Eirik felt his fingers tremble. As he grasped his sword, he sensed a strange energy that made him think the weapon was too heavy a burden to carry. His heart began to slow, and the voices of his comrades battling alongside him sounded like echoes piercing through the darkness. "Why are we fighting?" he whispered to himself, feeling powerless.
Suddenly, a soldier stepped forward, his eyes empty and aimless. "Kael is not worth chasing," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. The friends around him tried to rekindle the fighting spirit, but even their cries sounded like a fading rhythm. Some began to walk backward, as if retreating from reality and their purpose.
The faces that once radiated enthusiasm now appeared dull, like colors fading from a painting. They were all affected by the dark magic enveloping the battlefield, making everything feel overwhelmingly tedious. Foolishness seemed to wrap around them, obscuring the memories of pride and honor that had once existed within them.
As the veil of magic thickened, the entire army began to lose its way. Some sat on the ground, closing their eyes as if trying to find solace in silence. "What does it all mean?" one soldier sobbed, asking the wind that provided no answer. A sense of emptiness seeped deeper, destroying the remaining hopes in their hearts.
With each passing second, that emptiness tightened its grip, and the soldiers began to realize they were not only losing their purpose but their very selves. Hope appeared as a shadow, continuously fleeing from them, while they found themselves ensnared in the spiritual scars left by Kael's malevolent magic.
" Level 2 – Hollow Echo .....
Beautiful memories turned bitter. The voices of their loved ones morphed into painful echoes. Their thoughts began to question the purpose of life, feeling unworthy of achieving it. In the thick silence of the night, a soldier named Ardi sensed an unbearable weight. Each step towards home felt increasingly heavy, as if the ground beneath him were pulling him into an abyss of sorrow.
Ardi recalled the peaceful times before all of this, when he laughed with friends, sharing dreams and hopes. But now, all of that was gone, replaced by dark memories. The rhythm of his heartbeat became irregular, and dark thoughts began to creep into his mind. He felt as if he were teetering on the edge of a chasm, and each time he looked down, all he saw was darkness.
"Am I still worthy of life?" he whispered to himself. The voice in his heart grew louder, demanding an answer to a question he never wanted to ask. Each day, Ardi fought against the gnawing emptiness. He began to imagine how easy it would be to end all this pain, how relieved he would feel if all these trials could just stop in an instant.
In that desperate state, he found himself contemplating the quickest way to end his suffering. Perhaps an eternal farewell could erase the painful memories. The deeper he sank into his thoughts, the clearer it became that he felt utterly alone. The encouraging voices that once inspired him now turned into doubts that gnawed at his soul.
However, amidst the darkness, there is a glimmer of hope. As Ardi is swept away by his emotions, he recognizes the gentle voice of a friend who had once provided encouragement during difficult times. Memories of friendship and love begin to pierce through the dense fog that envelops his mind. Although pain still lingers, Ardi starts to realize that there are people who care for him and that there are ways to rise from despair.
He diverts his attention, recalling the precious moments he has experienced. Slowly, he gathers the courage to share his feelings, seek help, and open himself up to receive love from those around him. Ardi moves forward, steadily yet surely, understanding that hope, even when dim, can still be found in strong connections with others.
In his winding journey through life, Ardi begins to comprehend that pain is not the end of everything. With each step, he walks the path toward recovery, promising himself not only to endure but also to live with a deeper purpose and meaning.
"Level 3 – Dirge of the Void .....
All the soldiers lay on the ground, unable to move, as if struck by a storm of emptiness that solidified around them. Their minds were paralyzed, trapped in the darkness of the horrific magic; although they survived, they would be permanently disabled. To activate this third level, the target must first be affected by Echo of Despair level 1 and level 2. At this stage, the victims lose all control—they cannot move, speak, or even breathe consciously, becoming mere soulless bodies. In extreme moments, they may be forced to plead for death, as the emptiness that shatters their very souls is far more painful than dying.
Kael, with a sharp and determined gaze, grasped one of the spears lying on the ground, glinting in the dim light. In the chilling silence, he raised the spear with steady hands, and with a heart filled with hatred, he plunged its tip into the hearts of the fallen, helpless soldiers around him. The sharp sound of metal meeting flesh and bone echoed, expressing the pent-up fury of nature.
"If only this magic could reach that person ....
Individuals with a strong sense of purpose or a solid soul contract are like unyielding fortresses amidst a storm, capable of resisting the effects of the echo of despair. They stand firm, surrounded by the swirling currents of hatred, as if the positive aura they emanate creates an invisible shield that protects them.
"That damm Paladin ....