Location: Outskirts of Farlane Forest, Near a Long-Sealed Shrine
The sky held a weight it did not before.A creeping overcast—neither storm nor shade—stretched across the horizon like bruises upon a dying day. The distant birds had grown quiet over the past few days. Only the rustling wind dared interrupt the silence that had begun to consume the old Farlane Forest's outskirts.
It was not far from one of Hidden Crown's minor outposts—a surveillance unit operated by a Shadow Commander named Kael Thorne, a hybrid elf from Division VI. The post was buried beneath an illusionary veil, cloaked in wind-forged foliage and subtle runic barriers crafted by Talia's assistants.
Kael stood on a ridge, sharp-eyed and unusually alert, listening.
There were whispers again—quiet and unshaped, barely distinguishable from the rustling of the leaves. But this time… there was something wrong. The mana density of the region had changed. Tainted threads were lacing the forest like veins, threading through the roots and trees like unnatural blood vessels.
He activated his Shadow Ears, a sensory technique borrowed from Yui Nocthollow's teachings, and knelt low.
Below him, in a depression of stone swallowed by moss and vines, something old stirred. It was once a shrine—a forgotten altar built by a pre-unification civilization that worshipped the "Unnamed Stars." Kael only knew of it because of one of the cursed tomes Sylvie had retrieved last week from the underground ruins of Avra.
"When blood once soaks where stars do weep, open the door that never sleeps…"
That was the final line of the page. The rest of the book had been blank until it came into contact with mana from a cursed lineage. Mira's touch had unlocked the remaining sections—descriptions, symbols, and maps that made little sense to anyone except perhaps Kieran.
Today, Kael had felt compelled to investigate that line again. And as he looked down at the worn altar stone—he realized something was different. Someone, or something, had disturbed it recently.
He descended in silence.
The moss curled back like it feared him. The wind had stilled. The surrounding trees arched inward, as if bowing toward the site, or perhaps recoiling from it.
The altar was cracked open—not from age, but from within. Its core was a hollow maw, roughly a meter wide, revealing a spiral staircase descending into darkness.
He didn't descend immediately. Instead, he activated his Crown Crest's link.
Kael (Shadow Commander – Division VI)::: Location—Farlane Forest Node 3. Situation—High Alert. Shrine classified 'Dormant' has awakened. Possible hidden scenario activated. Awaiting orders. ::
A soft pulse responded seconds later.And it was not from a Crown, but the System itself, linked through the crest.
System Authority Response::: Hidden Scenario [Oblivion Reaches Beyond Stone] has been located. Initiate protocol: Reconnaissance Only. Await Crown or Overlord authority for further engagement. ::
Kael's eyes narrowed.This was far beyond a coincidence.
Back at the Hidden Crown's HQ in Hidden Valley, Elira Virelle—the tactical leader—was already mobilizing intel teams. Beside her, Mira clutched one of her diaries, murmuring with unease. The diary pages had blackened at the edges—the sign of a cursed location awakening.
Elsewhere – Academy Dorms, Night
Kieran opened his eyes slowly.His clone—present in the academy—still sat in the reading hall, calmly turning the pages of a beginner-level spell theory tome. No one had yet suspected that the real Kieran had returned two weeks ago. In the silence of night, beneath the flickering lamplight, he processed the pulse of data flowing in through the System.
:: Scenario Triggered: Shrine of the Unnamed StarsEstimated Threat Level: S–Cultic Traces Detected: YesHidden Lore Status: Partially DecipherableAuthority Required: Hidden Crown Founder or All 15 Crowns Present ::
Kieran didn't move.But his eyes gleamed faintly under the hooded shadows of his figure. He wasn't surprised anymore by the world's layers—what disturbed him was the pace at which they were being peeled back.
The world wasn't just old—it was intentionally buried. And something—perhaps a forgotten Will, a sealed intelligence, or a force beyond comprehension—was trying to dig its way back out.
Shrine Interior (Partial Entry)
Kael had finally descended three steps. That was the safe limit. Even that had cost him a strange weight in his breath and a ringing in his ears.
The underground air was viscous with something unnameable. Carvings on the wall glimmered faintly—not with magic, but memory. They shimmered in a shifting script that bent away when one tried to read them directly.
On the fourth step, a voice whispered:
"You walk beneath the pact of silence, yet bring with you the mark of the Crown…"
Kael froze.
He didn't respond.He backed away slowly—like an animal from a deeper predator's breath.
When he reached the surface again, the altar sealed behind him. Not with stone, but with a low, humming pulse of something like runes—but organic, ever-changing.
:: Scenario Entry Registered. Countdown Initiated.47 Days until Shrine opens permanently. ::