Part I: The Shattered Continent
Morning in the Forest of Illusions had no clear beginning: light filtered through the treetops in an eternal golden twilight. The group had gathered around an ancient circular platform, carved from living roots and flowers that changed color with passing emotions.
Ayame turned to Yuri, wearing an enigmatic smile. "It's time for you to see what waits beyond the mists. You cannot choose whether to stay or move forward if you don't know the vastness of the shadow that surrounds us."
With an elegant gesture of her hand, she unfolded a silk fan before them. Suddenly, the fabric stretched like a canvas between two trees. On it, the image of a shattered world slowly appeared: ten continents, each with a different aura, as if each land breathed its own essence.
"This… is the map of the greatest continent, called Elaria. Once it was whole, but now it is broken by centuries of war, corruption, and thirst for domination. Nine fragments lie under the influence of the Primordial Brothers… and only one still resists."
Alexander, arms crossed and gaze fixed on the map, asked, "And the tenth continent?"
Ayame pointed to an area in the center, surrounded by a crown of mountains and rivers of crystal. "Thar'mor. The Heart of the World. The only one still intact. It is protected by the Dwarves… and by secrets that not even the Shadows have dared to violate."
Yuri stepped closer, her eyes full of questions. "And the other nine…?"
"They were once realms of balance. Now… each is prey to one of the nine distortions of the soul. Wrath. Envy. Lust. Greed. Fear. Pride. Gluttony. Sloth. Chaos."
Kayla clenched her jaw. "Signs of their presence. The Primordial Brothers. I knew they would return."
Alexander turned to her, silent. In his mind, the words of the Trial still haunted him. "Only those who recognize the hidden heart of Light can understand the meaning of Shadow." He looked at Yuri, unable to look away.
Ayame continued, her voice now more serious. "The war did not begin now. This is only the second echo. Centuries ago, it was the Light that tried to erase the Shadow. But the Shadow does not forget."
The silk faded like a vanishing dream. The platform remained suspended in silence.
Yuri swallowed, clutching her cloak tighter. "And I… where do I fit into all of this?"
Ayame bent down before her. "At the heart of chaos, you are the anomaly. And the prophecy… concerns you more than you realize."