The three spent two full days traveling eastward, leaving behind the lands of Teralith and crossing vast plains where tall grasses swayed with the wind. The sky remained clear most of the time, and the weather was pleasant, as if the world itself was easing their journey.
By the end of the second day, the scenery began to change. The flat plains gradually rose, giving way to rolling hills on the horizon, topped with tall trees adorned with glowing silver leaves—relatives of the trees they had seen in the Waving Forest, though these were smaller and less luminous.
"We're nearing the borders of the Lost Valley," announced Limon as he studied a small map given to him by Nayari before their departure. "The valley is the only passage leading to Mount Sierra, but it's dangerous."
"Dangerous how?" Selene asked, raising her eyebrows in concern.
"According to the map, the Lost Valley is known for a strange phenomenon—time within it is unstable. People enter and exit at times different from what they expect. Some go in and come out minutes later, only to find days have passed in the outside world. Others spend what feels like days in the valley, only to emerge and discover that mere hours have gone by."
"This must be related to the fractures in reality Cairn spoke of," murmured Aliana, her fingers brushing the black crystal thoughtfully. "If time is unstable, the valley might be one of the locations affected by the reshaping of the world."
As the sun set, they set up camp on the slope of one of the hills, deciding to remain outside the Lost Valley until morning when they would have enough daylight to cross it safely.
It was a quiet night, with a star-studded sky and unusually warm air. They lit a small fire and sat around it, sharing the provisions Nayari had given them before their departure.
"Aliana," Selene began, looking at her friend through the flickering flames, "you told us about being bearers of the crystals in the old world, but you never explained… how did it all begin? How did you first meet Cairn?"
Aliana sighed, her gaze distant as she delved into her memories. "It was five years ago… I was working in the Archive of Memories in Edolith. It was a secret place where manuscripts and books about the ancient ages, before the Era of Forgetting, were preserved. I was a curious researcher, trying to uncover the mysteries of the past."
She paused for a moment, the memories now clearer in her mind. "One day, I found someone in the secret archive—a strange young man, confused, unable to recall how he had gotten there. It was Cairn. He had just escaped from his cell after discovering his ability to steal memories."
"Steal memories?" Limon asked curiously. "How does that work?"
"With a single touch, he could take others' memories. Every memory he took granted him something—new knowledge, a new skill, a new language. But the cost was… a blurring of his identity, losing parts of himself with every memory he stole."
"My God…" Selene whispered. "That's… both horrifying and incredible."
Aliana nodded. "At that time, Cairn didn't know who he was or where he came from. All he knew was that he had awakened in a cell and that there was a voice speaking to him from within—a voice of the Eternal Shadow. We later learned it was… his father, in a way."
"And how did you get involved in all of this?" Limon asked.
"I decided to help him. I was always curious about the secrets of Edolith and the world, and Cairn embodied all the mysteries I had ever dreamed of exploring." Aliana smiled sadly. "We fled together and found our way to Old Edolith, the hidden city beneath the Edolith we know. And there… we met Serena, the Keeper of Records."
"And what did you discover?"
"We discovered… the truth. The truth about Cairn, the world, and the Era of Forgetting. We learned that Cairn was the son of the Eternal Shadow and the Bearer of the Light Crystal, Mira. And that he himself was the key to reshaping reality." Aliana stared into the fire with focus. "There was war… and darkness… and then Cairn did the impossible—he fully merged with the Eternal Shadow and reshaped the world, creating the fragile balance we live in now."
A long silence followed, each of them lost in thought. Limon stared into the fire as though trying hard to recall something. Selene looked at her hands, studying them with a strange expression.
"And after that… he made this crystal and gave it to you?" Limon finally asked, gesturing toward the black crystal resting on Aliana's chest.
"Yes. He said it was a part of him, a piece he left with me so I could remember and restore balance when the world needed it."
"And that's why you believe he plans to return?" Selene asked. "Because he gave you a way to remember?"
"Not just because of that…" Aliana hesitated, then decided to share. "After reshaping the world, in the past three months… I've been seeing him in my dreams. I've heard him speaking to me. At first, I thought they were just dreams, memories my mind was fabricating to make sense of my longing for him. But after that encounter with the Echo of the Shadow… after seeing his face in the crystal… I now know they were real. He was reaching out to me, guiding me, preparing me."
"But why is he trapped in… what you called the limbo between worlds?" Limon asked.
"Because that was the price of reshaping reality. He had to become a bridge between worlds, a guardian of balance, to prevent everything from collapsing. But I believe… I believe that if we restore true balance, if we mend the fractures in the fabric of reality, he can return."
Silence fell once more before Selene asked, "And what was my role in all of this? You said I was the Bearer of the Crystal of Love?"
Aliana smiled warmly. "Yes. We met you in the City of Sorrow, Iranil. You were there searching for your own answers and joined us. The Crystal of Love gave you unique abilities—the ability to see the bonds between people, to heal broken hearts. You were… you were the unifying force of the group."
"And me?" Limon asked.
"You were with us almost from the beginning. You were a warrior in the Edolith Guard, but you chose to join us, to protect us. Later, you bore the Crystal of Pain, which gave you incredible resilience to endure pain and the ability to wield the power of pain itself as a weapon."
Limon appeared thoughtful for a moment. "That… explains some of the dreams I've had. And the scattered memories."
"And were we…" Selene began, a bit hesitant, "were we… close? You and I?"
Aliana smiled gently. "We were sisters in every sense of the word, even though we shared no blood. You were always by my side, supporting me, understanding me. You were the best friend I could have ever hoped for."
At these words, a genuine smile spread across Selene's face. "That… feels right. Even now, though I don't remember… I feel like I've known you for a very long time, much longer than the two years my current memories say we've known each other."
"And what about the others?" Limon asked. "Nayari, Sariel, Icarus, and Marissa?" "Nayari was the bearer of the Dream Crystal, as she is now. Sariel was a young man we met at the Temple of Pain; he became the bearer of the Knowledge Crystal. Icarus was a young scientist from the City of Fear; he became the bearer of the Fear Crystal. And Marissa…" Alyana paused briefly, "Marissa was a warrior from the Broken Mirror, a secret organization that opposed the Guardians. She joined us later and became the bearer of the Darkness Crystal."
"And where are they now?"
Alyana sighed. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. In this reshaped world, they could be anywhere, and they might not remember anything about the past, just like the two of you. But I hope… I hope we'll find them on our journey."
Celine suddenly yawned, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry, but all of this… it's a lot to take in."
Lemon nodded. "We all need to rest. Tomorrow, we'll enter the Lost Valley, and we'll need all our strength."
"I'll take the first watch," Lemon volunteered. "Then I'll wake you up in a few hours, Alyana."
As Celine lay down to sleep, Lemon kept watch over the surroundings, while Alyana remained seated, staring into the fire, lost in thought. After a few minutes of silence, Lemon spoke softly, careful not to disturb Celine.
"Alyana… there's something you haven't told us."
She looked up at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Celine and I… we've asked about ourselves and about the others. But you haven't told us about yourself. What's your role? Which crystal did you bear before the Eighth Crystal?"
Alyana gave a sad smile. "I wondered when you'd notice that." She paused for a moment. "The truth is… I wasn't a bearer of any crystal at first. I was just a curious researcher, accompanying Cairn on his journey. I was important because of my ability to read memory patterns, to see through lies and uncover truths. But I didn't have a crystal."
"Then how did you become the bearer of the Eighth Crystal?"
"That happened after the merging, after the world was reshaped. Cairn… he needed someone to remember, someone to maintain balance after his departure. And he chose me."
"Why you?" Lemon asked, not in a harsh way, but with genuine curiosity.
Alyana hesitated, but finally decided to reveal the truth. "Because we… because we were more than just traveling companions. We were…" She stopped, unable to finish.
"You loved each other," Lemon completed quietly.
Alyana nodded silently. "Yes. And that made his departure all the more painful. He gave me the ability to remember, but he left me to carry the weight of those memories alone."
"That's why you're so determined to find a way to bring him back."
"Yes. But it's not just because of my personal feelings." Alyana looked up at the stars above them. "Cairn is the true balance. Even the Eighth Crystal is only a part of him. The world needs him, especially now, with these new threats emerging."
"We'll find him," Lemon said with quiet confidence. "I don't fully remember the past yet, but I know myself. If I vowed to protect you both in the old world, I'll do it again. We'll reach the City of Light, resolve the issue with the crystal there, and continue searching until we find him."
Alyana smiled, deeply grateful. "Thank you, Lemon."
"Now, try to get some sleep. I'll wake you later for your watch."
At the first light of dawn, the three of them had awakened, eaten a light meal, and prepared to enter the Lost Valley.
"Remember," Alyana said as she strapped her bag onto her horse's back, "time is unstable there. Stay together, and don't let any of us get separated from the group, no matter what happens."
"Do you think the valley itself poses a danger to us?" Celine asked anxiously.
"I don't think it's dangerous in itself, but it's unstable. Time stretches and contracts there. We might see… strange things."
Lemon observed the valley's entrance—a narrow passage between two small mountains, opening into a wide expanse shrouded in a faint, silvery mist. "Do we lead the horses through, or leave them here?"
Alyana thought for a moment. "We'll take them with us. We might need them for fast travel if we encounter any problems. But we'll lead them rather than ride them. We don't want them bolting because of something strange they see."
And so, they led the horses toward the entrance of the Lost Valley. With every step closer to the silvery mist, the black crystal on Alyana's chest grew warmer, as if alerting her to something.
As they crossed the threshold and entered the valley, the world around them subtly but unmistakably changed. The light was different—softer, more diffused, as if it came from everywhere and nowhere at once. Sounds seemed deeper, resonating strangely, and the air itself felt denser, with a faint metallic taste.
"Do you feel that?" Celine whispered, her eyes widening as she looked around.
"Yes," Lemon replied, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as a precaution. "The place feels… out of time."
Alyana didn't speak. She was focused on the black crystal, which now pulsed with a steady rhythm, like a small heartbeat. There was something about this place… something familiar.
"Let's keep moving," she said at last. "We'll cross the valley as quickly as we can."
They began their journey through the misty valley. The path was clear enough to navigate despite the fog, winding through a wide expanse surrounded by medium-sized mountains on either side. Scattered here and there were strange trees—trees with silvery trunks and nearly invisible, translucent leaves that shimmered faintly in the diffused light.
As they ventured deeper, they began to notice strange phenomena. There were… ripples in the air, as if reality itself were wavering like the surface of a pond disturbed by a stone. Within some of these ripples, they could see fleeting images—people passing by, objects moving—but at different speeds, some incredibly slow, others impossibly fast.
"Are these… fractures in time?" Celine asked, pointing to one of the ripples.
"I think so," Alyana replied. "They're glimpses of different times, overlapping with our own. Like… memories of the place itself."
Lemon watched intently. "I see… I see people… travelers like us. Some of them seem to be from entirely different eras."
The further they delved into the valley, the more pronounced and frequent the ripples became. They could now see entire scenes—groups of travelers, caravans, even ancient battles—all occurring in the same space but in different times, layered over one another like transparent veils.
Suddenly, Alyana stopped, her eyes fixed on a large ripple directly ahead of them.
"What is it?" Lemon asked, concerned.
"It's… it's Cairn," Alyana whispered, her voice trembling.
And indeed, within the ripple before them, there was a clear figure—a young man walking through the valley, alone, his head bowed in deep thought. He looked exactly like the Cairn Alyana had known, before his complete merging with the Eternal Shadow.
"Is he… real?" Celine asked in a hushed voice.
"I don't think so," Alyana replied. "I think he's… a memory. A memory from another time, when Cairn passed through this valley."
As if to confirm her words, the Cairn in the vision reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black crystal, identical to the one Alyana carried. He gazed at it for a long moment before tucking it back into his pocket and continuing on his way, disappearing into the mist. "It is indeed a memory…" whispered Eliana. "Or… a possibility. Something that happened, or perhaps will happen."
"Time here… is complicated," said Lemon. "We might see memories from the past, or possibilities of the future."
They continued walking, trying to avoid looking too much at the ripples. There were so many images—so many memories, possibilities, and probabilities, many of them confusing, showing versions of themselves in entirely different scenarios than what they knew.
She was right. The sunlight, diffused through the silvery mist, remained just as strong and at the same angle, as if time had stopped. Lemon checked his small pocket watch, frowning in puzzlement.
"The hands aren't moving," he said, tapping the glass of the watch. "Time here… is frozen, or slowed down significantly."
"Or we've sped up," whispered Eliana. "Perhaps we're passing through the valley much faster than we think."
They kept walking, the mist thickening around them more and more. The horses grew uneasy, occasionally making nervous sounds, especially when passing near the larger ripples.
Suddenly, Eliana stopped again, this time with a strange expression on her face. Right in front of them was a wide ripple, larger than anything they had seen so far, stretching across the entire width of the path.
"There's no avoiding this," said Lemon, looking left and right. "It seems to cover the entire trail."
Before Eliana could respond, the ripple changed, intensified, became clearer, and began to show a scene…
It was them—Eliana, Selene, and Lemon—but they weren't alone. There were others with them—a slender young man with light hair, a sharp-featured woman with short black hair, and a tall man with pale skin and a deep gaze. They all stood in a circle, and in their midst…
"Kairn…" whispered Eliana.
It was him, but different from how she had seen him before. He wasn't the young man she had known, nor the merged entity she had glimpsed briefly in the Tower of Dreams. He was something in between—a half-human, half-eternal being, his body composed of intertwining light and darkness, with a glowing blue mark on his forehead.
The scene was silent, but their actions were clear. They stood in a circle around Kairn, their hands linked, each holding a glowing crystal of a different color.
"This… this isn't the past," said Eliana, her voice trembling. "This… is something that hasn't happened yet."
"A vision?" asked Lemon.
"A possibility… a potential… something that might happen."
As suddenly as it had begun, the scene vanished, dissolving into the mist. The three stood in silence for a moment, each trying to process what they had seen.
"Those… were they Sariel, Icarus, and Marissa?" Selene finally asked.
"Yes," Eliana nodded. "And all of us… we were doing something. Something involving Kairn."
"Were we… bringing him back?" Lemon asked quietly.
"Maybe…" Eliana swallowed hard. "But I don't understand how. How can we bring him back from the liminal space between worlds?"
"The crystals," Selene said suddenly. "In the vision, we were all holding crystals. Maybe… maybe the seven crystals together, with your eighth one, are the key."
Eliana nodded slowly, a thought beginning to form in her mind. "That… makes sense. When Kairn reshaped the world, he used the power of the seven crystals. Perhaps, in the same way, we can use them to bring him back."
"But we have to find them first… and find their bearers," said Lemon.
"And that's exactly what we're doing now," said Eliana with renewed determination. "Come on, let's cross this ripple and move on."
As they stepped through the large ripple, they felt something strange—like their bodies were passing through cold water or a faint electric current. The sensation lasted for a moment, then disappeared as they reached the other side.
"Did you feel that?" Selene asked, shaking her arms as if to brush off invisible water.
"Yes," replied Lemon. "It was like we passed through… some kind of temporal barrier."
Eliana didn't speak. She was looking ahead, where the mist was beginning to thin, revealing a different kind of light—a warmer, sharper light.
"We're nearing the other end of the valley," she said finally. "I can see the path narrowing up ahead."
They quickened their pace, eager to leave this strange place. The closer they got to the valley's end, the fewer ripples there were, the lighter the mist became, and the more natural the light felt.
At last, they emerged from the Lost Valley and entered an entirely new area. Before them stretched a range of towering mountains, the White Sierra—white, quite literally, as if covered in snow or glittering crystal. Atop the tallest peak, far in the distance, was a city glowing like a star—the City of Light, Aeloria.
"We've made it…" Selene whispered in awe.
Lemon began checking his pocket watch again, but stopped abruptly, his eyes widening in shock. "Look…"
The sun was in a completely different position in the sky, and the light was much sharper, as if it were midday, even though they had entered the valley early in the morning.
"How long did it take us to cross the valley?" Eliana wondered aloud, looking up at the sky.
Lemon checked his pocket watch again, now functioning. "According to the watch… only a few minutes. But the sun… the sun says we've been there for hours."
"Just as the map said," Selene remarked. "Time there… conflicts with the outside world."
Eliana cast one last glance at the valley behind them, now filled with silvery mist, like a lake of shimmering light. Then she looked ahead to the mountains, and the glowing city atop them.
"We need to reach that city. It looks far, but we can start the climb now."
"Do you think the danger of the Seventh City… the danger of the Light Crystal… is like what we faced in Teralith?" Selene asked.
"I don't know," Eliana admitted honestly. "But Kairn said it's different. Naiari said she saw multiple shadows trying to extinguish the light."
"Whatever awaits us there," Lemon said, "we need to be ready."
They began the ascent immediately. The path leading to the Sierra Mountain was clear, well-trodden, as if regularly used by travelers. As they climbed higher, the air grew purer, and the light sharper.
The mountains themselves were strange—not ordinary rock, but massive formations of white crystal, reflecting and refracting light in stunning ways. In certain places, the crystal was completely transparent, allowing them to see inside the mountain itself, where rivers of liquid light flowed through branching channels.
"Rivers… of light?" Selene said in amazement, pointing to one of the glowing streams.
"I've read about this in ancient manuscripts," said Eliana. "It's said that the Sierra Mountain is the source of all light in the world. From here, the rivers of light flow, feeding the crystals in the seven cities."
"Even the Dream Crystal in Teralith?" Lemon asked. Yes, all crystals are connected in some way. Each reflects an aspect of existence—pain, fear, dreams, love, sorrow, light, and knowledge. But light is the foundation, from which the other crystals draw their strength.
As they ascended further, they began to notice a change in the scenery. There were strange white trees, their leaves resembling delicate crystals, dancing in the breeze and reflecting the colors of the rainbow. Transparent flowers, glowing softly from within, grew between crystalline rocks.
They also began to notice signs of human presence—a cottage here, a small temple there, resting stations along the path. At one of these stations, they encountered the first person they had seen since leaving Teralith.
It was an elderly man, dressed in a simple white robe, sitting quietly under a small crystalline tree. When he saw them approaching, he smiled a calm smile, as though he had been expecting them.
"Travelers to the City of Light," he said in a deep, serene voice. His statement was not a question, but a declaration.
"Yes," Aliana replied, stopping before him respectfully. "Is the journey much longer?"
"Long and brief, distant and near," the old man answered cryptically. "It depends on what you carry with you."
"We have provisions for several days," Lymon said, uncertain of the man's meaning.
The old man smiled again. "I don't mean provisions, traveler. I mean what you carry in your hearts. In your souls."
He gazed particularly at Aliana, his eyes—light blue and almost translucent—seeming to pierce into her very being.
"You carry something... something heavy, yet powerful," he said, nodding toward the black crystal hanging on her chest. "The Crystal of Balance, the Eighth Crystal. I haven't seen one in... a very long time."
Aliana narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Who are you? And how do you know about the Eighth Crystal?"
"My name is unimportant. I am merely a hermit, living on this mountain for decades, meditating on the light and studying its mysteries." The old man gestured upward, where the glowing City of Light shimmered in the distance. "As for how I know of the Eighth Crystal... everyone in Aeloria knows the legend. The crystal forged by both shadow and light, to preserve balance."
"So you're from Aeloria?" Selene asked.
"I was, once. Now, I belong to the mountain itself." The old man turned back to Aliana. "You are seeking the Crystal of Light."
"Yes," Aliana answered, deciding honesty was the best course. "We've heard that it is in danger."
The old man sighed. "Indeed, there is danger. A few months ago, strange shadows began to appear around the city. Not ordinary shadows—shadows are a natural part of light, balancing and complementing it. These... are something else. Something hostile to the light itself."
"Do you know the source of these shadows?" Lymon asked.
"I suspect they came with the Great Change."
"The Great Change?" Selene repeated.
"Yes, three months ago, something happened... the world shifted. Most people didn't notice, but we, the inhabitants of the City of Light, perceive even the slightest change in the world's illumination." The old man looked at Aliana with piercing eyes. "You know about this, don't you? You know what happened."
Aliana nodded slowly. "Yes. The world was reshaped, but the new balance is fragile. There are cracks in the fabric of reality, and things are seeping through."
"And these shadows are one of those things," the old man continued, nodding. "But they are not like the Shadow Echo you faced in Teralith."
Aliana stiffened. "How do you know about that?"
The old man smiled mysteriously. "The light sees everything, Bearer of the Eighth Crystal. And I... I meditate on the light."
"What do you know about these shadows?" Lymon asked, his patience beginning to wear thin.
"They are... rejection. Not the rejection of light by shadow, as was the case with the Shadow Echo, but the opposite—the rejection of shadow by light. When the world was reshaped, the new balance depended on each side accepting the other. But there is a part of the light... that refused acceptance. That rejected balance."
"And this part... this rejection... is what's attacking the Crystal of Light now?" Aliana asked nervously.
"Yes. It has taken form as 'Sana'—'The Absolute Radiance' in our ancient tongue. A being of pure light, intolerant of any impurity, any shadow, even natural ones. It seeks to 'purify' the light, to make it absolute, pure. But in doing so, it threatens the balance itself."
"And where can we find this being?"
"In the Temple of Light, at the heart of Aeloria, where the Crystal of Light resides. It surrounds the crystal, attempting to... cleanse it, as it claims. But in truth, it is draining it, taking its power to grow stronger."
"And the crystal's guardian?" Selene asked. "Who protects the Crystal of Light these days?"
The old man's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Oh... haven't you realized yet?"
"Realized what?" Lymon asked.
"The Crystal of Light has had no guardian since the time of Myra. The city itself protects it now; all its inhabitants are its guardians. But..." He looked at Aliana again. "If the Eighth Crystal has returned, perhaps it is time for the true guardian to return as well."
"And who is this true guardian, in your opinion?" Aliana asked.
The old man smiled enigmatically once more. "The lost son, of course. Myra's son."
"Cairn..." Aliana whispered.
"That is his name now, then," the old man said, nodding knowingly. "Well, he is now between worlds, but if you can save the Crystal of Light, restore its balance... you may find a way to bring him back."
"How?" Aliana asked urgently. "How can we bring him back?"
"When you see the crystal, you will understand. But know this—you will need more than just the Eighth Crystal to defeat Sana."
"What will we need?" Lymon asked.
"True balance... not merely rejecting light or shadow, but fully embracing both as parts of a unified whole."
The old man rose, leaning on his white staff. "Your path to the city is clear now, and it will take only a few more hours. When you arrive, seek the Central Tower of Light—you cannot miss it. There, you will find the crystal... and Sana."
The old man began to walk away, then paused and turned back to them one last time. "And remember—absolute light blinds just as absolute darkness does. Only balance allows true sight."
With those words, the old man walked away, disappearing among the crystalline trees, leaving the three of them staring at one another in silence, pondering his cryptic words.
"Who was that?" Selene wondered aloud, looking in the direction where the old man had vanished. "He seemed to know too much... more than he should."
"Perhaps he was one of Aeloria's sages," Lymon said. "Or maybe he was something else entirely."
Aliana said nothing. She was thinking about the old man's words regarding balance, and the blinding nature of absolute light. Her theory was becoming clearer—with every crack in reality, new threats emerged, but they were different. The Shadow Echo had been the shadow's rejection of integration, and Sana was the light's rejection of balance. Both were two sides of the same coin—refusal, imbalance.
"We need to keep moving," she finally said, looking up at the glowing city above. "The City of Light awaits us... as does the next challenge."
Climbing the mountain was easier than they had anticipated. The path leading to Aeloria was well-maintained, winding smoothly around the mountain, making the ascent gradual and effortless. With every turn, the city grew closer, glowing ever more brilliantly.
When they finally reached the city gates, the sun was nearing the horizon, and the light reflected from the crystalline towers filled the sky with breathtaking hues of gold and pink.
The gates themselves were an enormous arch of white crystal, intricately engraved with glowing symbols emanating light from within. On either side of the gate stood two guards clad in gleaming white armor.
As the three approached the gate, one of the guards stepped forward, his face bearing a solemn but not hostile expression.
"Welcome to Aeloria, the City of Light," he said formally. "What brings you to our city?"
"We are travelers from Edolith," Aliana replied. "We've come to visit the Temple of Light."
The guard's gaze fell upon the black crystal on Aliana's chest, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That... is no ordinary crystal you carry."
"The Crystal of Balance," Aliana said simply, deciding to be truthful. "We are here because of the threat facing the Crystal of Light."
The guards' eyes widened in astonishment. "How did you know?" the second guard asked. "We've sent no messages to any other city."
"Because the crystals are interconnected," Aliana explained. "What affects one affects them all. The Crystal of Dreams in Teralith was attacked just a few days ago as well."
A swift exchange of glances passed between the guards before the first one nodded. "Yes, the state of the Crystal of Light is dire. Three months ago, a strange entity appeared—we call it Sanna, the Absolute Radiance—and it began encasing the crystal in the central temple. It has resisted all our attempts to reach it, and with each passing day, it penetrates deeper into the crystal."
"Has anyone been harmed?" Selene asked with concern.
"Not directly," the second guard replied. "But the city is suffering. The light... it's changing. It's becoming sharper, harsher. Plants are withering, and some children can't even open their eyes near the temple."
"The Absolute Radiance cannot tolerate shadow," Aliana murmured, recalling the hermit's words. "And without shadow, there is no rest for the eyes, no depth to vision."
The guard looked at her with newfound respect. "You understand. Yes, that is precisely what is happening. The light is becoming absolute, but instead of revealing, it blinds."
"We want to help," Limon said. "If you allow us to enter the temple, perhaps we can—"
"The temple is no longer safe," the first guard interrupted. "Even the High Priestess herself cannot remain there for more than a few minutes. But..." His gaze returned to the black crystal on Aliana's chest. "Perhaps the crystal you carry can do something."
He gestured inward. "Please, follow us. We will escort you to the Council Hall, where you can meet High Priestess Zenira."
They passed through the massive gate and entered a world of light. Aeloria was unlike any city they had ever seen before. Everything was made of transparent or semi-transparent crystal, in a myriad of colors and shapes. The buildings shimmered and glowed from within, as though each house, each tower, contained its own miniature sun.
The city's streets were paved with small white stones that reflected and scattered light beautifully. The people walking these streets—the inhabitants of Aeloria—all wore flowing garments in pale colors: white, silver, soft gold, and delicate pink.
"Have you noticed something strange?" Selene whispered to her companions as they followed the guards through the gleaming streets.
"The shadows," Limon answered quietly. "The shadows are wrong."
He was right. Despite the pervasive glow of light, the shadows were faint, fragmented, as if they were gradually fading. Some objects cast no shadows at all, despite the obvious sources of light.
"The world is losing its dimensions," Aliana said anxiously. "Absolute light erases shadows, and without them, everything... becomes flat, unreal."
"Look," Limon whispered, pointing to a grand palace in the center of the city, composed of interwoven towers, all made of translucent blue-tinged crystal. "I think that's the central temple."
At the topmost tower, there was an orb of concentrated light, so intensely bright that it was difficult to look at directly. From this orb, beams of pure white light stretched upward, piercing the sky.
"The Crystal of Light," Aliana whispered, feeling the black crystal on her chest tremble slightly, resonating with the power of its distant counterpart.
"Not just the Crystal of Light," said the leading guard, overhearing their whispers. "Sanna as well. The light you see is unnatural—it burns, it does not illuminate."
They stopped in front of a slightly smaller circular building, made of white crystal etched with intricate geometric patterns that pulsed with light in a rhythmic glow.
"The Council Hall," the guard announced. "High Priestess Zenira awaits inside."
As they entered, they found themselves in a vast chamber, illuminated by a dancing light that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. At the center of the hall stood a woman, tall and poised, wearing a long white robe embroidered with silver. Her long silver hair was adorned with tiny crystal stones, and her face, though marked by age, bore a timeless beauty and deep dignity.
"Welcome to Aeloria," she said in a deep, steady voice. "I am Zenira, High Priestess of the Light. I understand you have come to aid us."
Aliana nodded and stepped forward. "Yes. We are from Edolith, and we've come because of the danger threatening your crystals... and the crystals of the entire world."
Zenira's eyes widened slightly as they fell upon the black crystal on Aliana's chest. "The Crystal of Balance..." she whispered. "It has been a long time since I've seen one. Not since Mira was among us."
"You knew Mira?" Aliana asked eagerly.
"She was my mentor, many decades ago, before she left." Zenira closed her eyes briefly, as if recalling an old memory. "She was the bearer of the Crystal of Light and the greatest priestess this city has ever known. Then... she disappeared after a strange incident in the central temple. She left the crystal behind and took her infant child with her."
"Kairen..." Aliana murmured.
Zenira smiled sadly. "Yes, that was his name. She loved him dearly... and often spoke of his mysterious destiny. She used to say he would return one day, when the world needed him most."
She stepped closer, taking Aliana's hands in hers, and looked deeply into her eyes. "You knew him, didn't you? You knew Kairen. I can see it in your eyes... the same look Mira had when she spoke of his father."
"Yes..." Aliana replied, her voice trembling slightly. "I knew him. And I believe... I believe he will return, soon."
Limon cleared his throat gently, trying to steer the conversation back. "High Priestess, Kairen's story is undoubtedly important, but the immediate threat—"
"It is more connected to Kairen's story than you realize, young man," Zenira interrupted kindly. "Everything happening now is tied to what began three months ago, when the world began to change." "What exactly happened to the Crystal of Light?" Celine asked. "And where did this entity, Sanna, come from?"
Zenera sighed and motioned for them to sit on circular seats that suddenly emerged from the floor of the hall, as if they had grown out of the crystal itself.
"Three months ago, a strange cosmic tremor struck the world. Most people didn't notice it, but here in Aeloria, we felt it clearly. It was something... fundamental, something that reshaped the very fabric of reality."
Alyana nodded, fully aware of what that event was—the moment Cairn merged with the Eternal Shadow, the moment the world was reshaped.
"After this tremor, the Crystal of Light began behaving strangely. It became more active, more... aware. And after a few weeks, it started emitting a strange glow, different from its usual light—a glow sharper, purer, but also... harsher."
"From this light, Sanna was born. At first, it was just pulses of light within the crystal itself. Then it became a separate entity, like a moving flame. And now, it has taken on... an almost human form, made of pure light, fully conscious and willful."
"And what does it want?" Limon asked.
"It wants to purge the world of shadows. It believes that light must be absolute, pure, without any contamination from darkness. And it believes that the Crystal of Light has been corrupted... by the shadow within it."
"The shadow within it?" Celine repeated in surprise.
"Yes. Each of the seven crystals contains a delicate balance of light and shadow. The crystals are neither purely light nor purely dark; they are embodiments of balance between the two, each in its own way." Zenera gestured toward the black crystal on Alyana's chest. "Even the Crystal of Balance, despite its apparent darkness, contains a point of light at its center, doesn't it?"
Alyana nodded, well aware of the faint light that glowed at the heart of the crystal, always a symbol of Cairn's presence, of his memory.
"Sanna wants to remove the shadow element from the Crystal of Light, to make it purely light. But in doing so, it will destroy the balance that maintains the crystal's stability, and perhaps the crystal itself. If the Crystal of Light is destroyed..."
"...the other crystals will begin to collapse as well," Alyana finished anxiously. "Because they are all interconnected, all drawing power from one another in a complex system of balances."
"Exactly." Zenera nodded. "We've tried to confront Sanna, but its power is immense. Even our best priests cannot withstand its absolute light for more than a few moments."
Limon was deep in thought. "If the Echo of Shadow in Teralith was trying to claim the shadow within the Crystal of Dreams, and Sanna is trying to remove the shadow from the Crystal of Light... then the two are similar threats, from opposite sides."
"Yes," Zenera agreed. "Absolute shadow and absolute light are equally dangerous. Only balance allows life to exist."
"I have a question," Celine suddenly said. "If Sanna is the part of light that refused to merge, then where is Mira now? Wasn't she the original bearer of the Crystal of Light?"
Zenera's eyes grew sorrowful. "Mira hasn't returned to Aeloria since her disappearance, nearly thirty years ago. No one knows her fate for certain. Some of the elder priests... believe she may have merged with the crystal itself, in some way, to protect it."
Alyana was deep in thought. "Mira... Mira was the bearer of the Crystal of Light, but she was also Cairn's mother, who was half light and half shadow. And Sanna is the part of light that refused to merge, just as the Echo of Shadow was the part of shadow that refused to merge."
"What are you suggesting?" Zenera asked.
"I'm suggesting... that we need to restore balance to the Crystal of Light, just as we did with the Crystal of Dreams in Teralith. And for that..." she looked down at the black crystal on her chest, "we'll need the power of the eighth crystal, the Crystal of Balance."
"But Sanna's power is immense," Zenera said with concern. "Facing it will be extremely dangerous."
"Do we have another choice?" Limon asked.
"No," Zenera replied sadly. "The Crystal of Light grows weaker every day, and with it, the natural light of the world. If this continues, a day may come... when the sun no longer rises."
A heavy silence fell over them. The task ahead of them was far more perilous than anything they had faced in Teralith.
"When can we enter the central temple?" Alyana finally asked.
"Tomorrow, at sunrise. That is when Sanna is at its weakest, as the natural sunlight overlaps with its absolute light." Zenera looked at each of them with deep, searching eyes. "But before that, you must rest and prepare. I will arrange rooms for you in the guesthouse, and I will ask our priests to prepare protection rituals."
She stood and motioned for them to follow. "There is also another place I'd like to show you first... a place that may help you understand what you're facing more clearly."
The three followed Zenera through corridors and passageways of glowing crystal until they reached a small room, hidden behind an unassuming door deep within the great hall.
"Mira's room," Zenera said softly. "It has been left untouched for thirty years. You may find some answers here... and perhaps some new questions."
She opened the door and stepped aside, allowing them to enter. "I'll leave you now. Take your time, and then meet me in the outer courtyard so I can take you to the guesthouse."
After Zenera left, the three entered the small room. It was simple and orderly—a narrow bed, a small table with old papers and books, a modest wardrobe, and a window overlooking the central temple in the distance.
But the most striking feature was an entire wall covered with drawings and diagrams—sketches of various crystals, maps of the seven cities, and in the center, a large drawing of a small child, surrounded by an aura of both light and shadow.
"Cairn..." Alyana whispered, stepping closer to the drawing, her trembling fingers tracing its outline.
As they examined the drawings, diagrams, and ancient books, new mysteries began to unfold, and new threads of truth began to weave together, stirring within them a mix of hope and fear as their confrontation with Sanna, the Absolute Light, drew near.