We followed Agnos and headed towards the gate. As soon as we entered, I felt like my consciousness had split, my senses stopped working, and after a few seconds, they returned to normal. The first scene I saw was the giant meadow I had seen when I obtained the mark, but the meadow was... on fire.
"... What's happening here?"
I asked Agnos with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Sigh... This is the end of my trust, my trust in humans."
Huh?
I looked at Sylvia, but it seemed she didn't know anything either.
"What do you mean by that?"
He glanced behind him slightly, and suddenly, the scene changed. The meadow was thriving, with old modern buildings filling the place, bustling with people, and buildings floating in the sky. It was a beautiful sight. The inhabitants looked like humans but weren't. Their essence was made of spiritual energy. These...
"Yes, just as you think."
Agnos interrupted my thoughts.
"This is the Land of Spirits, the great land, Etherion."
So this is Etherion.
The scene changed again, and I saw Agnos, younger, with two people in front of him. One was a native inhabitant, and the other was a human. I couldn't see their faces. The three of them were chatting and laughing, even Agnos. Suddenly, the human said:
"Hey guys! Why don't I go gather the rest of my kind and we can form relationships between us?"
Agnos fell silent and his expression turned serious.
"This..."
Before he could finish, the second person interrupted him.
"That's a great idea! I've always wanted to meet other humans."
He was a young man with long yellow hair and green eyes, and he also had the same mark as me.
"This is Nevis, my dear friend, and the bearer of the first mark," Agnos said, pausing slightly. "And the other is Denis, he was also my friend..."
"Was?"
"So, Agnos, what do you think?"
Despite his hesitant expression, Agnos agreed.
"Okay, let's do it."
"That's great! You're the only human who managed to reach here. I can barely contain my excitement to meet the other humans."
"Anyway, Nevis, Agnos, I'll leave now. I'll be back in a week. Wait for me!"
He promised and left quickly. Nevis was only talking about the appointment, but Agnos was tense, feeling that something was off. And after a week, the incident occurred...
The image changed, showing a scene of destruction, countless bodies, fires everywhere. What happened?
I knew what had happened, but I denied it. I knew the nature of humans, but this... was beyond limits. Agnos spoke as if he had read my thoughts:
"This is exactly what happened. On the day we were preparing to meet and welcome the humans, the humans suddenly attacked us."
The image faded... and the world formed again.
Nevis appeared, leaning on his knees, holding a sword, and drowning in his blood.
"My friend, Denis, tell me... why did you do this?"
The human was crying, but his hand was steady. These weren't tears of regret... but tears of cowardice. As he approached slowly, he said in a hoarse voice:
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
And then, he plunged the sword into Nevis's chest. But Nevis didn't feel pain; instead, he was smiling. And also, why was he crying and apologizing? Didn't he commit this act with his own hands?
Denis stared at his friend for a moment, then bowed his head slightly... a bow that is only given to kings or heirs.
The vision changed again, and Agnos rushed towards his friend Nevis. His eyes were filled with tears. He held his friend's hands and said:
"Nevis! Hold on! I'll save you right away!"
Nevis smiled weakly and said:
"Hey, friend... are you okay?"
"I'm the one who should be asking that! Shut up for a moment, I'll treat you."
As Agnos tried to treat him, Nevis grasped his hand and said in a calm voice:
"You know what? Despite everything that happened, I still trust and love humans."
"Huh?"
"I know it's strange, but... I still love them. Cough... cough."
"Wait a minute, I'll treat you right away."
"Listen, I... don't have much time left. Will you listen to my last request?"
...
Nevis smiled.
"I want you to guard this place. Someday, my heir will come. He'll be a human, a young man burdened with things that people like us can't handle. Please, give him my legacy."
As soon as he finished speaking, the light in his eyes disappeared.
"Nevis? Nevis! Wake up! Can you hear me? Nevis!"
He was already dead.
But wait, did he know I was coming? But how? Agnos's words interrupted my thoughts:
"Lies, promises, excesses, greed... these are not occasional flaws, but natures ingrained in humans. They are not erased by sermons, nor are they fixed by words. Humans only change when they are hit by experience, and when they pay the price for themselves."
Despite knowing this truth, he still loved them, respected them, and valued them. He was truly a great person.
Then he added, saying: "So, mortal, do you think humans can change?"
"... Everyone can change. The one thing that will never change is change itself."
Something unexpected happened; Agnos... was smiling.
"Mortal, what's your name?"
"... Daniel."
The scene changed to show the green meadow again, and in the middle of it, Nevis's sword was stuck in the ground, the thing I had been longing for.
"Now, Daniel, step forward."
Following Agnos's words, I moved towards the sword, and as soon as I reached it, I felt a majestic feeling, power, realization, grandeur, and responsibility. But I didn't hesitate. I grasped the sword with a red hilt and a red aura surrounding it.
As soon as my hand touched it, its shape changed completely. The aura around it turned into a pure blue, its hilt became medium-length, fitting for me, and its guard turned blue with a blue gem in the center.
Wait, could this sword...
"Well done, Daniel. You've helped me fulfill my mission. I'm truly grateful to you."
"No need for thanks."
Agnos smiled sincerely, and after that, he began to fade away slowly.
"... What's happening?"
"I've completed my mission and fulfilled my promise. Now, the reason for my existence is over."
So, he's going to join his friend, huh?
"Daniel, I wish you good luck. I hope you reach your goal. We'll be watching you, we'll all be watching you."
"And also, it isn't over yet. You need to reach Etherion..."
Huh? What does he mean? Isn't this Etherion?
"Wait a minute-"
Before I could finish, Agnos had disappeared. After that, the light and the feeling of disconnection returned, and after a few seconds, I opened my eyes. It seemed we had been expelled. We weren't in the temple anymore; we were outside, and the temple had disappeared, leaving behind a small cave.
I stared at the sky for a moment. The sun was about to rise. I looked at Sylvia, who seemed confused, and said:
"So, shall we head back home?"
And in that moment... the mark on my chest trembled for the first time since I obtained it.