The forest felt like a place trapped between worlds. It was both silent and filled with whispers, as if every tree, every shadow held memories of those who had once walked here. My heart pounded, and I could feel the weight of the prophecy pressing on me. The orb on the pedestal glowed with an eerie light, and though I couldn't explain why, I knew it was somehow connected to Kai Xu.
But his presence here—the hidden realm that seemed intertwined with his aura—left questions burning in my mind.
Before any of us could approach the pedestal, the forest around us darkened. Shadows rippled across the ground, and the faint voice I'd heard before drifted through the air once again.
"This is no place for mortals to tread," the voice murmured, low and haunting. "Leave now, before you awaken what you cannot control."
I glanced at Aerin, Mira, and Caius, each of them tense but resolute. We were past the point of turning back, and I could see the same determination in their eyes. Something vital was at stake here, something that went beyond our understanding.
"Who are you?" I called out, letting my voice cut through the strange fog that had gathered around us.
The silence was my only answer. But I could feel the intensity in the air, like a storm waiting to break.
The orb pulsed with a deeper glow, as if responding to my presence. I could feel the pull within me, like a thread connecting us, urging me closer. Whatever secrets this orb held, I was certain they held the key to understanding Kai Xu's disappearance—and perhaps more about the prophecy itself.
As I took a step closer, the world around me blurred, and the faintest of memories surfaced in my mind. Images I didn't recognize flickered behind my eyes—a flash of red scales, a burning sky, and the feeling of wings. I couldn't tell if these were Kai Xu's memories or something else entirely.
Suddenly, a hand caught my arm, pulling me back.
"Sky, wait," Aerin's voice was a low warning. Her eyes were fixed on the orb, narrowed in suspicion. "This place… there's something ancient about it. The power here isn't something we can just take. It's… it's watching us."
I nodded, but my curiosity burned brighter. I knew Aerin was right, but there was no escaping it now. Something in my soul resonated with the orb, and I felt like I was meant to be here, like this was a step I couldn't avoid.
Just as I took another step, a figure appeared in the mist—a shadowy outline of a person. At first, I thought it was Kai Xu, but as the figure drew closer, I realized it was someone else. An older man, dressed in dark, flowing robes, his face hidden beneath a hood.
"Who are you?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.
The figure didn't answer, but instead raised a hand toward the orb. The light intensified, swirling with shades of blue and silver. And then, as if triggered by some hidden mechanism, the orb emitted a low hum, sending a pulse of energy through the clearing.
I staggered back, feeling the wave of power wash over me. It was like the energy had a mind of its own, reaching out to me, binding me in place. The others looked at me in alarm, but before they could act, the figure spoke.
"You seek answers about the prophecy, child of two worlds," he said in a voice that seemed to echo from the depths of time itself. "But be warned—the path ahead will test you beyond the limits of mortal endurance."
My breath caught, and I felt an unexplainable chill run down my spine. He knew about the prophecy. He knew about… me.
"What… what does this have to do with Kai Xu?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
The figure's gaze shifted, his face still hidden. "The prince bears the blood of the Azure Dragon, a power that should have remained dormant. It awakens now, struggling against the confines of his mortal body. He is bound to the prophecy, as are you."
The blood of the Azure Dragon. Pieces of the prophecy clicked into place, and I began to understand—Kai Xu's sickness, his strange behavior, the hidden realm… they were all connected to the beastly power lying dormant within him. He was fighting his own nature, a force as ancient as the gods themselves.
"What can I do to help him?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.
The figure paused, as if considering my question. "The prince's salvation lies within an artifact—the Soul Sphere. Only with it can he balance the essence of the dragon within him. Without it, he will be consumed."
The Soul Sphere. I made a mental note, committing the name to memory. I didn't know where to find it, but I knew this was the key to saving Kai Xu.
Before I could say more, the figure turned, fading back into the mist.
As soon as he disappeared, the orb's light dimmed, and the clearing returned to its eerie quiet. I looked at the others, who were still watching me with a mix of wonder and concern.
Aerin finally spoke, her tone hushed. "Do you think we can find this… Soul Sphere?"
"I have to try," I replied, my mind racing. "If this is the only way to save him, then I'll do whatever it takes."
Mira gave a determined nod, and Caius crossed his arms, a rare look of seriousness on his face. "Then we'll help," he said, voice firm. "Whatever it takes."
I felt a surge of gratitude for my friends, knowing they were willing to stand by me, no matter the cost. Together, we would find a way to save Kai Xu—and uncover the truth of the prophecy, even if it meant facing unimaginable dangers.
With one last glance at the orb, we turned and left the clearing, the faint glow of the orb fading behind us. As we walked back toward the school, I couldn't shake the feeling that we had stepped onto a path from which there was no turning back.