Collide: The Memory of Stars

Third Peron's POV

The currents twisted and roared around them, an unrelenting force that threatened to toss them off course.

But Selene, guided by the knowledge Eltharia had given her, closed her eyes and focused.

She let herself feel the pull rather than resist it, surrendering to the deep's silent call.

One by one, her companions followed suit, allowing the currents to weave around them rather than fight against them.

It was not an easy task—Khael gritted his teeth, his body instinctively bracing against the pressure, while Axel remained at her side, trusting her completely.

Tyra, always watchful, adjusted her movements, ensuring none of them drifted too far apart.

Then, suddenly, the resistance lessened. The water, once raging, turned eerily still. The shift was jarring, as if they had breached an invisible threshold.

And before them, obscured by the murky depths, loomed the Sunken Bastion.

It was massive. The ancient stronghold, once a grand sanctuary of magic, lay in solemn silence, partially enshrouded by corals and deep-sea flora.

Towering spires and intricately carved stone walls were still intact, preserved by the enchantments that had sealed it away. Even in ruin, its presence was undeniable, an echo of a time long past.

Selene reached forward, her fingers brushing against the currents that coiled protectively around the Bastion's entrance.

The barrier shimmered like liquid glass, pulsating faintly with ancient energy.

"This is no ordinary seal," Axel murmured, studying the protective magic with a frown.

"It's layered… woven through with the life force of those who cast it."

Selene exhaled, the weight of history pressing against her. "Eltharia said the mages of this place sealed it themselves… this is their last defense."

Khael narrowed his eyes, flames briefly flickering at his fingertips before vanishing in the depths.

"Then how do we get in without disturbing what's left of them?"

Selene took a deep breath and pressed her palm against the barrier. The moment her skin met the surface, a pulse of energy shot through her, recognition stirring within the magic itself. She didn't need to break the seal—she needed to understand it. To become a part of it.

She let her mind drift, feeling the whispers of the past lingering within the enchantment. Words long forgotten resonated in her thoughts, fragments of incantations woven together by countless voices. And among them… a presence.

The moment she touched upon it, the barrier quivered. Then, as if answering an unspoken call, it began to part, unraveling like threads of water.

The way was open.

The group exchanged brief glances before stepping forward, their feet touching solid ground as they entered the stronghold's remains.

The air inside was thick with lingering magic, old and potent, carrying the weight of sacrifice and desperation.

Etched into the stone walls were runes, their glow faint but unyielding. Axel traced his fingers over them, his expression darkening.

"These spells… they took a lot of power to cast. More than just magic."

Selene swallowed hard. "More than just magic…" she echoed, a chill running down her spine.

"They gave their lives for this."

A heavy silence followed. Whatever had driven the mages to sink their own sanctuary, it had not been done lightly.

Then, just as they took another step forward, a presence stirred in the shadows beyond.

A voice, deep and calm, yet laced with authority, echoed through the still air.

"You are not welcome here."

From the far end of the chamber, where the dim light barely reached, a figure emerged. A man—and behind him, figures lurked—his attendants, smaller, silent, but no less watchful.

The Last Mage of the Bastion had appeared.

The Last Mage of the Bastion stood before them, his presence commanding even in the silence of the sunken ruins. He was tall, his frame lean but not frail, draped in tattered robes that had once been adorned with intricate golden embroidery—now faded and worn by time.

His silver hair was long, partially tied back, revealing a sharp face with deep-set eyes that glowed faintly with remnants of arcane power. His expression was unreadable, neither hostile nor welcoming, but there was an undeniable weight in his gaze—a man who had endured beyond the boundaries of time itself.

Behind him, figures emerged, smaller and more fragile in stature but no less vigilant. The attendants of the Bastion, remnants of the lost mages who had given their lives to protect this sanctuary.

Their forms were ethereal, flickering between the physical and the magical, as if bound by the lingering enchantments of the stronghold.

Though humanoid in shape, their features were blurred, lacking distinct details except for their luminous eyes that shone like moonlight against the darkness.

The mage's voice broke the silence, deep and steady. "You have trespassed into the heart of the last sanctuary of Eldoria. Speak, or be cast out."

Selene stepped forward, her posture firm despite the unshakable pressure his presence exuded. "We are not here to harm this place. We seek to restore what has been lost—to find a way to bring back the power that once flowed through Eldoria."

The mage's eyes narrowed slightly. "Fools chase after what was lost. Do you even understand the price that was paid to keep this place from falling into ruin?"

Axel's gaze flicked to the intricate runes along the walls, his voice quiet yet firm. "We do. We saw what it took. The lives sacrificed to keep this sanctuary hidden."

A flicker of something crossed the mage's face—perhaps surprise, or something deeper. He studied them for a long moment, his fingers curling slightly as energy pulsed at his fingertips, unreadable in its intent. The attendants behind him remained still, as if awaiting his command.

Finally, he spoke again, softer this time. "Then tell me. If you truly understand, if you have seen what was given, what is it that you seek within these halls?"

Selene tightened her grip on the memories Eltharia had left her, feeling the faint echo of her sister's presence guiding her. "The

Fragments of the heart of Eldoria. We need to know what remains of it… and if there's still a way to save this world."

The mage's expression darkened, the weight of her words pressing against the very air around them. The attendants stirred, their eyes flickering as whispers of ancient voices murmured through the chamber.

"You seek the piece of the Heart," he murmured, his voice carrying a heavy sorrow.

"Then you seek the truth of what was lost."

A pause. Then, slowly, he turned, his robes flowing like shadows around him. "Follow me. But know this—truth is a burden not all can bear."

Without another word, he led them deeper into the heart of the Bastion, where the remnants of Eldoria's great secret awaited.

To be continued.