Collide: The Memory of Stars

Third Person's POV

The corridors of the Sunken Bastion stretched endlessly before them, their surfaces lined with remnants of the past—old banners faded beyond recognition, broken lanterns long extinguished, and the faint etchings of incantations that hummed with ancient power.

The Last Mage walked ahead, his long robes trailing behind him, each step deliberate as if he was walking between two worlds—the past and the present.

His attendants, small and silent, trailed behind him, their forms faintly shimmering under the dim glow of bioluminescent flora that lined the walls.

They whispered amongst themselves in hushed, melodic voices, their language a mix of old Eldorian tongue and something more ancient.

Selene and the rest followed, their eyes scanning every inch of their surroundings, the weight of the history here pressing down on them.

The deeper they went, the more they felt it—an unseen force, something residual from the powerful incantations that once sealed the Bastion away from the world above.

Axel exhaled sharply. "This place... it feels like a graveyard." His voice barely carried over the weighty silence.

The Last Mage came to a slow stop before a massive stone archway. It was adorned with sigils, glowing faintly with an ethereal blue light, pulsing in rhythm with the currents outside. Beyond it, a grand chamber lay shrouded in shadow, its true form obscured by the thick water still clinging to the air like mist.

"This is where they fell," the Last Mage murmured, his voice laced with something neither grief nor reverence—just a hollow remembrance.

"The mages who wove the incantation to preserve this place. Their final act, their sacrifice, still lingers within these walls. Their power is what keeps the Bastion from crumbling into oblivion."

Selene stepped closer, brushing her fingertips along the cool stone. She could feel the energy locked within, the sheer magnitude of the spell that had taken the lives of so many. "Why did they do it? What did they fear?"

The Last Mage turned his gaze toward her, his pale eyes unreadable. "They did what was necessary to protect what little remained. The world above was no longer safe for us, and so they sank the Bastion into the abyss. Here, we could continue our existence without the threat of those who wished to claim our knowledge."

Axel folded his arms. "And yet, now we stand here. Needing that very knowledge to stop what's coming."

A silence stretched between them before the Last Mage spoke again. "Then let us see if the past is willing to answer your call."

With a single movement of his hand, the sigils on the archway flared brighter, and the grand doors groaned open. What lay beyond would either grant them salvation—or drown them in secrets long buried beneath the sea.

The doors parted with a deep, resonant groan, unveiling the vast archives of the Sunken Bastion. A cool, mist-like energy clung to the air, swirling around their feet as they stepped inside.

Towering shelves stretched into the distance, carved from deep-sea stone and encrusted with faintly glowing coral. Ancient scrolls, bound in water-resistant seals, rested in meticulous rows, while large, ornate tomes were secured behind intricate enchantments.

The Last Mage stepped forward, his robes trailing over the damp stone. "This is what remains of our knowledge. The heart of the Bastion's wisdom, preserved beyond time."

Selene moved cautiously, her fingers brushing against a nearby table where golden filigree patterns pulsed faintly. She could feel the power humming beneath her fingertips—magic that had endured the ages, untouched by the destruction above.

Axel scanned the endless corridors of knowledge. "These records… they could tell us everything we need to restore what's left of Eldoria."

The Last Mage's gaze remained impassive. "Perhaps. But knowledge demands a price. The incantations that sealed this Bastion were not mere spells—they were sacrifices. We did not wield our magic lightly, nor should you."

Selene turned to face him. "We don't have the luxury of hesitating. If there's anything here that can help us restore the land, we need to find it."

The mage studied her for a long moment before nodding slightly. "Then follow me. If the past is to speak, you must listen carefully."

He led them deeper into the archives, past rows of relics that pulsed with dormant energy. Sigils shimmered as they walked by, reacting to their presence, as if testing their worth. At the heart of the chamber lay an altar of obsidian, upon which rested a singular, ancient tome—its cover embedded with the same luminescent sigils that adorned the entrance.

The Last Mage hesitated, his voice heavy with memory. "This… is the record of the Bastion's final days." His fingers hovered over the book before gently opening it. The pages inside glowed faintly, ink shifting like ripples on the surface of water.

"The truth you seek is written here, in the words of those who gave everything to keep this place alive."

Selene stepped closer, her breath shallow. As the pages turned, the past began to unfold before them.

As the pages illuminated, golden symbols floating into the air, Selene and the group watched as history itself came to life.

The Bastion's final days were inscribed in vivid detail, recounting the desperation of its mages as they realized that the world above could no longer protect them.

The voices of the past whispered through the chamber, telling of powerful enchantments woven into the Bastion's walls, of lives given willingly to create the sanctuary that now stood before them.

Selene traced the ink of an aged manuscript, feeling the magic that lingered within. "These incantations… they aren't just protective spells. They're intertwined with the very foundation of this place."

The Last Mage gave a solemn nod. "It was not merely built, it was woven into existence. Each spell, each sacrifice, became part of the Bastion's essence."

Axel flipped through a set of blueprints, his sharp gaze scanning the markings. "Some of these barriers are still active. If we could reactivate the lost ones, it could restore the rest of Eldoria."

Selene looked up. "But how? These spells took the lives of so many mages. We can't just repeat what they did."

The Last Mage watched her closely. "Then you must find another way."

She frowned, glancing down at the pages again. And then, tucked between the faded parchment, something caught her eye—a note hastily written, its ink darker than the rest, as if left behind in the Bastion's final moments.

It spoke of a hidden chamber, deep within the archives, containing knowledge too dangerous to be freely accessed.

Her heart pounded. "There's more. Something they tried to keep even from themselves."

Before they could speak further, the chamber trembled, a low hum resonating through the stone walls. The Last Mage's expression darkened. "You have stirred the past more than I expected."

The shifting air around them grew heavy as tendrils of old magic surged to life, reacting to their presence.

"This knowledge was not hidden without reason," the Last Mage continued. "You must understand—the deeper you go, the more you risk becoming entangled in the same fate that befell those before you."

Selene met his gaze, determination burning in her eyes. "If that's the price of saving what's left of our world, then we'll pay it."

For a long moment, the Last Mage simply watched her. Then, with a deep sigh, he turned toward the far end of the archives, where the shadows stretched long and deep.

"Then I will show you the way."

The Last Mage led them somewhere hidden, his footsteps echoing softly against the ancient stone floor. The further they ventured, the more the walls seemed to pulse with dormant magic, the air thick with the whispers of history.

Selene stepped closer, her eyes scanning the text. Though she couldn't understand the full extent of the language, some words resonated with her, as if awakening something buried within.

She traced the symbols absently. "This speaks of… restoration."

The Last Mage nodded. "Restoring Eldoria is not impossible, but the cost may be beyond what you are willing to pay." He turned toward a grand pedestal at the center of the chamber, atop which sat a crystalline structure pulsing with faint light.

"This archive contains the last records of the old world's magic. You must decide how far you are willing to go to reclaim it."

The group exchanged uncertain glances. Khael stepped forward, his brow furrowed.

"And if the price is too great?"

The Last Mage's expression darkened. "Then Eldoria remains as it is—a world only half-alive, clinging to what little magic still lingers."

Selene inhaled deeply, determination hardening within her. "Then show us everything."

The group moved forward, the tension in the air thick as the weight of history pressed down upon them. As they delved deeper, the atmosphere shifted—the stillness broken by the faint hum of latent magic.

The walls around them bore carvings of forgotten spells, warnings of power beyond mortal comprehension. Khael ran his fingers over the symbols, his brow furrowed in thought.

"These incantations… they look like a fusion of elemental and celestial magic," he murmured.

"No wonder they needed so many mages to cast them."

The Last Mage nodded. "The Bastion's scholars sought to preserve Eldoria's essence, but they knew the cost. To fully restore the land, sacrifices were made—some willing, others… necessary."

Axel's gaze hardened. "And what exactly is the cost now?"

The Last Mage turned to the grand pedestal, where the crystal's glow intensified. "The magic that once sustained Eldoria has fragmented. To restore it fully, you must choose a path—each demanding a price. Some would require the strength of your lifeblood, others the binding of your very souls to the land."

A heavy silence fell over them.

Selene clenched her fists. "Then we'll find another way. We came here to save Eldoria, not to trade one life for another."

The Last Mage's lips curved into a wry smile.

"You sound like those who came before. And yet, here we stand, among the ruins of their choices."

The Cost of Restoration

The group gathered around a vast table covered in ancient documents and faded illustrations. The Last Mage unfurled a parchment, revealing diagrams of ley lines and the Heart of Eldoria's connection to the Bastion.

"Three paths exist to complete the restoration," he explained. "One demands the channeling of all existing magic, forcing it back into the land. But such power is unstable—it could either restore Eldoria or tear it further apart."

Axel crossed his arms. "And the other two?"

"One requires a willing sacrifice, an exchange of life for life." His eyes flickered toward Selene.

"The last… involves an ancient ritual, a fusion of the Luminescent One's power and the Heart of Eldoria. But it is incomplete. The knowledge was lost when the last of the high scholars perished."

Selene's breath hitched. The Luminescent One… her mind raced with the implications. Had her existence always been tied to this?

A conflict brewed within the group. Khael shook his head. "We can't gamble with unstable magic—it's too risky. And sacrificing someone? That's out of the question."

Axel exhaled sharply. "But if we can just do the lost ritual…"

Selene's gaze remained fixed on the inscriptions. Something stirred within her, a whisper at the edge of her mind. The crystal before them pulsed again, and as her fingers brushed the surface, a wave of energy surged through her.

Secrets of the Luminescent One.

Selene staggered back as visions flooded her senses. The chamber around her faded, replaced by glimpses of a time long past—mages standing in a grand sanctum, their hands raised toward the heavens, weaving golden light into the very foundation of Eldoria.

She saw the Heart of Eldoria pulsating with life, an intricate web of magic tethering it to something… someone. A figure stood at the center, their form radiant, their essence pouring into the land itself.

A voice echoed in her mind. "The Luminescent One's power was never meant to be contained—it was meant to guide, to balance."

The vision shattered, and she gasped, her knees nearly giving way. Axel caught her, concern flashing in his eyes. "Selene! What did you see?"

She pressed a hand to her chest, her heartbeat erratic. "The ritual… the lost knowledge. It wasn't just a spell—it was a bond. The Luminescent One wasn't meant to restore the land alone. They were meant to connect with it, to become its guardian."

The Last Mage's eyes widened slightly. "Then the choice before you is not just one of magic, but of destiny."

The weight of those words settled upon them all. The path to restoring Eldoria was clearer now—but whether they could bear the burden of that truth remained to be seen.

To be continued.