Eclipse of Fate

The tremor sent a faint shudder through the chamber's foundation, dust falling from the towering pillars that supported the underground archive. Raine tensed, instinctively shifting his stance, while Aldric's fingers twitched toward the hilt of his blade.

Mordain, however, did not react with alarm. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the farthest wall of the chamber, where an ancient mural was carved into the stone. The silver inscriptions shimmered, reacting to the disturbance.

"We are not alone down here," Aldric muttered.

Mordain nodded. "Something has awakened."

The runes along the walls flared brighter for a brief moment before dimming once more. The tremor faded, leaving behind an eerie silence. Raine exhaled, his heartbeat steadying, but he couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that had settled in his chest.

Mordain stepped toward the mural, placing his palm against the stone. "This place does not simply hold knowledge—it remembers." He traced the runes with his fingers, and slowly, the mural shifted, revealing an image beneath the dust of time.

Raine and Aldric moved closer, their eyes drawn to the scene before them. It depicted a battle beneath a crimson sky, warriors clad in armor of varying designs clashing against figures wreathed in shadow. At the center stood a lone figure, one half bathed in light, the other swallowed by darkness.

"The Harbinger," Raine whispered.

Mordain nodded. "This image is older than any written history in Vaeloria. It predates the noble houses, the academies, even the earliest kingdoms. It tells of a conflict that has yet to come." His expression darkened. "And it is beginning to unfold."

Aldric exhaled sharply, stepping back from the mural. "You're saying the prophecy isn't just a warning—it's a record of something that has already happened before?"

"Not quite," Mordain said. "It is both past and future. The cycle repeats, and each time, the Harbinger emerges." He looked at them both, his gaze sharp and weighing. "That is why I have brought you here."

Raine felt his stomach tighten. "What are you saying?"

Mordain regarded them in silence for a moment before he spoke. "There are those outside these walls—powerful factions, noble houses, and forces even older—who believe the Harbinger has revealed themselves." His voice was heavy. "Some believe it to be you, Raine."

Raine stiffened. He had expected suspicion, but to hear it from the headmaster himself sent a chill through him. Aldric, standing beside him, said nothing, but his posture grew rigid.

"And what do you believe?" Raine asked cautiously.

Mordain's eyes met his. "I believe prophecy is a dangerous thing. I believe those who seek to control it will stop at nothing to claim its power." He let those words settle before continuing. "Which is why you both must tread carefully. Whether the prophecy speaks of you, Aldric, or someone else entirely—it does not matter. What matters is that the world now believes you are at the center of it."

The weight of the revelation pressed heavily on Raine's shoulders. He had always known he was different, that his past set him apart from the others. But this? This was something else entirely.

Before he could speak, another tremor shook the ground—this time stronger. From somewhere deep within the archive, a low, guttural sound echoed through the halls.

Mordain's expression turned grim. "We are out of time."

Aldric drew his sword, his stance shifting. "I don't suppose there's another way out of here?"

Mordain extended a hand, and the runes along the chamber's walls ignited with power. "Prepare yourselves," he said, his voice steady. "We are not the only ones seeking the truth in this place."

And from the darkness beyond the chamber, something began to stir.