The Heart of the Tree had fallen silent after the projection of its ancient secrets. The light emanating from the altar had faded, leaving the group in an eerie calm. Akihiko stared at the inscriptions carved into the roots, while Thalos remained silent, a somber expression on his face.
"This isn't just a reminder of the past," Thalos said finally, breaking the silence. "It's a warning."
The Secret of Origin
As they rested, Thalos began to speak, revealing more about his connection to the Tree of Eden. "Centuries ago, when the Tree came to this world, it was no mere coincidence. It was brought by a group of visionaries who believed they could use its power to transform humanity. But their ambition outstripped their understanding."
Aria looked at him curiously. "Were you part of them?"
Thalos nodded slowly. "I was one of the original guardians of the Tree, chosen to protect it from those who would abuse its power. But even we underestimated what it truly was."
Kael, adjusting one of his devices, asked, "And what exactly is the Tree?"
"It's not just a living being," Thalos replied. "It's an entity that transcends human understanding. Its fruits are fragments of a different reality, and every time someone consumes them, that reality seeps a little further into ours."
Aria frowned. "So, we're fighting to protect something that could destroy us?"
Thalos stared at her. "We're fighting to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. The Tree is both a blessing and a curse, but under the control of someone like Viktor, it would be only destruction."
A Dark Past
As Thalos spoke, the roots around the altar began to glow dimly, projecting images of past events. The group watched scenes of wars raging for control of the Tree, of entire civilizations consumed by its power, and of dark rituals performed to bond with it.
In one of the images, a man stood out among them all: Viktor. Although the scene was centuries old, his face was unmistakable.
"Impossible!" Aria exclaimed. "How can it be there if that happened centuries ago?"
Thalos frowned. "The Tree grants gifts, but also curses. It's possible Viktor has found a way to bond with the Tree more deeply than we thought, extending his existence beyond human limits."
Isabella, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "Perhaps I should say something. My power... is not something I have shared freely. I have always preferred to be underestimated." Isabella held up the golden shard, and a nearly imperceptible ripple of energy rippled through the room. The energy resonated with a force that made the nearby roots seem to tremble. "Soul echoes are not just memories. They are power. And this shard... it holds more echoes than I imagined. If Viktor obtains it, he could rewrite anyone's will."
Akihiko stared at her. "Why did you hide it?"
Isabella smiled coldly. "Because I don't like being a piece on anyone's chessboard. But right now, we don't have time for games."
Memories of Akihiko
As the others argued, Akihiko wandered away from the group, his thoughts in turmoil. The images from the past had shown not only Viktor, but also something else: a figure Akihiko had wanted to forget.
He stopped in front of a root that glowed with a faint light and placed his hand on it. Immediately, a vision enveloped him. He was standing in a field bathed in sunlight, training alongside his teacher, a man who had been like a father to him.
"Power isn't everything, Akihiko," his master said in the vision, elegantly wielding a katana. "Without purpose, power only brings destruction."
The vision quickly shifted to a battlefield, where the same master lay mortally wounded, surrounded by enemies. Akihiko, young and inexperienced, had arrived too late to save him.
"Promise me you will use your strength to protect, not to destroy," were his master's last words before he breathed his last.
The vision faded, leaving Akihiko kneeling in front of the root. "I promised," he murmured. "And I won't fail."
An Unexpected Alert
The moment of calm was interrupted by a deafening sound that resonated throughout the Heart. The roots began to move violently, as if responding to an imminent threat. Kael ran toward the group, his communicator in hand.
"We have company," he said, displaying an image on the device. It was a transmission showing the Order of the Eternal Night forces advancing toward the Heart.
"Viktor must have sensed we activated the altar," Thalos said grimly. "We can't face them here. If the Heart is damaged, the Tree could collapse as well."
Akihiko stood up, renewed determination in his eyes. "Then we move. We must stay one step ahead of Viktor and find the next key."
Isabella held up the golden shard, watching the energy flow around it. "Whatever he's after, we won't make it easy."
The Beginning of the Escape
The group began to retreat from the Heart, but not without looking back once more. Thalos paused for a moment, placing a hand on one of the roots.
"Sorry," he muttered, before following the group.
As they moved forward into the unknown, they knew that the shadows of the past would follow them, but also that their decisions on the next steps would determine the fate of the Tree and the entire world.