CHAPTER 22: THE FIRST RELIC

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The First Relic

The treasure chamber went silent.

Not quiet.

Silent.

Every sound vanished. The researchers stopped moving. Kael was frozen mid-stance. Liora stood with one hand raised, water suspended around her fingers. Damon’s blade hung halfway out of its sheath. Even the dust drifting through the air had stopped.

Kevin stared. “What…”

He slowly turned his head. No one moved.

“Kael?”

Nothing.

“Liora?”

Nothing.

“Damon?”

Still nothing.

Kevin swallowed. Then he looked at the figure in the center of the chamber.

The stranger was no longer smiling. His dark cloak stirred faintly in the frozen air. His eyes were fixed on Kevin.

“You can move.”

Kevin stepped back. “Apparently.”

The stranger tilted his head. “That should not be possible.”

Kevin glanced at his Codex. The five-point symbol on its cover glowed faintly. Veyr was perched on his shoulder, and the little dragon’s expression had changed. No sarcasm. No smirk.

Only suspicion.

“Veyr?”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Do anything stupid.”

Kevin looked at the enemy. Then at his frozen friends. “That’s a little difficult.”

Veyr’s eyes narrowed. “The spell has stopped the flow of time around everyone except you.”

Kevin’s eyes widened. “Why me?”

Veyr looked at the Codex. “Your Codex.”

The stranger raised his hand. Golden energy gathered around his fingers.

“Enough talking.”

Kevin summoned his crimson blade. “Finally.”

Veyr sighed. “Of course.”

Kevin charged.

The stranger was faster.

CLANG!

Kevin was hurled backward. He twisted in midair and landed on one knee.

“Crimson Chain!”

Three chains lashed toward the stranger. He lifted one hand, and a golden barrier appeared. The chains shattered against it.

Kevin stared. “Okay.”

Excellent observation, Veyr said.

What?

You’re discovering that your opponent is stronger than you.

Kevin gritted his teeth. Very funny.

I wasn’t joking.

The stranger raised his hand again. A golden spear appeared.

Kevin’s eyes widened. He leaped aside.

The spear struck the floor.

BOOM!

Stone exploded. Kevin rolled across the ground and barely made it to his feet before the stranger appeared in front of him.

A fist slammed into his chest.

BANG!

Kevin flew across the chamber and smashed into a stone pillar. Pain flared through his ribs. He dropped to one knee.

Veyr gripped his robe with tiny claws. Kevin.

I’m fine.

You are bleeding.

I’ve been worse.

You were unconscious yesterday.

I still survived.

Veyr stared. Your standards for “fine” are deeply concerning.

Kevin forced himself upright.

The stranger approached slowly. “You possess the Five-Point Codex.”

Kevin raised his blade. “You keep saying that.”

“Because you don’t understand what it means.”

“Then tell me.”

The stranger smiled. “No.”

He attacked.

Kevin blocked. The impact shattered his Crimson Blade. His eyes widened. The stranger struck again. Kevin threw up a barrier. It broke instantly.

Another blow hit him. He flew backward and crashed through a stone wall.

CRAAASH!

The wall collapsed. Kevin vanished beneath the rubble.

Veyr burst out of the dust. “Kevin!”

Silence.

Then...

A hand pushed through the stones.

Kevin dragged himself free, blood running down his forehead. He looked around.

The chamber was gone. He was lying in a narrow passage.

“Where am I?”

Veyr landed on his shoulder. “Somewhere you probably shouldn’t be.”

Kevin looked behind him. The hole in the wall had sealed itself. The stones slid together until the passage was completely closed.

“Great.”

Veyr sighed. “Congratulations.”

“For what?”

“You found a secret room.”

“That’s good.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because whenever you find something secret, your life becomes considerably worse.”

Kevin started walking. “Maybe this time will be different.”

Veyr followed. “Your optimism is almost offensive.”

* * *

The passage wound deeper into the temple. Ancient writing covered the walls. Kevin ran his fingers over the symbols.

“I’ve never seen this language.”

Veyr studied them. “Neither have I.”

Kevin stopped. “You don’t know it?”

“Not completely.”

That surprised Kevin. The ancient dragon had always seemed to know everything.

He smiled. “So you don’t know everything.”

Veyr glared. “I know enough.”

“Apparently not.”

“Keep talking.”

Kevin laughed.

They walked on until the passage opened into a vast underground chamber.

Kevin’s mouth fell open.

At the center floated a strange object. It looked like a crystal, but it wasn’t. Five curved extensions surrounded its core, like the petals of a flower. Like a clover.

Except there were five.

It hovered above a circular stone platform, ringed by ancient symbols.

Kevin’s Codex began to shake. “Veyr…”

“I see it.”

The Codex flew open on its own. Its pages flipped wildly.

WHOOOSH!

It began pulling toward the relic.

“What is happening?”

Veyr spread his wings. “Don’t resist it.”

“You know what this is?”

“No.”

“Then why shouldn’t I resist it?”

“Because your Codex has already made the decision.”

The black Codex slipped from Kevin’s grip. An invisible force dragged him forward. His feet moved across the stone. Closer. Closer.

The relic began to glow. Soft crimson light filled the chamber.

Kevin reached out.

His fingers touched the crystal.

Everything stopped.

* * *

No sound.

No movement.

No wind.

Kevin opened his eyes.

He stood in darkness. The temple was gone. The chamber was gone. Even Veyr was gone.

“Veyr?”

No answer.

“Where am I?”

A small light appeared before him. It grew brighter. Then something floated out of it.

A tiny figure.

A fairy.

She was barely larger than his hand, with translucent wings, silver-white hair, and a dress that seemed woven from glowing petals. Her pale eyes studied him. Then she looked at his Codex.

Her expression changed.

“The Five-Point.”

Kevin stared. “You know it?”

“Of course.”

He stepped closer. “What is this place?”

“The space between moments.”

“That doesn’t explain anything.”

She smiled. “You’re impatient.”

Kevin folded his arms. “I was fighting someone who froze everyone in time, got thrown through a wall, found a strange relic, touched it, and ended up here.” He pointed at her. “So yes. I’m a little impatient.”

The fairy giggled. “I like you.”

“Really?”

“You’re loud.”

Kevin smiled. “Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“Oh.”

She drifted around him. “The relic has recognized you.”

Kevin looked at the glowing object behind her. “What is it?”

“The First Relic.”

His face changed. “The first?”

“There are five.”

“Five?”

“Five relics.” She pointed at his Codex. “Five points.”

Kevin looked down at the five-point symbol. “What do they represent?”

Her smile faded.

“That is not for you to know yet.”

“Why?”

“Because knowing too much, too early, can be more dangerous than knowing nothing.”

He opened his mouth to argue.

A familiar voice echoed through the darkness.

“Finally.”

Kevin turned.

Veyr stepped out of the shadows.

The fairy froze.

Veyr froze.

They stared at each other. For several seconds, neither spoke.

Kevin looked between them. “You know each other.”

The fairy crossed her arms. “You.”

Veyr sighed. “Please don’t.”

“You actually came back.”

“I didn’t come back.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I was dragged here.”

Her eyes narrowed. “By him?”

Veyr looked at Kevin. Then back at her.

“Unfortunately.”

Kevin’s jaw dropped. “Hey!”

The fairy flew closer to Veyr. “You owe me.”

Veyr looked away. “That was a long time ago.”

“You promised.”

“I was young.”

“You are ancient.”

“Exactly.”

Kevin stared. “What exactly happened?”

Neither answered.

“Wait.” He looked at Veyr. “You owe her?”

“No.”

“Yes,” said the fairy.

“Traitor,” Veyr muttered.

“I’m not the one who disappeared for centuries.”

“I was sleeping!”

“You were hiding.”

“I was resting.”

“Hiding.”

“Resting.”

“Hiding.”

“Resting.”

Kevin raised both hands. “Okay!”

They stopped.

He rubbed his forehead. “Can someone explain why my dragon and a fairy are arguing about a centuries-old debt while I’m trapped in some magical time dimension?”

Veyr pointed at the fairy. “She is annoying.”

She pointed back. “He’s a liar.”

Kevin sighed. “Wonderful.”

Her expression grew serious. She turned to Kevin.

“The First Relic has chosen to awaken because of your Codex.”

His smile faded. “Chosen?”

“Yes.”

“What does it give me?”

She shook her head. “It does not simply give power.”

“Then what does it do?”

“It remembers.”

“Remembers what?”

“The first bearer.”

Silence.

Veyr’s eyes narrowed.

“The Five-Point Codex was not created for one person,” the fairy said.

Kevin looked at his Codex. “Then who was it created for?”

Her wings began to glow. “That answer belongs to the five relics.” She touched the First Relic. “Each point carries a meaning.”

Kevin stepped closer. “What meaning?”

“Strength.”

His eyes widened. “Strength?”

“But not the strength you think.”

The relic flashed. Images spun around Kevin. A warrior. A mage. A kingdom. A battlefield.

Then they vanished.

“The first point is not about becoming stronger,” she whispered.

Kevin stared.

“It is about learning what your strength is for.”

The words echoed through the dark.

Kevin looked at his hands. He remembered the river. The Codex Ceremony. The Trial. Renn. Bram. Every time he had fallen. Every time he had stood again.

The fairy smiled. “Now you understand.”

“Understand what?”

She raised one finger. “The relic does not choose the strongest.” She pointed at his chest. “It chooses the one who continues.”

Kevin’s eyes widened.

Then the darkness cracked.

Veyr looked toward the distance. “We have to go.”

“Why?”

The fairy’s face changed. “Your battle has not ended.”

“What happens when I go back?”

She smiled. “Use what you have learned.”

Kevin looked at the relic. “Can I take it with me?”

She laughed. “No.”

“Why?”

“Because it is not yours.”

He frowned. “Then what did I awaken?”

She touched his Codex. A small golden mark glowed on one of the five points.

“You awakened the connection.”

“Connection?”

“Your Codex will find the others.”

Veyr’s eyes went wide. “The others…”

She looked at him. “Yes.”

His face darkened. “You shouldn’t have awakened the first.”

She smiled. “You know what happens now.”

Veyr said nothing.

Kevin looked between them. “What happens now?”

The fairy whispered:

“The hunt begins.”

The world shattered.

* * *

Kevin opened his eyes.

Time exploded back into existence.

The frozen dust fell. Kael shouted. Liora’s barrier snapped into place. Damon’s blade finished its draw.

And the enemy stood exactly where he had been.

Except Kevin was no longer where he had fallen. He stood in the center of the treasure chamber, his Codex floating beside him, a golden mark glowing around its first point.

The stranger stared. “What…”

Kevin slowly closed his hand. Crimson energy wrapped around his fingers.

“You awakened it,” the stranger said.

“I don’t know what ‘it’ is.” Kevin raised his Codex. “But I know I can fight now.”

Veyr landed on his shoulder, his usual grin back. “Finally.”

“What?”

“I was beginning to think you planned to lie there all day.”

Kevin smiled. “Where were you?”

“Watching.”

“You could have helped.”

“I did.”

“When?”

“I insulted you.”

“How does that help?”

“It keeps you humble.”

The enemy attacked.

Kevin vanished.

The stranger’s eyes widened. Kevin appeared beside him.

“Crimson—”

His fist struck.

BOOM!

The enemy flew across the chamber.

Kevin landed. The stranger recovered instantly and raised both hands. Golden energy flooded the room.

Kevin’s eyes narrowed. The golden mark on his Codex began to glow.

For one brief moment, he understood.

Not more power.

Not endless strength.

Purpose.

He remembered Veyr’s lessons.

Observe.

Adapt.

Control.

Kevin lowered his blade.

The enemy charged.

Kevin waited.

At the last moment, he moved.

The golden attack passed beside him. Kevin stepped inside the enemy’s defense.

“Crimson Pierce.”

The spell struck the exact point where the golden energy gathered.

BOOOOOOM!

The enemy was blasted backward and smashed into the wall.

The time-freezing spell shattered.

Kael blinked. “What just happened?”

Liora stared at Kevin. Damon looked equally lost.

Kevin looked at his Codex. The golden mark was still glowing.

One, Veyr whispered.

“What?”

Veyr’s eyes stayed fixed on the Codex. One relic.

Kevin’s expression hardened. “How many more?”

Veyr slowly looked at him.

Four.

Far beneath the temple, something answered with a distant roar. The treasure chamber shook.

The fairy’s voice drifted faintly through Kevin’s mind.

The hunt has begun.

Kevin tightened his grip on his Codex.

And somewhere beyond the Forgotten Region…

The second relic awakened.