The Original Realm

The relic chamber was eerily silent in the aftermath of the battle, its air thick with the acrid scent of burnt stone and blood. The shadow bear's massive, lifeless form dominated the room, green-glowing spikes still jutting from its body where Luke's newfound power had erupted. The relic above pulsed faintly now, its glow subdued, casting the scene in a flickering, otherworldly light.

Sylveria stood at the edge of the chamber, her hand pressed to the hilt of her blade. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail. Aldric scurried beside Eleanor, his tiny form unusually still as he checked her pulse. Despite his diminutive size, his presence exuded a calm authority that was hard to ignore.

"She's alive," he finally murmured, his voice surprisingly deep and steady for someone so small and fluffy. The tension in his tone eased slightly as he glanced toward Sylveria, his bright eyes twinkling beneath his bushy brows.

Sylveria gave a curt nod in acknowledgment. "And the boy?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with concern. She took a cautious step toward Luke's unmoving form, her gaze lingering on the intricate green lines of light still faintly visible on the ground around him.

Aldric's fluff shifted slightly as he hovered closer to Luke, his beard swaying with the motion. "Alive too. Barely." His voice carried a weight of exhaustion. "Whatever he did to that beast… it took everything out of him."

Sylveria moved closer, her boots crunching softly against the shattered stone. She knelt beside Luke, her fingers brushing against the glowing marks etched into the floor. They felt warm, alive, as though the energy still lingered, waiting for a command.

"What do you make of this?" she asked, glancing back at Aldric.

The fluffy sage stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "I've seen plenty of Advents, but this? This is something else. Something... human."

The word hung in the air between them, unspoken questions simmering beneath its weight. Sylveria frowned but said nothing. Instead, she rose and turned toward the exit.

"We'll figure it out later. For now, let's get them out of here. They need rest, and we need answers."

---

Luke awoke to the faint hum of magical wards and the muted sounds of life outside. His body felt heavy, his limbs sluggish as though weighed down by invisible chains. The sterile scent of herbs and polished wood filled his nostrils, and as his eyes fluttered open, he realized he was in a bed far softer than anything he'd ever experienced.

He blinked, his gaze adjusting to the room's warm light. The walls were lined with shelves filled with glowing vials and neatly stacked tomes. A large window dominated one side, its arched frame offering a view of the city beyond. Even from here, he could see the signs of destruction—collapsed buildings, scorched streets—but also the resilience of those who remained. People moved among the rubble, working together to rebuild.

"You're awake."

The deep voice startled him, and Luke turned to see Aldric hovering in the doorway, his body seeming to bristle slightly as he floated closer. Despite his small size, his long beard and wise demeanor gave him an air of gravitas.

"How long…?" Luke's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

"Two days," Aldric said, settling onto the edge of a nearby table. His beard swayed as he leaned forward, his bright eyes studying Luke intently. "You gave us quite the scare, you fool."

Luke tried to sit up, wincing as pain flared across his chest. Aldric hoped over in an instant, his tiny hands surprisingly firm as he steadied Luke.

"Take it easy. You've been through a lot."

Memories of the battle flooded back—the bear's roar, Eleanor's fall, the relic's blinding light. He clenched his fists, feeling a faint warmth in his fingertips.

"The bear," he said, his voice steadier now. "What happened? Did we…?"

Aldric nodded, his fluff bouncing slightly with the motion. "It's dead. Whatever you did, it worked. The spikes you summoned… they tore it apart."

Luke exhaled, relief washing over him. "And Eleanor?"

Aldric's expression softened. "She's fine. Woke up yesterday, actually. Tougher than she looks. She's been asking about you."

Luke allowed himself a small smile, the tension in his chest easing. But his relief was short-lived. "The relic… and Calista?"

Aldric's beard drooped slightly, a sign of his somber mood. "Calista's dead. Sylveria and I finished her together. The relic's safe, for now. But things have… gotten complicated."

Luke frowned. "Complicated how?"

Aldric stroked his beard again, a gesture that always preceded a long explanation. "News has spread. The other kingdoms know about the attack, about the relic, and about you."

Luke's heart sank. "Me?"

"Thalrien's Ultimate," Aldric explained. "It temporarily disabled his ability to use his essence, making it that everyone kept their memories, even the guards. They couldn't be silenced, not this time. Word of a human in Aethereon—a human who awakened an Advent—has spread like wildfire."

Luke swallowed hard, the weight of Aldric's words settling over him. "What does that mean for me?"

Aldric's gaze softened slightly, his fluffy frame hovering closer. "It means you're a curiosity, and a potential threat. People will want to know who you are, where you came from, and what you're capable of. For now, you're safe here, but it's only a matter of time before others come looking."

Luke's mind raced, the implications of his newfound power and its discovery overwhelming. He clenched his fists again, the faint warmth returning.

"About that," Aldric said, his tone shifting. "Your essence. You finally awakened it."

Luke looked up, confusion etched across his face. "Essence? You mean what happened with the bear?"

Aldric nodded. "Exactly. That's your Advent, your unique power. It's tied to who you are at your core. From what I saw, yours is… unconventional."

Luke thought back to the moment in the chamber, the green lines of light, the patterns that felt so familiar. "Code," he murmured, the word slipping out unbidden.

Aldric's bushy brows arched. "Code?"

Luke sat up straighter, ignoring the pain. He reached for a stick of wood on the bedside table, a leftover from the healers' supplies. He focused, the memory of that moment sharp in his mind. The warmth in his fingertips flared, and green lines of light spread across the stick. In an instant, it transformed, lengthening and sharpening into a crude wooden scythe.

Aldric's bright eyes widened, his fluff puffing out slightly in surprise. "Well, that's… interesting."

Luke turned the scythe in his hands, marveling at its weight and balance. The green lines pulsed faintly, their glow steady. "It's like writing code," he said, more to himself than to Aldric. "I can shape things, change them."

Aldric chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed oddly fitting for his fluffy form. "An interesting application of your powers, fool."

Luke couldn't help but smile, despite the lingering unease in his chest. "What happens now?"

Aldric floated higher, his expression serious once more. "Now, we move forward. There's a meeting with the elders soon. They'll want to discuss the implications of all this—Calista, the relic, and you."

Luke nodded, though his stomach churned at the thought. "And Eleanor?"

Aldric smirked, his beard twitching with amusement. "She'll be there. Probably itching to give you an earful for worrying her."

Despite himself, Luke laughed. The sound was weak, but it felt good. He watched as Aldric floated toward the door, pausing to glance back at him.

"Rest while you can, kid. The world just got a lot more complicated for all of us."

As the door closed behind him, Luke lay back against the pillows, his mind spinning. The faint hum of the city outside filled the silence, a reminder of the destruction they had faced and the work that lay ahead. But for now, he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. They had won. The bear was defeated, Calista's plans thwarted. And though the path ahead was uncertain, he had taken his first step.

For better or worse, his journey had only just begun.