The Zelut's Awakening

Who was I to be a part of such a grand prophecy? I needed answers, I needed to understand what was happening to me and why everyone seemed to know more about me than I did.

I slipped out of my chamber when the palace grew quieter. The moonlight was a benevolent friend escorting me through the palace halls, my slippered feet made almost no sound.

Whatever mystery the palace held, was beyond my understanding, and I was determined to uncover them. My heart was filled with fear, knowing that at any moment someone could stumble upon me and put an end to my illicit search. But I had to know more about the source pillar, and about Zerunjok and his plans.

My feet carried me to an enormous library, its tomes called to me like long-lost friends.

The likes of which I had never seen before. Shelves of books towered over me, their spines were entirely covered in dust.

It felt... familiar. Like I had been there before, though I knew I hadn't.

The urge to search overwhelmed me, and I began pulling books from the shelves at random.

I greedily pryed open ancient bindings to see if they held any of the answers I sought. It was almost as if the library were a living, a breathing entity.

One book, embossed with a symbol that glowed under my touch, raised an alarm to my curiosity.

I hesitated for a moment, my fingers hovered over the cover, afraid that the answers I found inside might be more than I was prepared to handle.

As I opened it, the words inside seemed to hum. They were written in a language I didn't recognize, yet I could somehow understand.

My eyes devoured the words, gliding across the unfamiliar script like a child learning to read. I was mesmerized by the history of Thesuba being revealed to me, the tales of the zeluts, and the ominous prophecy of a child of the source pillar who could either bring balance or destruction to the land. So, the zelut who spoke in my dream wasn't lying afterall.

And then, there it was, a name that filled me with dread, Zerunjok.

The text detailed how Zerunjok, the "misguided zelut of error," had betrayed the source pillar to amass a forbidden power. His jealous nature and hatred for his twin brother, Lord Zeleuve, had driven him to destruction. And now, he sought a vessel to fuse with, a reincarnated zelut, me.

I shut the book, but the revelation swept through my mind.

"The child of the source pillar shall be born to bridge the mortal and the divine. She will face the shadow of the fallen and decide the fate of all."

I froze, It was talking about me.

In a moment of clarity, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Zerunjok's threat against my aunt, the strange light I had seen in her eyes, his obsession with me… They all pointed to a terrible truth. My aunt was a traitor. But her allegiance wasn't to Zerunjok, but to something far more powerful.

She was working for the sultan, or rather, Zerunjok, the fallen god masquerading himself as a mortal leader. His fierce gaze filled with greed flashed before my eyes.

I realized now that my aunt's pleading words of "not knowing the sultan's real intention" hadn't been lies but a cry for help. She had been caught in a web of deceit, just as I was now.

The sound of footsteps pulled me out of my thoughts. I quickly hid the book behind a row of others and ducked into the shadows of the library.

The footsteps grew louder, echoing through the halls like a silent countdown. My breath was caught in my throat as I squeezed into the space between two shelves, my hands trembled as I tried to still my racing heart.

My body was tensed as if ready to flee at any moment. I cursed my pounding heart, certain that its frantic beating would give me away.

"Sarina," He called. "Wait a minute...." I gasped, "It's you? You scared me."

He was the zelut from my dream, he appeared out of god-knows-where!

His aura was outstanding, his robes and fiery red eyes were truly a sight to behold, everything about him seemed otherworldly. To clear my doubts, I asked, "Are you real?"

"No, but you called me here." He replied.

"How?" I snapped, "I didn't even say anything."

"When you're in danger, your heart beats faster, I can sense it, in the realm of the source."

He gave me a hand, and this time, I wasn't scared to take it. "What is the realm of the source?" I asked.

He displayed a hesitant gaze, but he had no choice than to tell me, otherwise, I would've disturbed the hell out of him.

"The realm of the source is where the zeluts go back to, when they die or go extinct."

"The source is the foundation of power...." I whispered.

"How do you know?" He asked, this time, his gaze was investigative.

"I saw it, somewhere in the books I read. Most of them were authored by Lord Zeleuve, so he really is the ruler and creator of Thesuba." I replied.

"Go on.." He said.

"You're the one who should go on." I snapped, "Afterall, I know nothing about you. What exactly are you the zelut of?"

"I'm not that important." He retorted. "I was the only zelut who lived for a year, the other zeluts spent many years. So I don't really consider myself a formidable zelut, I cannot hide my powers, it's clearly inscribed on my robe and forehead, so you can tell I'm the god of flame."

"Do you know that Lord Zeleuve is missing in the realm of the source?" He added, evading the questions about him.

"If he's missing...."

"Then he's alive!" He replied, solving the puzzle before I did.

"The so-called supreme father neglected his duties. But who am I to question him? I am just a regular god. It seems you're the last zelut to cleanse impurities, and correct the impression of the zeluts being evil." He concluded.

"How..... how can he do that?" I stammered.

"That's because he's a worthless god!" He replied, "How else? He mustn't be trusted if you come across him. Be careful, Sarina!"

"You're probably right." I replied. "But why would he author all these books that speaks the truth?"

"Sarina," He called, trying to rub my hair with his hands, but I couldn't feel his touch. "All these books were written to lure you, it's a trap! Wake up and do the bidding of you and you alone!"

"But....." I mumbled.

"But what Sarina?" He yelled, "Okay, let me prove it to you."

He traced the book I was holding before he appeared, the book seemed to have been authored by Lord Zeleuve, he took it and turned to a page.

"What is written here?" He asked.

"Luxor Ethren?" I replied.

"You must say it in a commanding tone. What's written here Sarina?" He retorted.

"Luxor Ethren!" I screamed.

Suddenly, the library began to shudder. Books tumbled from the shelves, and the air grew heavy with an unseen presence.

Dust swirled around me, forming frightening shapes that danced and writhed in the dim light. I realized with a jolt, that I had unknowingly activated a hidden sigil, I had summoned an unseen force.

"Lord....." I muttered, "Lord of flames?"

He was gone.

Terror gripped me, I scrambled to my feet.

I had unleashed something ancient and terrifying, and I had no idea how to stop it.

The shadows in the library shimmered, a voice emerged from the ether, the voice was recognisable, it was cold, and commanding.

"Katar, creature of flame, cleanse this place. Purge the forbidden knowledge. Spare nothing."

At once, a towering, hellish figure materialized. Its frame was blazed with a scorching, ethereal flame. Like a feral beast, its arms and legs seemed made from twisted roots and living embers, all the while a twisted crown of fire crowned its head. This was the Katar, a being formed entirely from flame. I don't know how I knew its name.

The Katar released a demonic roar that reverberated through the library, shaking the shelves and sending dust billowing into the air.

With every step, the creature left scorch marks on the floor, reducing everything it touched to ashes.

It was quick in its destruction, decimating the ancient texts and knowledge held within the library, this display of ruthless efficiency sent my heart into a race.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, I quickly mustered the courage to utter a powerful, defensive spell I had seen earlier in one of the now-destroyed texts.

On the other hand, I kept wondering who told the Katar to destroy the library, I couldn't see anyone there.

Mustering all the courage I could find, I pointed my finger towards the Katar and declared, "Shani Delexia!" The words broke from my lips like a bolt of lightning.

The Katar roared as the spell took hold, its flames began to dim, rapidly. Its embers grew cold as it slowly transformed into an icy statue.

I stood there, awe-struck by my own power, but the celebrations were short-lived. My victory was followed by the sound of rushing footsteps.

"Stop right there!" Came a familiar voice from the darkness.

Khalid walked in from the shadows, his eyes were wide with shock as he took in the sight of the frozen Katar.

"What have you done?" He demanded, the commanding tone of his voice belied the fear in his eyes. "How did you stop that monster?"

"I- I'm not sure." I stammered, "I just- I just read a spell from one of the books."

"You read a spell?" Khalid repeated, "You're telling me you don't know what just happened?"

I searched for an answer, desperate to calm Khalid's growing suspicion. "I- I don't know how, but it worked. I think it was the spell I read."

"Enough!" Khalid yelled, "Guards, seize her! She's far too dangerous to be left unchecked!"

Suddenly, Khalid's guards appeared, their hands reached out to restrain me. In a frantic, almost instinctual motion, I raised my hands and spoke the first words that came to mind.

"Sindre Ansun!"

As soon as I uttered the words, a bright flash illuminated the burning library. When the light subsided, a gleaming sword appeared in my hand, the silver blade shined like a beacon in the darkness.

The guards hesitated, their eyes were wide with fear as they took in the sight of the weapon. With the sword in hand, I charged towards the frozen Katar, bringing the blade down with a powerful swing.

The sword bit into the icy sculpture, shattering it into thousands of pieces. The fragments scattered across the floor like shards of a broken mirror.

I stood amidst the scattered remains of the Katar, the magical sword still held tightly in my grasp. Khalid's face hardened as he took in the scene.

"You cannot be trusted." He said in a low, dangerous voice. "You have powers that even you don't understand."

The guards advanced towards me, their hands reached for me again, their fear was now replaced by grim determination. I tried to speak, to reason with Khalid, but he was unmoved.

"Take her away," he commanded.