A World Between Worlds
The moment Renji and Selene leaped into the portal, the world around them twisted.
A rush of cold energy engulfed them, and for a brief moment, it felt as if they were being pulled apart at the seams.
Then—
They nded.
Renji hit the ground first, knees bending to absorb the impact. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and old parchment. His vision blurred for a second before sharpening.
Selene followed, nding with her sword still in hand, eyes darting around the dimly lit space. The portal behind them flickered shut, leaving them in a cavernous chamber bathed in the glow of blue torches.
The walls were lined with ancient bookshelves, strange artifacts, and floating sigils. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, disappearing into darkness.
And standing before them—
The stranger.
The figure who had saved them.
A man wrapped in silver and bck robes, his hood still covering most of his face. His gloved hands remained hidden beneath his cloak.
A long silence stretched between them before he finally spoke.
"You are reckless."
His voice was calm, deep, and yered with something unreadable.
Renji straightened, still tense. "And you’re mysterious. That makes us even."*
The man let out a soft chuckle, then turned toward a rge wooden table covered in maps, scrolls, and strange crystals.
"Sit. We have much to discuss."*
---
The Sanctuary of the Forgotten
As they sat, Selene remained on edge, her fingers never straying too far from the hilt of her sword.
The stranger took a seat across from them, removing his hood for the first time.
Beneath it was a man with sharp features, piercing violet eyes, and silver-streaked hair. A scar ran across his left cheek, old but deep.
"I am known as Asher."* His eyes flickered to the door behind them. "This pce… is the st sanctuary of those who seek to remember what the world has forgotten."*
Renji frowned. "What does that mean?"
Asher leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"The City of Forgotten Echoes is not just a ruin. It is a graveyard of time itself."
Renji and Selene exchanged a look.
"The Echoes…" Selene said cautiously. "What are they?"
Asher’s expression darkened.
"Memories of the past. Fragments of those who once lived there. Trapped between existence and oblivion."
Renji exhaled. "So they’re ghosts."
Asher shook his head. "No. Ghosts haunt the present. Echoes are different. They are pieces of a world that should not exist anymore… and yet, something keeps them from fading."*
Selene’s grip on her sword tightened. "Something?"
Asher nodded.
"A force older than time itself. A force that is still watching."*
---
The Truth About the Eternal Wheel
Asher stood and walked toward the rgest map on the wall. It was ancient, drawn in ink that shimmered like stardust.
"Tell me," he said. "Have you ever heard of the Eternal Wheel?"
Renji frowned. "We’ve… come across the term before. But it’s never been clear what it really is."*
Asher traced a circle on the map with his gloved finger.
"The Eternal Wheel is not just a cycle of reincarnation, nor is it just fate. It is a mechanism. A prison. A construct designed to reset history whenever it spirals out of control."*
Renji’s heart skipped a beat.
Selene’s brows furrowed. "Reset?"
"Yes." Asher turned to them. "The world has ended countless times. Kingdoms have risen and fallen. Heroes have fought and died. And every time, when things reach a breaking point, the Wheel turns. It wipes everything away and starts again. Only fragments remain—like the Echoes. Shadows of past cycles that refuse to fade."
Renji felt a cold chill creep down his spine.
"So… we’re living in a world that’s already ended?"
"Perhaps many times over," Asher confirmed. "And yet, for the first time, something is different. Something is preventing the Wheel from turning again."
Selene’s voice was steady. "What is stopping it?"
Asher’s violet eyes met hers.
"You."
---
Marked by the Past
The room fell into silence.
Renji narrowed his eyes. "What the hell do you mean, us?"
Asher sighed, lifting his hand. A golden sigil appeared above his palm, spinning slowly in the air.
"You have already broken the pattern."
Selene’s hand instinctively went to her chest.
Renji gnced at her. "Selene?"
She hesitated—then unfastened the csp of her cloak. Beneath it, across her colrbone, a faint golden mark glowed. A sigil.
Renji’s eyes widened. "What the—"
Asher nodded. "You bear the Mark of the Unwritten."
Selene touched the glowing mark, her lips pressed together. "What does it mean?"
"It means the Wheel cannot erase you."
Renji exhaled sharply. "You’re saying she’s immune to whatever resets the world?"
"Yes."* Asher leaned back. "And that means whoever controls the Wheel… sees you as a threat."*
Selene’s expression darkened.
"So we’re already being hunted."
"Yes."
Renji ran a hand through his hair. "Great. Just what we needed."
---
The Offer
Asher folded his hands. "That is why I brought you here. The world is beginning to shift. The Echoes are growing restless. The Wheel is faltering. If you wish to survive what is coming, you must learn the truth."
Selene met his gaze. "And you know the truth?"
Asher smiled slightly. "I know enough."
"Then tell us."
"Not yet."* Asher shook his head. "Knowledge without understanding is dangerous. You must be prepared."*
Renji crossed his arms. "And how do we do that?"
Asher’s violet eyes gleamed.
"By making a choice."
He turned to Selene. "You are already marked. The Wheel cannot erase you, but it can still stop you—unless you learn to wield the power you have."*
Then, he turned to Renji.
"And you… must decide if you will stand beside her when the time comes."*
Selene exhaled. "So what’s the choice?"
Asher held up two fingers.
"Stay here, learn the truth, and prepare for what is coming…"
He lowered one finger.
"Or leave now, return to your journey, and face the consequences unprepared."*
Renji and Selene exchanged a look.
Then Renji grinned. "Like hell we’re walking away now."*
Selene smirked. "We stay."*
Asher’s smile widened.
"Good."
---
To Be Continued…
