The desert stretched endlessly, a golden sea shifting beneath the merciless sun. The wind howled, carrying grains of sand that scraped against skin and armor alike. Each step sank into the dunes, making their journey slow and grueling. Vierd and Rain moved in silence, their figures casting long shadows in the shifting sands.

  For three days, they had wandered through this wasteland. Three days of relentless heat by day and bitter cold by night. The silence between them was not born of exhaustion, but something heavier—an unspoken weight carried by both. The shattered crystal, the whispers of the Forsaken, the revelations about the stones… there was too much to process, and too little certainty to grasp.

  Ishkar, the City of Scholars, lay ahead of them. A beacon of knowledge in a world consumed by chaos. It was said that the great philosopher Elios resided there, a man whose wisdom stretched beyond mere mortal understanding. If there were answers to be found, they would be in that city.

  As they crested a dune, the mirage of Ishkar became real. The city rose like a vision from a forgotten age—pristine towers of marble and sandstone stretching toward the heavens. Bridges arched over canals of flowing water, feeding lush greenery that should not have existed in the heart of the desert. Unlike the war-torn ruins they had seen before, Ishkar thrived. The city pulsed with life, untouched by destruction.

  Rain's crimson eyes narrowed as he took in the sight. A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips, but it did not reach his eyes.

  "I HAVEN’T SEEN A CITY LIKE THIS IN A LONG TIME."

  Vierd glanced at him, his golden gaze unreadable. "YOUR KINGDOM?"

  Rain exhaled slowly. "MY PRISON."

  Yet as he gazed upon the vibrant streets, the laughter of merchants, the hum of scholars debating under shaded archways, his voice betrayed him. Valtaria had been mighty, powerful beyond reckoning, but it had never been this. There had been order, discipline, and fear… but never warmth. Never life.

  "THIS IS WHAT VALTARIA COULD HAVE BEEN."

  The words left his lips before he could stop them.

  For the first time in years, he felt something unexpected—envy.

  The past had been a kingdom of steel and stone. But standing before Ishkar, he realized that power alone was not enough.

  As they entered the city, they became swallowed by the hum of civilization. Streets paved with ivory stone stretched in perfect symmetry. Ornate buildings housed scholars and merchants alike, their voices weaving into a constant murmur of knowledge and commerce. The scent of ink and parchment mixed with the aroma of exotic spices. Vierd remained silent, scanning the streets with careful eyes, but Rain could feel his own thoughts drifting.

  "A WORLD THAT NEVER KNEW WAR," he muttered. "I WONDER IF THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS."

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  Vierd responded without looking at him. "EVERYONE KNOWS PEACE UNTIL IT'S TAKEN FROM THEM."

  They walked deeper into the heart of the city, where the great Tower of Thought loomed. Unlike the grand palaces of kings, this structure did not seek to intimidate. It stood in quiet defiance of ignorance, built not as a fortress, but as a monument to wisdom.

  The doors opened without a word. No guards, no barriers—knowledge was not locked away here. It was offered.

  Inside, towering shelves of ancient tomes reached toward the high ceiling, their spines inscribed with forgotten languages. The scent of aged parchment filled the vast halls, mingling with the soft glow of enchanted lanterns. At the far end of the chamber, beneath an open skylight, a man sat before a simple wooden table.

  His presence was not commanding, yet it was unshakable. A man dressed in flowing robes of deep blue, his silver-streaked hair tied loosely at his back. He did not look up when they entered. Instead, he turned a page of the ancient tome before him, his fingers moving with practiced ease.

  And then, without lifting his gaze, he spoke.

  "YOU HAVE COME SEEKING ANSWERS."

  His voice was steady, carrying the weight of countless years. Vierd stepped forward, watching him carefully. "WE FOUND SOMETHING."

  The philosopher finally closed his book. His deep-set eyes met Vierd’s with an unsettling clarity, like a man who had already seen the end of the conversation before it began.

  "THEN YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN YOUR FIRST STEP TOWARD UNDERSTANDING."

  Rain crossed his arms. "AND WHAT’S THE SECOND STEP?"

  Elios smiled faintly. "ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS."

  Vierd’s patience was thin. "WE DON’T HAVE TIME FOR RIDDLES."

  The philosopher regarded him with something that was not amusement, nor pity—just knowing. "THEN YOU DO NOT SEEK KNOWLEDGE. YOU SEEK CONVENIENCE."

  A flicker of irritation crossed Vierd’s features.

  Elios gestured toward the shelves surrounding them. "KNOWLEDGE IS NOT A WEAPON TO BE HANDED OVER LIKE A BLADE. IT IS A PATH THAT MUST BE WALKED."

  Rain exhaled sharply. "THIS IS WHY I HATE PHILOSOPHERS."

  Elios chuckled. "AND YET YOU CAME TO ONE."

  Vierd took another step forward. "THE STONES—WHAT ARE THEY?"

  The philosopher studied him for a long moment. Then, he spoke, his voice carrying something deeper than mere words.

  "MEMORIES."

  The single word sent a ripple of unease through the air.

  Vierd frowned. "MEMORIES OF WHAT?"

  Elios stood, his robes flowing as he moved toward a nearby shelf, his fingers tracing the spines of ancient tomes. "NOT OF A SINGLE WORLD, NOR OF A SINGLE TIME. THEY ARE THE RESIDUE OF EXISTENCE ITSELF."

  Rain’s expression darkened. "THEN THEY’RE NOT CREATED?"

  Elios gave a slow nod. "NO. THEY ARE LEFT BEHIND."

  Silence settled between them.

  Vierd’s grip on his sword tightened. "BY WHO?"

  The philosopher’s eyes dimmed slightly. And for the first time, his voice carried something heavier.

  "BY THAT WHICH WAS FORGOTTEN."

  Rain scoffed. "AND THAT MEANS WHAT, EXACTLY?"

  Elios turned back to them, his expression unreadable. "IT MEANS THAT EVERY STONE YOU FIND IS A GRAVE MARKER FOR A WORLD THAT NO LONGER EXISTS."

  The weight of those words settled deep.

  Vierd’s breath was slow. Controlled. "EVERY TIME A STONE BREAKS…"

  Elios nodded solemnly. "A WORLD DIES."

  A realization dawned on them both.

  Destroying the stones wasn’t a solution. It was a consequence.

  And someone—something—had left them behind.

  Rain’s voice was quiet now. "IF THAT’S TRUE, THEN WHO DECIDES WHICH WORLDS SURVIVE?"

  The philosopher’s expression turned unreadable.

  Then, softly, he answered.

  "THAT, MY FRIENDS… IS THE QUESTION YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKING FROM THE START."

  And with that, Elios turned back to his book.

  Vierd and Rain exchanged a glance.

  There was no more to be said.

  They had come seeking answers.

  And instead, they had found a terrible truth.

  End of Chapter 14