MTL NOVEL Chapter 4: Into the Heart of Darkness
Chapter 4: Into the Heart of Darkness
Elias's body ached, his muscles sore from the fight, the harsh escape, and the constant tension gnawing at him. But the true pain was in his mind—every part of him was torn between running, hiding, and the undeniable need for answers.
The man who had rescued him—Nyx—hadn't said much after the confrontation with the strange woman. Elias was left with questions, so many questions, but Nyx's silence was impenetrable. He had led Elias deeper into the maze-like streets of New Morian, moving with purpose, almost as if he knew exactly where he was going.
The further they went, the more Elias felt like he was being drawn into something much larger than himself. The city, with its towering structures and endless alleys, felt like it was alive, a thing that was aware of his every movement.
At last, they arrived at a hidden door, covered in moss and sealed with strange symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light. Nyx stepped forward, placing his hand on the door, and the symbols shifted, revealing a darkened passage.
Elias swallowed his rising fear. He had no choice. He couldn't turn back now.
"This is it," Nyx said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "This is where we'll find the answers."
Elias stepped into the darkness behind him. The moment he did, he felt the air shift—thick and heavy, as though the very walls were closing in. The passageway was narrow, barely wide enough for them both to walk side by side. A faint red light seemed to pulse from the walls, casting long, grotesque shadows that danced in front of them.
They walked in silence for what seemed like hours, the only sound the faint echo of their footsteps against the stone. Elias's thoughts churned with doubt and questions, but something inside him told him that the answers—however dangerous they might be—were waiting for him at the end of this path.
Finally, they reached a large chamber, the air thick with an unnatural cold. At the center of the room was a massive stone altar, covered in ancient carvings, glowing faintly.
Nyx stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room as if he had been here before. He turned to Elias. "This is the Heart of Darkness," he said, his voice colder than Elias had ever heard it. "Here lies the knowledge you seek."
Elias took a hesitant step forward, feeling an invisible force tugging at him, pulling him toward the altar. This was it. The place where everything would begin to make sense—or at least, he hoped it would.
"What is this place?" Elias asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Nyx looked at him, his gaze intense. "It is a sanctuary for those who seek forbidden knowledge. But be warned, Elias—what you find here might not be what you want."
Elias nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He had come this far, and there was no turning back now. He stepped up to the altar, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch the stone.
The moment his fingers made contact, the room seemed to pulse. A low hum filled the air, vibrating through his entire body. The carvings on the altar began to shift, their lines moving and twisting as if alive.
Suddenly, a voice rang out in his mind—a deep, ancient voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"You seek the Talisman, Shadowlord."
Elias froze, his breath caught in his throat. "The Talisman?" he thought, but the voice continued before he could speak.
"You are not the first to seek its power. But the Talisman does not choose its bearer lightly. There are others who will stop at nothing to claim it for themselves."
Elias's heart raced. This was no longer a simple quest for answers—it was a battle, a fight for something far more powerful than he had ever imagined.
"What is the Talisman?" Elias demanded, his voice shaking.
The voice chuckled, a sound like the rustling of dry leaves. "The Talisman is the key to all things—a force beyond time, beyond death. Whoever controls it holds dominion over the world. But beware—the path to claiming it is fraught with danger."
Suddenly, a vision flashed before his eyes—dark, twisted images of battles and destruction. Cities burning, people screaming, shadows rising from the earth. And at the center of it all, a figure cloaked in black, holding an object that radiated with dark energy.
Elias staggered back, gasping for air, his head spinning. He had seen the Talisman. He had seen the power it held, and the devastation it could bring.
"You must choose, Elias," the voice whispered. "Will you seek the Talisman, and risk everything? Or will you turn away, leaving the world to its inevitable fate?"
Elias closed his eyes, trying to steady his breath. The weight of the decision pressed down on him, but he knew there was no other choice.
"I will find it," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I will find the Talisman, and I will stop whoever tries to claim it."
The room grew colder, the air thick with an eerie presence. For a moment, there was silence. Then, the voice spoke again, this time with a hint of satisfaction.
"Then you have made your choice, Shadowlord. The path is now set."
The altar began to glow brighter, its power pulsing with an intensity that made Elias's skin prickle. "Remember, Elias Corvin, the Talisman is not a prize—it is a curse. And soon, you will learn just how much it will cost."
With that, the room fell into silence. The vision faded, and the glowing altar dimmed. Elias stood there, his heart racing, knowing that his journey had only just begun.
"We're not done yet," he muttered, more to himself than to Nyx.
Nyx nodded, his expression unreadable. "No, Elias. Not by a long shot."
To be continued…