Within the Domain of the Black Sun, silence reigned. There was no wind or sound. No movement only Eryndor.
He sat cross-legged before his God Crystal, his breathing steady, his consciousness sinking deeper and deeper into meditation. The vast domain around him seemed distant, as though it no longer existed. The Astral Sky above and the Black Sun Domain beneath had become little more than a blurred backdrop.
Everything was fading away. Everything except himself. The God Crystal before him pulsed rhythmically. A vibration. A heartbeat.
As the crystal trembled, understanding slowly surfaced from the depths of his consciousness.
It did not arrive as words. It arrived as realization, As truth. The spark that existed within every living thing created by the Womb and Nothing. The soul.
Eryndor's eyes remained closed as the realization deepened. The soul was the origin. The first divine gift. The source from which all power flowed.
Yet even the smallest fragment of a soul possessed unimaginable potential.
A mortal could never wield its full power. Not because they lacked worth. But because their bodies were incapable of enduring it. The soul was fundamentally divine and the laws of the lower realms suppresses the soul when it awakens meaning in the lower realms you'll never reach your full potential.
A human attempting to wield its complete power would perish instantly.
Like placing an ocean inside a glass. Like forcing a star into a candle. It could never work. Which was why the Elemental Gods had created a solution. A weaker reflection, A safer vessel called A core.
The soul produced a diminished version of itself. Something that could safely contain elemental energy. A place where power could be stored, refined, and controlled. Mortals used cores. Deities used God Cores. The difference was immeasurable. A core stored elemental energy. A God Core stored divinity itself. It was the evolution of a soul's potential.
The next step toward godhood and as the realization settled into place, Eryndor slowly opened his eyes.
The God Crystal floated before him. Black and white energy swirled around it endlessly.
Like yin and yang. Darkness and light. Activity and passivity. Moon and sun.
Opposites moving together in perfect harmony.
Eryndor rose to his feet. His gaze never left the crystal.
"I understand it now…"
The words escaped him softly.
"The Storm element I use is the Thirteenth Principle."
His eyes narrowed.
"The Thirteenth Element."
Lightning crackled around him.
Wind stirred around his body. The darkness beneath his feet shifted.
"It combines Lightning…Aether Energy and Wind…Arcane Energy."
The energies merged together naturally. Creating something entirely new…Storm Energy.
His voice became quieter. More thoughtful.
"And a storm is never just lightning."
His gaze rose toward the black sun hanging above.
"It carries wind and It carries darkness."
"It covers skies…it can plunge entire regions into night."
His eyes reflected the swirling crystal.
"The God Core…"
A smile appeared.
"Equilibrium."
Balance. That was its nature. That was its purpose.
The perfect equilibrium between all aspects of his existence.
Eryndor looked across the endless domain. The dark landscapes. The luminous heavens. The merged reality. The Black Sun above.
"If you look closely…"
"The Black Sun Domain was darkness."
"The Astral Sky was light…and now…"
His smile widened.
"They've become one."
A canvas of dark and luminous existence. A reflection of himself. A reflection of Equilibrium.
Slowly, Eryndor extended a hand.
"To master my power…"
His fingers touched the God Crystal.
"…is to master my soul."
Crack.
The crystal shattered. A blinding eruption of black and white light exploded outward. The entire domain vanished.
The Astral Sky disappeared. The Black Sun disappeared. Everything disappeared.
Only white remained and within that endless brightness Visions of the Countless worlds, Endless realms, Great Worlds, The All-Encompassing Realm.
Dimensions stacked upon dimensions. Existence beyond imagination.
For a brief moment, Eryndor witnessed something far greater than himself. Then everything went dark.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing somewhere unfamiliar.
Darkness stretched endlessly in every direction.
Yet it was different from his domain.
This darkness felt older and Deeper. As if it existed before existence itself.
Above him floated a Black Sun. Vast and Ancient.
Then a voice spoke beside him.
"Eryndor Nasarik."
Eryndor didn't flinch.
He slowly turned his head and saw someone familiar.
His eyes widened slightly.
"It's you."
The man smiled, Tall,Majestic,Charismatic with Long black hair flowed behind him.
Dark eyes carried endless depth.
Black robes moved gently despite the absence of wind.
He stood at over six feet tall, his presence commanding yet strangely comforting.
It felt as though he had been standing beside Eryndor the entire time.
"Yes."
The man nodded.
"It's me."
He stepped forward.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself."
His dark eyes met Eryndor's.
"I am the Original God of the Black Sun."
The darkness around them trembled.
"Nocturne."
The Black Sun above seemed to pulse.
"I am known by many simply as the God of the Black Sun."
His smile deepened.
"And by a few…"
"The Black God."
Eryndor looked around.
"So this is the original Domain of the Black Sun?"
"No."
Nocturne shook his head.
"A domain manifests differently depending on the soul that creates it."
"The spark determines the shape, the shape determines the world."
Eryndor nodded slowly.
Then another question surfaced.
"I've been wondering about something."
Nocturne gestured for him to continue.
"My domain..it's connected to the God of Shadows, I understand darkness..but shadows?"
Nocturne chuckled softly.
"I see what you mean. Umbrahel is my younger brother, he was born to rule shadows. I, as the eldest, inherited darkness."
His gaze rose toward the Black Sun.
"Shadows are born from darkness. They are merely another expression of it."
Understanding flashed across Eryndor's face.
"And the Warden?"
"The Shadow Realm exists within the Domain of the Black Sun."
Nocturne answered.
"That is why your domain is connected to him."
Eryndor:
"I see."
The mystery finally made sense. Nocturne folded his arms.
"Enough small talk."
His tone shifted.
"The reason I'm here is to teach you how to properly use your Storm Energy."
Eryndor immediately focused. Nocturne smiled.
"The trance state?..You'll discover that yourself."
Then his expression became serious.
"Storm Energy consists of Lightning, Wind, and Darkness. As you already know, You may use them together or individually."
He raised a finger.
"Use Lightning and Wind as much as you desire. They are stable."
His eyes narrowed.
"But Darkness is different." You may weave it subtly into your attacks..like Heaven's Rend but do not attempt to wield pure Darkness on its own. Not yet."
Eryndor listened carefully.
"Why?"
"Because it will devour you."
The answer came instantly. Nocturne's gaze hardened.
"Darkness is not evil but it is absolute. It consumes, it assimilates and it erases. You require the environment of the Upper Realms before attempting to control it directly."
Silence followed.
Then Nocturne continued.
"In any case…"
"The God Core is a balanced output. A refined manifestation of your soul."
Eryndor looked thoughtful.
"So the black and white energy inside my God Core…"
"It's Lightning, Wind, and Darkness merged together, Refined by my soul and made stronger."
Nocturne nodded.
"Exactly."
Then his eyes softened.
"Your soul is unique."
Eryndor blinked.
"Because I came from Earth?"
"Yes."
Nocturne smiled.
"You were born on Earth."
"The world carries a transcendent energy. Earthlings are not powerful but they are among the most intelligent beings in existence."
"They build, they adapt, they evolve, they wage war, they create peace, and they refuse stagnation."
His gaze deepened.
"Do you know why your soul power is so immense?" Eryndor remained silent.
"It's because you were born there."
The answer struck him harder than expected. Then Nocturne continued.
"Your grandfather…Riven Nasarik."
Eryndor immediately stiffened. Nocturne smiled faintly.
"He was tasked with guarding Earth."
"Protecting it."
"He found love there, they had your father."
"Your father eventually came to Nohr."
"He traveled the Upper Realms, He met your mother and he brought her back to Earth."
Nocturne's voice softened.
"And then they had you."
Pieces of Eryndor's Memories surfaced.
Fragments..
"They entrusted you to Riven."
"He raised you, he taught you martial arts, he told you stories about Nohr. He prepared you for a future he would never see."
Eryndor's fists tightened. Nocturne looked away briefly.
"He was a good man. He fulfilled his duty."
"He sealed the Gateway of the Void but the task cost him his life."
A long and heavily Silence followed.
Eryndor lowered his head.
His fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. Nocturne allowed him the silence. Then his gaze sharpened.
"There is one final thing."
Eryndor looked up. Nocturne stared directly into his eyes.
"You are one of the candidates destined to witness the Upper Realms."
"The Great Worlds."
"The truth beyond Nohr."
Then he asked quietly—
"Have you ever wondered why you simply woke up in the body of someone called Eryndor?"
Eryndor froze and his eyes widened.
Nocturne smiled.
"You were meant for something greater."
The words echoed endlessly.
"You have a great purpose, a role."
The darkness trembled.
"The Sun People will teach you. They will guide you but do not forget what you've learned here."
His finger pointed toward Eryndor's chest.
"To use your God Core, you must circulate that energy throughout your body. Make it yours."
Nocturne stepped back. The darkness around him began to fade. A smile appeared on his face.
Then he raised his hand diagonally.
"Welcome…"
The Black Sun above pulsed.
"…to the world of the Gods."
His eyes glimmered.
"The First Unknown."
The darkness shattered. Eryndor's eyes snapped open.
Golden sunlight greeted him, the forest, the giant trees, back at the Land of the Sun People.
He was still seated cross-legged. The others remained deep in meditation Standing nearby, Sera watched him quietly. A faint smile appeared on her face.
"How are you feeling, God of the Black Sun?"
Eryndor slowly stood. A smile spread across his face.
"Never been better."