The tiny light continued moving through the endless darkness beyond the Watcher.
At first, it seemed insignificant. Against the backdrop of shattered worlds, drifting stars, and the immeasurable void stretching beyond reality itself, the approaching light appeared no brighter than a single candle carried across an endless ocean. Yet no one on the observation platform underestimated it. The First Son remained perfectly still, his golden eyes fixed upon the distant glow. The stranger unconsciously tightened his grip on the ancient book beneath his arm, while even the Sleeper—whose calm had remained unshaken since Kael first entered the prison—watched with quiet anticipation. Throughout the underground city, every awakened guardian lowered its weapon slightly, as though acknowledging the arrival of someone worthy of respect.
The lonely bell rang again.
This time, the sound lasted longer.
Its clear tone drifted through the void before washing over the prison like a gentle breeze. The silver bells hanging throughout the underground city answered immediately. One after another, thousands of them began ringing in perfect harmony, their voices weaving together into a melody so beautiful that even the crystal rivers beneath the streets shimmered more brightly. Ancient towers reflected the growing light while silver flowers blooming throughout forgotten gardens slowly turned toward the widening crack, their petals unfolding as though greeting the arrival of an old friend.
Kael had never witnessed anything like it.
The city itself...
Was welcoming someone home.
The Watcher remained motionless.
Its endless black eyes never left the approaching light.
For the first time since it had appeared beyond the Door, it neither advanced nor spoke. It simply watched.
Waiting.
The smiling figure slowly exhaled, and a warmth returned to its expression that Kael had not seen before.
"I wondered if you would still carry it."
The First Son smiled faintly.
"He always said he would."
The stranger quietly adjusted his glasses.
"And for once..."
A rare smile appeared on his face.
"...he kept his promise."
The light continued drawing closer.
Slowly, a silhouette began taking shape within its glow.
Not a giant.
Not a god.
Just a single man walking through the endless void.
Every step he took caused faint ripples to spread through the darkness beneath his feet. The shattered remains of forgotten worlds drifting nearby gently moved aside, making way for him without ever being touched. Above his head floated a single silver bell suspended by a chain of pale light. It never swung wildly despite his movement. Instead, it chimed softly with every step, filling the endless darkness with a melody that somehow reached even the deepest corners of the underground city.
The figure wore weathered gray robes faded by unimaginable time. Their edges had become frayed, and countless tiny tears marked the fabric, yet they remained astonishingly clean. A simple wooden staff rested in one hand, while the other hung loosely by his side. His dark hair had grown long enough to reach his shoulders, streaked with silver despite a face that appeared no older than the First Son's. Calm gray eyes observed the prison with quiet familiarity.
He looked...
Ordinary.
Painfully ordinary.
There was no overwhelming aura.
No divine pressure.
No impossible brilliance.
If Kael had met him on a village road, he would have mistaken him for a wandering traveler.
And yet...
Every ancient being present stood straighter.
The Sleeper lowered its head.
The smiling figure smiled.
The First Son folded one fist across his chest.
Even the stranger quietly closed his ancient book in silent respect.
The traveler finally reached a point directly opposite the Watcher.
He stopped walking.
The silver bell above him rang once.
The sound spread across the void.
The Watcher's black eyes remained fixed upon him.
Several long moments passed before the traveler spoke.
"I've come."
His voice was gentle.
Almost tired.
Yet every word carried effortless certainty.
The Watcher answered immediately.
"I know."
Silence followed.
The underground city waited.
The traveler slowly looked toward the prison.
His gaze moved across the endless silver towers, the crystal rivers flowing beneath transparent streets, the awakened guardians standing among ancient gardens, and finally...
Kael.
Their eyes met.
The traveler's expression softened.
"So..."
A small smile appeared.
"You finally came back."
Kael frowned.
"You know me?"
The traveler chuckled quietly.
"I carried you when you were born."
The statement struck Kael harder than any revelation before it.
The black mark upon his arm flared brilliantly.
Another memory burst into existence.
Warm sunlight poured through wide windows overlooking an endless valley filled with silver flowers. Bells rang joyfully throughout the ancient city while countless citizens gathered within a magnificent marble hall decorated with flowing banners and crystal lanterns.
The hall was celebrating.
Music filled the air.
Children laughed.
People danced.
At the center of the gathering stood the same traveler, though his robes were new, his hair shorter, and his eyes filled with youthful energy.
He gently held a newborn child wrapped in silver cloth.
The four brothers stood nearby.
The First Son looked unusually nervous.
The stranger kept correcting everyone who held the baby incorrectly.
The fourth brother repeatedly tried making the child laugh despite the obvious fact that newborns could barely see.
Kael's ancient self simply watched with quiet happiness.
The traveler looked down at the sleeping infant.
Then smiled.
"This child will inherit more than a name."
He carefully placed the baby into Kael's ancient arms.
"He will inherit tomorrow."
The memory lingered.
Warm.
Peaceful.
Free from sorrow.
Then it shattered.
Reality returned.
Kael staggered backward.
His breathing became uneven.
The traveler continued watching him with gentle eyes.
"You remember."
Kael slowly nodded.
"A little."
The traveler smiled.
"That is enough for today."
The Watcher suddenly spoke again.
Its voice rolled across the endless void with the same emotionless certainty as before.
"You delayed me."
The traveler looked toward it.
"I know."
"You continue delaying me."
"I know."
"You cannot continue forever."
The traveler laughed softly.
"I never planned to."
The strange conversation unsettled Kael.
Neither being sounded angry.
They sounded...
Familiar.
Like two people who had repeated the same conversation countless times before.
The smiling figure quietly stepped closer to the crack.
"How long?"
The traveler remained silent for several moments before answering.
"I don't know."
His eyes slowly lifted toward the endless darkness behind the Watcher.
"I've forgotten how many worlds remain."
The words settled heavily over everyone.
The First Son's smile faded.
The stranger lowered his eyes.
The Sleeper quietly closed them.
Kael finally understood.
The traveler hadn't been protecting one world.
He had been walking...
From world to world...
For thousands of years.
Alone.
Carrying a single bell.
Warning civilizations before the Watcher arrived.
The traveler gently touched the silver bell floating above him.
Its clear tone echoed once more across the void.
Then he looked directly at Kael.
This time...
The warmth disappeared from his expression.
His gray eyes became unexpectedly serious.
"I didn't come here to save your world."
Silence.
"I came..."
He slowly raised the wooden staff in his hand.
"...to return something that belongs to you."
At the very top of the weathered staff rested a single object.
An ancient key.
Forged from silver and black metal intertwined together.
The instant Kael saw it...
The mark on his arm erupted with blinding light.
And somewhere beneath the underground city...
A lock turned.