Page 10
The road… was no longer as it was.
The fog… was no longer just fog.
But—
it was watching.
The carriage moved again…
but no one spoke.
The guards… silent.
The commander… grim.
And Griffin—
calmer than usual.
As for Adam—
he was thinking.
Not about the fight…
but about the word.
"Found."
He whispered it to himself.
Then—
"Your pursuit."
He raised his head slightly…
and looked ahead.
And said calmly:
"How long?"
The question wasn't directed at anyone…
but Griffin answered.
"Since you were born."
The guards' breath froze.
As for the commander—
he looked at him sharply.
"Stop speaking in riddles, old man."
Griffin smiled…
but this time—
without lightness.
"If it were simple… I wouldn't be here."
Then he looked at Adam.
"You are not being hunted because you are strong."
He paused.
"But because you are… a key."
Silence.
One word…
but heavier than swords.
Adam stepped forward.
"A key… to what?"
But Griffin didn't answer directly.
Instead—
he raised his hand.
The faint light… returned.
But this time—
it was not healing.
But—
something else.
Symbols appeared…
spinning around his palm.
Ancient markings…
as if not from this time.
The commander's eyes widened.
"This…"
But his voice stopped.
Because the symbols—
responded.
They moved… toward Adam.
Stopped in front of him…
then—
disappeared.
As if they… entered him.
In that moment—
Adam felt something.
Not pain…
but—
an echo.
A voice… far away.
"At last…"
His body trembled for a moment—
then everything returned to normal.
He looked at Griffin.
"What did you do?"
Griffin answered calmly:
"I awakened something… that was asleep."
The commander's face stiffened.
"You are playing with fire."
Griffin replied:
"Rather, with the fire that will consume this world."
Silence.
Then—
the carriage stopped suddenly.
But this time—
not because of an attack.
But—
because the road… had ended.
Ahead—
there was nothing.
No trees…
no fog…
only—
emptiness.
The commander slowly stood up.
"Impossible…"
He stepped down from the carriage…
and took one step forward.
Then—
he vanished.
As if he had never existed.
One of the guards screamed:
"Commander!"
But there was no response.
The others approached cautiously…
but none dared to touch the void.
Except—
Adam.
He stepped forward.
His eyes steady.
He stood at the edge…
then extended his hand.
He hesitated for a moment—
then—
touched it.
And the moment he did—
the world broke.
Not metaphorically…
but literally.
The air cracked…
like glass.
And it opened—
a door.
Light… not white.
And darkness… not black.
Something in between.
Everyone felt the pressure.
Some of the guards fell to their knees…
unable to endure it.
As for Griffin—
he was watching…
intently.
And he said in a low voice:
"The Gate…"
Adam looked at him.
"To where?"
But before he could answer—
something emerged… from within.
A foot…
then another.
A person.
But—
not like any person.
White hair…
but not from age.
His eyes—
closed.
And on his body—
the same symbol.
🜂 The black wing… and the white line.
He slowly opened his eyes—
and they were…
empty.
He looked directly at Adam.
Then said—
in a calm voice…
but carrying unbearable weight:
"At last… I found you."
Adam's body stiffened.
Not fear…
but—
recognition.
As if part of him…
knew that voice.
He whispered:
"Who… are you?"
The man smiled.
One step forward.
"I am…"
He paused.
"Your beginning."
And in an instant—
he vanished.
But—
not far away.
He reappeared… directly in front of Adam.
And his hand—
was on his chest.
Time froze.
Then—
light erupted.
An explosion—
not outside…
but inside Adam.
A scream—
escaped him… unwillingly.