The world seemed to stop breathing.
Azril, still trembling on the cold ground, tried to look at what was actually happening. My knees felt weak. My entire body shook violently—not from the cold air, but from a fear I had never felt before. In front of me, the darkness of the Sanctuary seemed to peel away, replaced by a sight that made his small heart race.
A majestic shadow stood there. It was so large, so authoritative, that Azril felt like a speck of dust beneath its feet. From the figure's body, extraordinary waves of energy radiated outward. The Sanctuary ground, which had been filled with ruins and sharp rocks, was suddenly flattened as if pressed by a giant invisible hand into a vast, silent expanse.
Then, the pressure came for me.
"Ugh..."
It felt as if a mountain had fallen right onto my back. I was forced to my knees. A cracking sound echoed from within his body; his Star-Crust bones, which should have been hard, now felt as if they were about to shatter. Azril wanted to scream, but the sound was trapped in a throat that felt filled with hot liquid.
Cough!
The liquid came out. Azril's eyes widened. It wasn't red blood like his Mother's or Father's. What came out of his mouth was a shimmering silver fluid, soaking the newly flattened earth. The silver fluid didn't just come from his mouth, but seeped from the corners of his eyes and ears. It stung. Azril's vision began to blur; the world felt as if it were starting to spin.
"Please... set us free..."
The voices appeared suddenly. Not one, but thousands! They screamed right in my ears, making my head feel like it was going to burst. I tried to cover my ears with my stiff hands, but the screams came from within the soul of the majestic figure before me.
"This eternal path is an eternal path that leads astray!"
"Let us enter the cycle of reincarnation... we can't take it anymore!"
"You are filled with sin, release us!"
I didn't understand. Why were they all crying? Why did they all want to be released? Those words felt very heavy, like carrying a burden of sin I didn't comprehend. Amidst the many screams, one voice emerged—a voice different from the rest. It was deep, filled with agony and explosive rage.
"Hahaha... You bind me with this cause and effect? For what did I become immortal? Why can I resurrect the dead if the ones I love refuse to return to life?!"
The voice trembled with a tone of profound regret.
"I was only half a step away from that step... one more step! But you, whom I considered brothers, instead tried to erase my existence by planting this karma upon me! You betrayed me!"
Suddenly, the laughter broke out. It was the saddest laughter I had ever heard. Along with it, the pressure weighing down my body vanished instantly. The silver blood flowing from my eyes stopped. I looked up, trying to see the figure one last time.
The majestic shadow began to fade. It shattered into beautiful golden particles, drifting away on the silent Sanctuary wind. It was so beautiful, like the fireflies I once saw in my Mother's arms.
"That uncle..." I whispered softly.
In my heart, I felt very afraid. Those voices earlier were like terrifying ghosts. But, seeing the golden particles disappear, I also felt pity.
"Why was that uncle so sad? He was also very angry," I thought. "If I were that uncle, I wouldn't be that angry. I'd be afraid Mother and Father would scold me. Getting angry isn't good, right?"
I wiped the remains of the silver blood from my cheeks. I didn't know then—I was still innocent—that what I had just witnessed were the residual memories of the Creator of the Sanctuary—an eternal tragedy that would one day guide my path.
ON THE OTHER SIDE: THE AETHORIA EMPIRE
Far from the hell of the Sanctuary, beneath the grey skies of the Aethoria Empire, the atmosphere was heating up. However, it wasn't the heat of the fires of evolution, but the heat of injustice.
"This is insane! We are soldiers, not robbers!"
Arlo slammed the small table in his tent. His breath was ragged. Beside him, Lizra could only stay silent, her face pale. They had just received orders from the Imperial Commander to forcibly collect taxes from the poor villagers on the outskirts of the city. Not just collect, they were told to look for faults in the citizens so they could extort even more money.
"Calm down, Arlo. If they hear you, we're finished," Lizra whispered, trembling.
"Calm down? How can I be calm, Lizra? They are our own people! They are already starving, and now we are ordered to snatch their last bits of bread?" Arlo shouted.
Suddenly, the tent flap was pulled back. A Commander in shimmering armor entered with an arrogant face. "You are just slaves and low-class soldiers. Do you think you have the right to debate my orders?"
Arlo stood tall, his eyes staring sharply at the Commander. "Even though we are just slaves and lower soldiers, we still have a conscience, General! We will not do this dirty work!"
The room fell into dead silence. Lizra tried to pull Arlo's hand, but it was too late. A Great General emerged from the shadows, having overheard the commotion. His face was cold, devoid of any empathy.
"Conscience is useless on the battlefield," the General said coldly. "Because you talk too much, you will receive a new, more 'noble' task."
Arlo and Lizra froze.
"You will be placed on the front lines. You will be the bait in the war against the Yeredith Empire. Prepare yourselves, for tomorrow you depart toward death."
Arlo and Lizra could not argue. In this empire, defying a General meant an immediate death sentence. With a broken heart and thoughts turning to his wife and child, Arlo could only clench his fists. A great war was about to break out, and he was merely a pawn ready to be sacrificed.
BACK TO THE SANCTUARY
I didn't know what Father was doing in the world outside. All I knew was that I had to keep moving. The ruins where the majestic figure had disappeared now felt very lonely and dead. I had to find signs of life.
Azril tried to remember the movement he had discovered by accident back in the ravine where he met the peacock. A footstep that was very light, as if the weight of his body had vanished.
"Come on, feet... move," I pleaded with myself.
Wush!
Suddenly, my body shot forward. I wasn't walking on the ground; it was as if my feet were kicking the air! I flew several meters with incredible speed. But, because my soul was still shocked and couldn't control it, I lost my balance.
Thud!
I fell face-first. My face kissed the flattened earth. It hurt a lot, but I didn't cry. I remembered what Father said: If you fall, you have to get back up.
I stood up and tried again. Wush! Fell again.
I tried again. Wush! Slipped again.
Time after time I tried; exhaustion began to set in, but the desire to go home was far greater. Slowly, I began to maintain my balance. I started to be able to step through the air stably, even if it was still stiff. I began to name it "Light Steps."
With these newly learned Light Steps, I began to leave the ruins. I sped through the mists of the Sanctuary, moving away from the memories of that sad uncle, toward a deeper darkness. I didn't know what awaited me ahead, but I would keep running until I found the way home to my Mother's embrace.