Alden's eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.
The young man's temple throbbed painfully. It was like his head was being split apart. He instinctively massaged his temple, hoping to alleviate the annoying headache.
Alden slowly sat up, sensing he was on solid ground - had he washed up on the shore? - and scrutinised his surroundings.
After a moment of searching, he concluded he was in some hidden cavern.
The radiant water from the Waterfall of Stars illuminated the small cave. The shimmering starlight moved to and fro on the rocky wall opposite him, mirroring the gentle ebb and flow of the waves. Alden caught a gleam of light from above, and shifted his neck, discovering a scattering of stalactites hanging from the ceiling.
They shone softly like celestial jewels.
Alden's amazement did not last long as he remembered how he had ended up in this cavern.
The little phoenix was sprawled on the ground weakly beside him.
For a moment, Alden feared the worst.
His heart jumped to his throat.
A second later, he exhaled and sighed with profound relief.
While Ignia's breath was very faint, it was still undoubtedly there.
That was better than none.
Alden hurriedly moved to his familiar's side, cradling her gently in his arms.
He patted her back gently but firmly, and soon, a torrent of water escaped from Ignia's beak.
Slowly but surely, the little bird's breathing returned to normal.
Alden wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, shivering at the close call.
Sitting back down after depositing the phoenix gingerly on the ground, the young man stared at the mystical lake, his expression pensive and a little afraid.
Thankfully, he and Ignia had survived his reckless attempt to flee from the dire horror.
It also seemed they were relatively safe inside this cavern, for no abomination had shown up and attacked this place. The Waterfall was part of a large cave formation, so Alden surmised he had inadvertently discovered one of the smaller, secluded caves.
Alden thanked his lucky stars, grateful for the small blessing. He continued to gaze at the sparkling lake. Alden lost himself in its profound depth.
When he eventually broke out of his daze, he suddenly frowned.
Out there on the shimmering water, his reflection stared back at him.
That wasn't what spooked Alden, though.
No, it had to do with the faint image of a jagged shadow… behind him.
Slowly and carefully, he turned around.
The young man held his breath, his heart hammering in his ears.
Alden swallowed and shook off his sudden fear.
There, at the back of the cavern, he spied a small altar.
It was made from a tenebrous stone that seemed to suck any light in, rough and weathered. Atop this ominous shrine lay a mysterious tablet.
Alden shivered, very disturbed by the sight before him. A baleful aura seemed to surround the altar.
It was as if someone had tried to make a sacrifice to some sort of evil deity.
Alternatively, the mysterious tablet could also be the source of the forbidding air.
Alden wouldn't know unless he came closer.
But he didn't really want to do that.
Unfortunately for him, as soon as he laid eyes on the altar, something deep within Alden compelled him to move.
He couldn't resist the allure of the tablet…
Alden had no right to avoid it.
With thoughts of the dark altar consuming his mind, the young man finally came to a halt in front of the weathered shrine. There, he could view the stone slab in greater detail. And when he did, searing hot pain erupted within his skull.
Alden growled and took a step back, his eyes turning bloodshot.
Just merely gazing at the esoteric symbols engraved on the stone tablet was enough to cause him harrowing pain. Yet, for some reason, he didn't give in to the agony.
Alden himself didn't know why he was .
…Why he was so intent on getting his hands on the stone slab.
Alden growled again and closed his eyes. He used his Mana Sense this time, mapping the dark altar.
The young man stepped forward and placed a palm on the weathered tablet.
The stone felt rough beneath his touch.
For a moment, Alden was content to trace the mysterious symbols.
Then, he suddenly froze.
Carved at the bottom of the slab was a different inscription than all the rest.
Feeling the familiar letters denoting the common language used within the Sanctuary, Alden's mind broke into sheer turmoil.
How had the dialect used by the humans made its way onto this ancient tablet?
And most importantly, why?
Making sure he hadn't sensed wrong, Alden paled.
A restless feeling sparked to life in his heart. He opened his eyes briefly, risking more pain to get a better look at what was written.
There, a few words were etched haphazardly on the stone.
All the hair on Alden's body stood on end.
Stunned, he didn't know what to make of what he had just read.
Just why was the Abyss being mentioned again?!
Inscribed underneath the ominous words was a name:
[Augur of Judgement].
Why was the name written in brackets?
Were they an Asteron?
'This… this is too much for me to take in.'
He staggered as his body seemed to lose strength. The implications of what he had just seen threatened to drive Alden mad.
The main one, though, was…
How did one "become" an Abyss?
Alden felt the concept was ludicrous!
There was no way to turn into that barren place.
The [Augur of Judgement] did not mean that literally. Perhaps there was a deeper symbolism hidden inside these words.
Eventually, Alden's eyes widened.
Alden asked himself one simple question.
Where had his powers come from?
Or rather, what insidious and harrowing place were they linked to?
So, by "becoming the Abyss", could the being be alluding to an increase in his power?
Exhaling a turbid breath, Alden concluded that his decay was somehow linked with this strange tablet. The only thing he wanted to know was how. Cursing his headache, the young man reflexively circulated his mana and leaned on the stone slab.
In the next moment, devastating pain ripped through his entire being.