Chapter 2: The Whispers Grow Louder

Ren couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed within him. The moment his hand touched the Beacon's light, his entire world had shifted. As he stood up on the rocky shore, cold wind biting at his skin, he could feel it. Deep inside, there was a hum, like a faint vibration running through his veins. It was the Resonance. It wasn't just a myth, or something out of the old stories. It was real—and it had chosen him.

The walk back to the city was silent except for the howling wind and the distant crashing of the waves. Ren kept his head down, eyes on the cobblestone streets beneath his feet, replaying the events in his mind. What was that place he had seen in the vision? The city beneath the waves, the beings made of light and shadow... it felt so real, yet so distant. And the whispers. They hadn't stopped.

"Find the others… seek the truth…"

The words echoed in his mind, faint but persistent. The more he tried to ignore them, the louder they seemed to become. He didn't know who or what was speaking to him, but he knew one thing for sure—he wasn't alone anymore.

As Ren entered the familiar streets of Abysson, the city felt different. The once-crowded alleys now seemed empty, and the usual chatter of merchants and passersby was drowned out by the whispers in his head. He pulled his coat tighter around himself, trying to block out the noise, but it was useless.

He passed a group of workers unloading crates from a nearby ship. They were arguing about something, but Ren barely heard them. He couldn't focus on anything. His thoughts were consumed by the Beacon and what it had shown him. He knew he needed answers, but where could he even start?

He reached the small apartment he called home, a rundown place on the edge of the city. Inside, it was dark and cold, but Ren preferred it that way. He lit a single lantern, casting flickering shadows on the walls, and collapsed into the old chair by the window.

For a long time, he just sat there, staring out at the dark streets below. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of everything. The Resonance, the vision, the whispers—none of it made any sense. But deep down, Ren knew this was just the beginning. He had tapped into something ancient and powerful, something that others had sought for centuries.

And now, it was his.

But with the power came the questions. What did the Beacon want from him? Why had it chosen him? And what was the cost of using this power? He had heard the stories—people who tried to harness the Resonances often lost themselves in the process. Some went mad, others disappeared, and a few were said to have become something... else.

Ren's hand trembled as he looked down at his palm. The sensation of the light still lingered there, a faint warmth that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. He closed his fist, shutting his eyes for a moment, trying to block out the thoughts, but they came flooding back.

The visions of that underwater city, the beings of light and shadow, the strange symbols flashing through his mind—none of it made any sense. Yet, at the same time, it felt oddly familiar, like a dream he had long forgotten but was only now starting to remember.

Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door jolted him out of his thoughts. Ren's eyes snapped open, and his heart skipped a beat. He hadn't been expecting anyone.

He stood up slowly, moving toward the door with cautious steps. His hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment, hesitation flooding his mind. But the knock came again, this time louder, more insistent.

Ren opened the door just a crack, peering out into the dim hallway. Standing there was a woman, cloaked in a heavy, dark coat, her hood pulled low over her face. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding, met his.

"Ren Valt, isn't it?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying an edge of authority.

Ren didn't respond immediately. He studied her for a moment, his mind racing. He didn't recognize her, but something about her presence felt... dangerous.

"Who's asking?" he finally replied, keeping his tone cautious.

The woman smirked, pulling back her hood to reveal short, dark hair and a scar running down the side of her cheek. She looked battle-worn, like someone who had seen more than her share of conflict.

"Name's Kael," she said, leaning against the doorframe. "I hear you've been poking around places you shouldn't."

Ren's heart skipped again. How could she know? He had been careful, hadn't he? The Beacon... it had been hidden, far out in the water where no one would have seen him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ren said, trying to sound calm, but he could hear the nervousness in his own voice.

Kael's smirk grew wider. "Oh, I think you do. You've been marked, haven't you?"

Ren stiffened at her words. How could she possibly know about the Resonance? He hadn't told anyone. He barely even understood it himself.

"I don't know what you mean," Ren said, his grip tightening on the door.

Kael's eyes flicked down to his hand, then back up to his face. "You feel it, don't you? The pull. The whispers. The Beacon chose you, and now... you're part of this."

Ren swallowed hard, his mind racing. This woman knew too much. More than he was comfortable with. But as much as he wanted to shut the door in her face and pretend this conversation had never happened, he couldn't shake the feeling that she had answers—answers he needed.

"What do you know about the Beacon?" Ren asked, his voice low.

Kael's smile faded, replaced by a serious look. "More than you could imagine. And if you're smart, you'll come with me. There's a lot you need to learn... before it's too late."

Ren hesitated for a moment, but the whispers in his mind were growing louder again, urging him to move forward, to follow the path that had been laid before him.

He opened the door wider, stepping aside to let her in.

"Start talking," he said.

And just like that, Ren Valt's journey into the Abyss truly began.