The Enigmas

A sea of people stretched out in a long line, eagerly awaiting their turn to enter the dimensional portal of Ellsmere. This was no ordinary portal; it was a gateway that connected to numerous cities, enabling magical travel across vast distances. Today, however, the crowd was larger than usual. Recent chaos had shaken the city, and many were no longer willing to remain on its perilous outskirts. The portal, a shimmering nexus of arcane energy, stood as their beacon of escape, promising safety and new beginnings far from the turmoil that had engulfed Ellsmere.

The Empire held many portals such as this, fixed with certain destinations, scattered across the various cities within the empire, connecting the major cities with one another. Except in its capital, of course, where only Thrones were allowed to use dimensional portals. Others have to travel by physical means, but that road was known to only few as well.

Among the large crowd that was desperate to leave the streets of Ellsmere, there stood a lone figure, cloaked in a dark hood, patiently waiting for his turn to use the portal. The guards stopped him, demanding to know his identity, but upon seeing the royal emblem, quickly stepped aside, allowing him to pass swiftly.

The figure calmly stepped through the portal, the magical energies swirling around him as he was transported across the plains of space, arriving at his destination - the illustrious city of Revlon.

The city's towering spires and grand architecture greeted him as soon as he emerged from the portal, a sight that would leave any mortal in awe. For Orion, it was just another stop on his journey. But little did he know, that his arrival in Revlon would set in motion a chain of events that would shake the very foundations of the empire and thrust him in the midst of altering the fate of all magical beings.

Why was he here? The answer lay buried deep within the secret order's records. The last known member of the Zeral family had been spotted at an auction held by the Dark Continental, the most formidable underworld organization known to man. This shadowy syndicate, whose origins predated even the mighty empire, had woven its insidious tendrils throughout all three kingdoms, including the empire itself.

In the heart of Revlon, Orion searched for a particular individual, a crucial link to the Dark Continental. According to the secret order's records, this person was the sole conduit through which Orion could hope to contact the elusive organization. The Zeral family was shrouded in danger and secrecy, so much so that even uttering their name was a dire taboo within the empire.

Orion's knowledge of the Zerals was limited but revealing. Their reputation for deadly secrecy made even the bravest hearts quiver, and the speculation about their demise was equally unsettling. According to the records he had uncovered in the crypt, the last known Zeral had appeared in the divinations of the order's most revered seer. This visionary had glimpsed the Zeral during one of his profound insights into the location of second artifact carried by zerals.

Yes! The Divination—an enigmatic and mystical practice that understood by few. It was something Orion had encountered only recently during one of his relentless pursuits of the knowledge related to dimensional portals. The revelation that fascinated and unnerved him in equal measure. Through his studies, he had uncovered whispers of its existence, tales of seers who could peer beyond the veil of reality to glimpse truths hidden from ordinary sight.

Turned out the dimensional portals and seers were connected in some way, but the simple idea that divination—peering into the future—was even remotely possible stretched the boundaries of his understanding. Manipulating space to traverse the world was extraordinary enough, but this was a different realm of magic altogether. Perhaps his years in solitude and his grandfather's intentional secrecy had kept him ignorant of such wonders.

However, once he gained access to the vast library of such a knowledge, Orion began to piece together the truth. He learned about the individuals with a rare abilities such as these, possessed only by a select few known as Enigmas.

Unlike ordinary mages, Enigmas had little to no affinity for elemental magic. Instead, they wielded an innate ability, one that emerged at a pivotal moment in their lives. This unique power could not be taught or learned; it was a gift bestowed upon them from birth.

Among these Enigmas, there were two distinct types. The first were the dimensional mages, those who could bend space itself and create portals. These individuals were the architects of the empire's network of portals, making instantaneous travel possible.

The second type of Enigmas were even rarer: the seers. These individuals possessed the extraordinary ability to perform divination, glimpsing into the past, present, and future through various mystical means. Their visions could reveal truths hidden from ordinary sight, offering a rare and precious insight into the fabric of time.

Orion had always resented his grandfather for hus prophecies but now he understood that the power of divination was not just a myth but a profound reality. Seers could navigate the temporal currents, seeing events that had been, that were unfolding, and that were yet to come.

The origin of the enigmas remained shrouded in mystery, a puzzle that defied the understanding of even the greatest minds. No one knew why they possessed such incredible powers, only that they were born with it and described it as a gift from the gods. A gift that could not be acquired through any mortal means.

The most astounding aspect of their abilities was that they did not require mana, the lifeblood of all other magic. Instead, their potential and limits were defined solely by the strength of their willpower and mental fortitude.

Those who dared to push beyond their boundaries suffered the consequences of going mad, their minds shattered by the sheer force of their own ability.

For Orion, the revelation of the enigmas had been a shock, he was certainly carrying the artifact that could achieve something similar - Lisa's pendant. Of course, He didn't know if it was a one-time thing or could be used again? Or how ? if it could. But it was a strange realization that there were powers beyond his own capabilities. But it was not until he battled the undead wyvern, that he truly understood the magnitude of the mysteries and secrets that lay before him.

"Truly, there's so much yet to unravel," Orion muttered to himself.

So with broaden perspective, he strode out into the city, determined to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within its walls. For in this world of magic and mystery, nothing was as it seemed, and the greatest truths often lay bare, naked before the very eyes; you just need to find ways to see it.

While Orion had alredy departed from Ellsmere City, a woman moved through the town, inquiring about the infamous wyvern killer. She was striking, with dark blue hair and matching blue eyes, asking people about the insident of wyvren's invasion. Finally, at the end of the day. She now stood before the lone survivor of the tavern attack, a man Orion would have recognized instantly. A silver core mage with blond hair that was foolishly brave—Hunter Brian Goldsman.

"Did you notice anything unusual before the tavern was destroyed?" Thr women asked, her voice steady and probing.

"The invasion of wyverns is strange enough," Brian replied, his voice trembling with the memory. "I wanted to help, but it was a wyvern. Who can fight against such a beast? All my companions... they all died. I barely survived myself, and I lost my ability to use magic."

"Did you see anyone who seemed out of place? Anyone new in town?" she pressed, her eyes keenly observing his every reaction.

"There were two people in plain white masks. They left the bar quickly when they sensed the guards watching them," he recounted, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"I know about them. Their little scene was witnessed by many. They are suspects, along with the wyvern killer," she acknowledged, before pressing on. "Was there anyone else? You were a silver core mage. Perhaps you noticed something others missed."

She poured more wine into his cup, a subtle encouragement for him to continue.

"Someone new at the bar! someone new at the bar!" Brian muttered, racking his memory. "Now that you mention it, there was indeed someone like that. A boy with crimson red hair."