Chapter 70: Echoes of the Abyss

Kael paced back and forth in his quarters, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The conversation with the Council had left him uneasy. It was clear that they didn't fully grasp the magnitude of what lay beneath the Tower.

Elara leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "We can't wait for them to sort through ancient scrolls. That dark energy is growing stronger by the hour. We need to act."

Syra, standing near the window, nodded. "Elara's right. Every minute we waste could make the situation worse."

Kael stopped pacing and faced them both. "I know. But charging into the depths of the Tower again without a plan is reckless. The shadow entity we fought was just the beginning."

"What do you propose then?" Elara asked, her gaze fixed on Kael.

"We need to gather more information. Not just from the Council, but from those who have dealt with the Tower's secrets before." Kael's expression hardened. "There's an old hermit who lives on the outskirts of the city. He's a former guardian of the Tower, one of the few who knows its true history."

Elara raised an eyebrow. "A hermit? Sounds promising…"

"He's eccentric, but he's seen things most people can't even imagine," Kael explained. "If anyone knows what we're dealing with, it's him."

Syra sighed. "So we're going to trust the ramblings of an old man to save us from an ancient evil? Great."

"We don't have much choice," Kael said, his tone firm. "If we don't act now, we might not get another chance."

Elara pushed off the wall and stretched. "Alright, let's find this hermit. But I hope you're right about him, Kael. We can't afford any more dead ends."

As the trio left the Tower and made their way through the bustling streets of the city, Kael's thoughts drifted back to the dark energy they had encountered. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before—an ancient, malevolent force that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. And the more he thought about it, the more certain he became that this was no ordinary threat.

After what felt like hours of navigating through narrow alleys and crowded market squares, they finally reached the outskirts of the city. The air was cooler here, the noise of the city fading into the distance. The path ahead of them was overgrown with vines and thick underbrush, leading up to a small, dilapidated hut nestled against the edge of a forest.

"This is it," Kael said, stopping in front of the hut. "The hermit lives here."

Syra glanced around, unimpressed. "Charming."

Kael knocked on the wooden door, the sound echoing in the silence. For a moment, there was no response. Then, the door creaked open, revealing a hunched figure dressed in ragged robes. The hermit's face was obscured by a hood, but Kael could feel the intensity of his gaze.

"What do you want?" the hermit rasped, his voice dry and brittle like dead leaves.

"We need your help," Kael said, stepping forward. "There's something stirring beneath the Arcanum Tower. A dark power that we can't fully comprehend. You were a guardian once… you must know something about it."

The hermit's eyes glinted from beneath his hood, and for a moment, Kael thought he saw a flicker of recognition. But then the old man shook his head.

"The Tower is a place of many secrets," the hermit muttered. "Not all of them should be uncovered."

"We don't have a choice," Elara interjected. "The power we faced is growing. It's already begun to awaken, and if we don't stop it, it could destroy everything."

The hermit was silent for a long time, his gaze shifting between Kael, Elara, and Syra. Finally, he sighed and stepped aside, allowing them to enter the hut.

Inside, the air was thick with the smell of herbs and incense. Shelves lined the walls, filled with jars of strange liquids and dried plants. A small fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room.

The hermit gestured for them to sit, and once they were settled, he spoke again.

"What you've encountered is an ancient force," he began, his voice low and gravelly. "One that predates the Tower itself. Long ago, when the Tower was first constructed, powerful mages sealed away a great evil beneath its foundation. They believed it would remain trapped forever, but… time weakens all things."

Kael leaned forward. "What kind of evil?"

The hermit's eyes gleamed. "A creature of the Abyss. A being born from the darkest corners of the universe. Its power is vast, and its hunger insatiable. The mages who sealed it away sacrificed their lives to create the barrier that holds it. But that barrier is crumbling."

Syra frowned. "And what happens when it breaks?"

The hermit smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "Chaos. Destruction. The creature will consume everything in its path, feeding on the very essence of life."

Elara's expression darkened. "Then we need to reinforce the barrier. Find a way to strengthen the seal."

"It's not that simple," the hermit said, shaking his head. "The seal was crafted with ancient magic—magic that no longer exists in this world. To strengthen it, you would need to find the source of that power. And even then, it might not be enough."

Kael clenched his fists. "There has to be something we can do."

The hermit studied him for a long moment before speaking again. "There may be one way. But it is dangerous, and the price may be more than you are willing to pay."

"What is it?" Kael asked, his voice steady.

"There is a place," the hermit said slowly. "A realm beyond this one, where the magic of the ancient mages still lingers. It is a place of great power… but also great peril. Few who venture there return."

"And you think we'll find what we need there?" Elara asked.

The hermit nodded. "If you can survive the journey, you may find the key to sealing the creature once more."

Kael exchanged a glance with Elara and Syra. It was a dangerous gamble, but what choice did they have? The fate of the world rested on their shoulders.

"We'll go," Kael said, his voice resolute. "Tell us how to get there."