And Grey disappeared into his mental space.

The placid water surrounded him, rippling gently beneath his feet, with the familiar pool of golden liquid in its usual spot. But something was different. In front of him stood a figure—not shrouded in light or obscured by mystery, but clear and vivid, sharper than anything he had ever seen, even in the outside world.

It was the image of a creature he had seen once before in his vision while comprehending the scroll—a beast carrying a world on its back. Though this version was smaller, less majestic, it was unmistakable. Grey didn’t know what it was, only that its presence commanded his attention.

The voice that emanated from it was familiar but transformed. No longer strained or fractured, it was full of ancient authority, resounding with the weight of endless time. Each word seemed to echo through Grey’s very being.

“This is the last time I will help you,” it said, the voice reverberating through the silent expanse. “There will be nothing left of me after.”

The creature continued, its tone unwavering. “I can stop your death. It was my fault for allowing you to see through my eyes in the first place. You must leave this place. Rise above all the rest.”

“Wait!” Grey called out, his voice desperate as the creature began to fade, its form dissolving into the endless expanse of his mind. “Who are you? Tell me your name!”

The creature paused, its presence flickering like a dying ember. A whisper came back to him, soft yet unyielding, carrying an ancient truth.

“I once was Origin, home of the first life. My form is but an imitation of my descendants, the Turtles of Creation.”

The name held weight, reverberating through Grey’s thoughts. He felt its significance deep within him, as though it had always been a part of him, waiting to be uncovered.

As the final word left its being, Origin’s form began to dissolve. A faint crackling sound filled the air as golden threads unraveled from its body, each strand transformed into an eruption of colors, glowing with immense light. The threads stretched outward, circling Grey like streams of liquid fire, their warmth brushing against his skin.

Grey gasped as the lights began to merge into him. The void he had felt—the emptiness that had gnawed at him even in this mental space—began to recede.

Above him, the creature’s remaining form shimmered, its glowing veins dimming until it was nearly transparent. Origin’s voice, faint but resolute, echoed one last time.

“Rise… and carry what I could not…”

And then it was gone.

Grey stood alone in the vast expanse of his mind, the weight of Origin’s final words settling over him like an unshakable mantle. Though the ancient being had vanished, its essence lingered, a radiant light suffusing the space around him. That same light flowed outward, healing his broken body in the outside world.

Grey was suddenly forced from his mind, the biting cold of snow against his back jolting him to reality. Above him, he saw the shocked faces of Keen and Brawl, their expressions etched with a mixture of disbelief and relief. A few others had also arrived—Shot, Serene, and Aedric—each showing varying degrees of surprise and concern.

“Uh—what’s wrong?” Grey asked, his voice hoarse and confused. For a moment, he struggled to reconcile what had just happened, still hardly believing that his body had nearly crumbled to dust.

“Grey, you—” Keen started, but before he could finish, someone pounced on Grey, wrapping their arms tightly around him.

“You—you were disappearing…” Serene sputtered, her voice trembling, remnants of earlier sobs still evident.

Grey glanced down at himself, realizing he was whole again, not a scratch to be seen. He patted Serene’s back gently, his voice soft. “I’m fine. See?” He held up his hand, remembering the image of his body fading moments before his encounter with Origin.

Serene didn’t respond, simply clinging to him, as if afraid he might vanish again. Aedric’s voice broke the moment. “Grey, just how much power did you use? You shouldn’t have been able to tap into Will this potent.”

Grey’s thoughts turned to Origin. The ancient being had let him see through its eyes, allowing him to harness the flow of Will in all things, to wield a power far beyond what he had ever known. But Grey decided that wasn’t something others needed to know—not yet. “I don’t know…” he said, shaking his head. “I was desperate, about to die. Then… well, this.”

Aedric didn’t look satisfied with the answer, his sharp gaze lingering on Grey’s face. After all, he had witnessed someone on the verge of disintegration return to full form as though nothing had happened. Still, he didn’t press the matter.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Shot spoke next, his voice steady but tinged with concern. “What happened? Serene said there was some kind of monster here? This close to the village?”

Grey nodded, his expression serious. “It was strong—really strong. It created illusions… bad ones. I don’t know how it would handle a group, but I was completely helpless alone.”

He paused, taking a deep breath. “Something’s wrong. This thing wasn’t far from the barrier… We were closer to the village than we should’ve been when I first noticed it.”

A heavy silence followed as they helped Grey to his feet. Serene stayed close to him as they began the trek back. The group moved quietly, each lost in their thoughts. After some time, when Aedric was out of earshot, Brawl slowed his pace to walk beside Grey.

“When you increase our talents, you have to connect with us first, right?” Brawl asked, his voice low.

Grey nodded. “Yeah. That’s how it works.”

Brawl glanced at him before continuing. “How much energy does it take to connect to someone?”

Grey thought for a moment, recalling the connection he’d formed with Tear. “It depends on their initial talent, but… it takes less energy than increasing someone’s talent.”

Brawl nodded again, as if filing the information away. “Then, is there a limit to the distance for using your abilities?”

Grey shrugged. “I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Once I connect with someone, I can always see their aura.”

Brawl fell silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he said, “I’ll tell Keen and Elder when we’re alone. I think we should use all the remaining Central Organs to connect with as many villagers as possible.”

Serene’s head snapped toward Brawl, her expression surprised, but she said nothing.

Brawl walked ahead to join Keen, Shot, and Aedric, leaving Serene and Grey behind. The silence between them stretched until Grey broke it.

“Tear and Stilra are safe?” he asked, his mind flashing back to the horrifying illusions from earlier.

“I left them with Patrona when I went to get Keen,” she murmured, her voice quieter than usual.

Grey caught the tension in her tone and glanced at her. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I know you would’ve stayed to fight, but it was focused on me, and—”

Serene shook her head sharply, cutting him off. “It’s not your fault. I—I’m not strong enough yet.” Her voice wavered, and she looked down. “I know I had to take them to safety, but… if I was stronger, faster—like you, Keen, and Brawl—I could’ve returned after dropping them in the village. I could’ve been there before you…”

She trailed off, her words left unfinished, but the weight of them hung in the air. Grey understood her feelings all too well. He had faced the illusion of losing her, and it had nearly broken him. He couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for her to watch him fade into nothing.

Without thinking, Grey reached for her hand, the sudden gesture making her jump slightly. He held it firmly, drawing her gaze to his.

“We’ll get stronger. Together.” His voice was steady, full of quiet determination. He met her eyes and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Next time, we’ll fight together,” he promised.

For a moment, the tension eased. The weight of what had happened lingered, but they walked on side by side, a flicker of resolve growing between them.

It didn’t take long for them to return. Keen said something quietly to the guard at the gate, who immediately stiffened, his posture more alert as the village gates creaked closed behind them with deliberate care.

Keen turned to Grey. “Come to the storehouse soon. Check on Tear and Stilra first—tell them we’ll be back soon.”

Grey nodded, watching as Keen, Brawl, Aedric, and Shot separated from him and Serene, heading toward the smokehouse. He and Serene walked silently toward her home, hand in hand, the village streets feeling quieter than usual.

When they arrived, Grey heard his sister’s voice inside, speaking softly with Stilra, though he couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. As he stepped into the room, Tear immediately shot to her feet, her face lighting up.

“See? I told you Grey is stronger than any other hunter!” she announced proudly to the room. “He’s totally fine—not a scratch!”

There was a brief pause before Stilra spoke, her voice quiet. “Tear… that’s what I said.”

Tear turned to her friend, hesitating for just a moment before proclaiming, “Yes… you did. I agree.” Her voice was still filled with pride, completely unfazed.

Grey couldn’t help but smile at the two. Tear caught his expression and grinned even wider after looking down. “I’m telling Carver!” she declared, pushing her way toward the door.

Grey caught her gently. “Slow down, Tear. I have something to tell you and Stilra first.” He glanced around and, not seeing Patrona, assumed she’d returned to her work in the next building. “We’re heading to the storehouse, but we’ll be back soon. Keen too.”

He turned his attention to Stilra, approaching her with a soft tone. “Make sure to tell your mom, okay?”

Stilra nodded shyly, but before she could speak, Grey leaned in and whispered teasingly, “Did you really tell Tear I was the stranger’s hunter?”

Her face turned beet red. “I’m gonna tell my mom now!” she stammered, standing abruptly. She waved to Tear as she hurried toward the door. “You can come anytime!” And with that, she was gone.

Behind him, Serene chuckled softly. She turned to Tear, who was now grinning mischievously. “What do you need to tell Dad?” Serene asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tear’s grin widened. “That’s a secret.” Without another word, she darted out of the room, heading toward Serene’s home.

Serene frowned, her confusion evident. “What is she getting up to with him?”

Grey shook his head, a faint smile on his face. “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”

They set off toward the storehouse together, the sun hanging high in the sky, its warm light softening the edges of the chaos from earlier.