With the Sky Obelisk restored, a semblance of calm returns to the Skyborne Tribe. However, Theron’s recent encounter with the Sky Wraith weighs heavily on him. He begins to question the true nature of the Crown and the trials he must face. Despite the villagers’ gratitude, he feels a growing disconnect, sensing that the elders are withholding crucial truths about his role as the Chosen One.
Theron approaches Elder Loryn, seeking clarity about the Sky Wraith and its connection to the Crown. Loryn’s response is cryptic, urging Theron to focus on his training. Frustrated, Theron confronts Kaelis and Zephyr, expressing his doubts about the tribe’s leadership. Kaelis, ever the optimist, suggests they trust the elders, while Zephyr agrees with Theron, hinting that blind faith might be dangerous.
Late that night, Theron’s rest is interrupted by another vision. This time, it is not Aric Homage who speaks to him, but a fragmented image of a past Chosen One—an unknown figure warning him of shadows lurking within his own tribe. The whispers of the Crown grow sharper, almost accusatory, compelling him to uncover the truth.
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Theron decides to investigate the elders’ council chambers, suspecting they might hold answers. Enlisting the help of Kaelis and Zephyr, the three sneak into the sacred hall under the cover of darkness. After navigating a maze of hidden passageways, they stumble upon a concealed chamber filled with ancient artifacts, scrolls, and a glowing map of Celestara.
Here, they discover records of the Chosen Ones’ trials, detailing the Crown’s evolving power and its impact on the balance of the world. One scroll reveals a disturbing truth: the Crown’s spirit is not merely a guiding force—it is a fragment of an ancient celestial being, bound to Celestara to prevent its full resurgence. This being, once worshiped as a deity, was fractured during a cataclysm, and its essence now fights to reunite itself, regardless of the cost to the world.
Stolen novel; please report.
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As Theron reads these revelations, he feels the Crown stirring within him, its whispers turning to pleading cries. The artifact reacts violently, causing the room to quake. Kaelis and Zephyr pull Theron back as a burst of energy erupts from the Crown, revealing another warning: “The shadows rise, and the skies will fall. Trust will break before balance can be restored.”
Before the trio can process the meaning of this message, they hear the approach of the elders. Hiding the scroll, they escape the chamber, but not without Elder Loryn catching a glimpse of their retreating forms.
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The next morning, Theron confronts Elder Loryn, demanding answers about the Crown’s nature and the hidden chamber. Loryn denies the allegations, accusing Theron of allowing fear to cloud his judgment. However, his evasiveness only confirms Theron’s suspicions. The once harmonious relationship between Theron and the elders begins to fracture, and the tribe’s faith in their Chosen One is tested as rumors of Theron’s defiance spread.
Kaelis and Zephyr remain at Theron’s side, but tension builds among the trio. Kaelis struggles with the idea that the elders—figures she has always trusted—might be deceiving them, while Zephyr’s impulsive nature pushes him to suggest taking more drastic measures to uncover the truth.
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The chapter ends with the tribe gathering for a rare celestial event: the Veil of Stars, when the heavens are said to align and reveal hidden truths to those who seek them. Theron stands apart from the crowd, looking to the skies for answers. He vows to embrace his destiny—not as a blind follower of tradition but as someone determined to carve his own path. Yet, the question remains: Can he trust those around him, or will the weight of his role isolate him further?