Avalon strode through one of the winding halls of the Vault of Relics. The vault served as a library of ancient artifacts too dangerous to be touched by mortal hands. Although most artifacts kept within the vaults were given willingly, some were taken by force eons ago, lost by mankind or any form of recorded history.

Along the hallway, Avalon passed massive iron doors sealed by complex, powerful glyphs. An artifact laid behind each door, perhaps one of the twin Maces of Vernok, or maybe the Sword of Courage. The dark presence of the Bane of Hopes and Dreams seeped past its prison door. Weapons were not the only things cataloged by the vault. The mysterious Chaos Clock was known to reside within these hallowed halls, as well as the Infinite Cube.

Avalon slowed her pace before a single golden door. In front of it stood a specially trained Silent One with a blue trimmed coat and hood. These Silent One’s were only addressed as the Wingless. Long ago, at their initiation they did away with their identities, knowing full well that they would spend their lifespan guarding the Vault of Relics.

Avalon lifted her chin and acknowledged the Wingless. “Does Jedeo’s First Silencer rest undisturbed, sister?”

The Wingless nodded, a reflective golden mask veiled her face. “For eternity, my Gold Wing.”

Avalon bowed her head in respect but continued on. The First Silencer was not the reason why she was here. She turned around a corner and walked to the very end of another corridor, eventually stopping before a large steel door. The Wingless raised her hand to Avalon and shook her head.

“No one may go beyond this point, Gold Wing. You know the rules,” the Wingless said.

Avalon knocked the hand away. “I must see the Eye of Prophecy. It is a matter of great urgency!” Avalon pleaded.

The Wingless rested her hand on her ninjato’s hilt. Even the Wingless integrated the Black Rabbit teachings into their training regiment. Avalon saw to it that the majority of the Silent Ones did so. With the perfection of stealth and martial arts, the Wingless were easily the greatest fighters in Draak’Terra. If Avalon was not careful, she may not walk out of the vaults alive.

“None can be within the presence of the Eye. Not even you, Prime Gold Wing,” the Wingless hissed.

Avalon bit her lip. She swelled her chest, gathering any lingering confidence she had left within the shadow of their elite guard. “I order yo—”

“Only the Red Wing commands me.”

Avalon balled her fists. “Listen! The realms are in great peril. With each Celestial Seal’s destruction, a shadowy organization makes their move. I must learn their endgame. I must know the reason why they want to unleash the gods!”

The Wingless slowly unsheathed her blade.

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Avalon sighed in defeat. “When the seals break, there may not be a Vault to protect.”

A long pause drifted between the two before the Wingless lowered her head and stepped aside. “Make it quick, Gold Wing.”

Avalon waited for the Wingless to remove the many restrictions on the door, then bowed to the sentinel and cautiously entered the portal.

Avalon found the chamber small and circular. Dark and stuffy. The air rested stale in her lungs, and a ghostly chill crawled over her skin the closer she approached the center of the room. A pink colored eye sat on a pedestal waiting for Avalon to touch it. Blackened viens ran over the eyeball, and the serpent-like iris dead stare sent shivers down Avalon’s spine. She couldn’t tell what creature the eye came from; whether it was humanoid or dragon-like in nature. Although one theory pointed to a herald of the One Beyond All, Sevectus. What lore that Avalon knew of it was that it had been discovered deep within the Risen Forest, some time after the first Deity War. It might have belonged to an angel or another eldritch being. Any guess was as good as Avalon’s.

Legend of the Eye said that it could show multiple futures of all possible timelines, however it is also said to drive those that sought the truth, mad.

A risk Avalon needed to take.

The Silent One cupped the eye with both hands and raised it to her face. Its pupil burned a smoldering red. Thousands of voices from Avalon’s past whispered all at once. She tried to focus on each one, but the voices were too loud, too cluttered. She concentrated harder, pooling all her teachings about meditation into her mind and clearing her soul. One by one they fell silent until a single familiar voice called out to her.

“Blue. It’s so nice to see you.”

“Guster?” Avalon asked. Her skin turned pale and her cheeks quivered. “Guster, is that you?”

“Yeah its me, blue. De prophet chose me to answer your question.”

A lump formed in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m—I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to you, or give you a proper burial. You deserved it, Guster, you died a hero.”

Guster’s chuckle echoed around the room. “We had some good times, blue, but I ain’t here for pleasure. Ask your question, girl, so dat I can go back,” finished Guster.

Avalon fought back her tears hearing her old friend’s rough dialect once more.

“Guster, there’s so much I—”

“Sorry Blue, Ole’ Guster don’t have de time for a reunion”

“Right,” she started. “What will happen when the seals are destroyed?”

The iris of the eye rotated around its pupil. Spinning faster and faster. Finally it came to a halt and Guster spoke once more.

“It ain’t nothin’ good, blue. Jedeoheim will crumble to dust and stones. Dem angels of yours return, but so will de Shredded One. Millions will die, then millions more. Fire will rain down from de sky. De world is gonna burn, blue. De world is gonna burn!”

Avalon rapped off a series of questions, “Jedeoheim falls? Is this the only outcome? Where are the other seals?”

“I gave you your future Avalon, now I have to go back…” Guster’s voice trailed off.

A sharp pain ran through Avalon’s fingers and down her spine. She dropped the eye and fell to her knees in exhaustion “We—we have to stop them, Guster!” she gasped with her remaining energy

However, Guster did not respond. A hush passed over the chamber, save for Avalon’s erratic breathing. “Guster?”

Avalon rose to her feet and approached the eye, once more. “Guster…”

Avalon cupped the object, but her old friend still didn’t answer her.

If this is the possible future the eye wanted to show me… we must prepare for it!