Elliot stood in the quiet solitude of the dojo, a place he and Towan had spent countless hours honing their Essentia techniques. The walls bore the marks of their training—a testament to their dedication. Yet, something about the room felt different today, an almost imperceptible tug that drew Elliot's attention to a corner he had never thought twice about.

His gaze settled on an old, dust-covered shelf tucked behind a line of sparring dummies. Hidden among mundane items was a peculiar, ancient-looking book. Its leather-bound cover was cracked with age, and faintly glowing symbols etched into its spine seemed to pulse faintly, as if alive. Elliot frowned, certain he had never noticed it before.

Curiosity got the better of him. He reached out, and as his fingers brushed the cover, a sudden warmth spread through his hand. He hesitated, then pulled the book free. The title was barely legible, worn down by time: "The Chronicles of Essentia: Origins and Legends."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“What is this doing here?” he muttered, brushing away a layer of dust.

“Elliot!” Towan’s voice called from the entrance. “You ready? We’ve got to head out.”

“Hold on,” Elliot replied, holding up the book. “Check this out. It was just sitting here, hidden in the dojo.”

Towan’s brows furrowed as he approached. “That’s... strange. I’ve been here as long as you, and I’ve never seen it before.”

“Neither have I,” Elliot admitted. “But something tells me we need to read this.”

The two exchanged a glance before slipping the book into Elliot’s bag. As they left the dojo, the faint glow of the symbols faded, as though it was waiting for the right moment to reveal its secrets.