The roar of the waterfall grew louder. Mist clung to the air. He followed the river’s winding path, his staff tapping against stones slick with moss. Then he saw it—a temple, hidden behind the veil of falling water.

The structure was ancient. Its walls, carved from dark stone, were etched with runes that time had not completely erased. Moss crept along the edges, and water cascaded down its surface.

Arion stopped. His breath caught. There was something about this place, something he couldn’t explain. It felt familiar, though he had never seen it before.

"Why does it feel like I belong here?" The thought flickered in his mind. His grip on his staff tightened. "Could it really be connected to the Monster Sealers?"

He took a step closer, then another, his gaze fixed on the temple. A surge of determination welled within him. If there was even the faintest chance that this place held answers, he had to find them.

The waterfall thundered around Arion as he stepped forward, the cold spray soaking his cloak. He pressed through, his body tense, the staff in his hand glowing faintly to guide his way. The noise drowned out every thought, but as he emerged on the other side, the world seemed to hush, leaving only the sound of dripping water.

The temple's entrance yawned before him, dark and foreboding. Arion stepped inside. Light filtered in faintly through cracks in the ceiling, casting eerie shadows along the walls.

Intricate carvings covered every surface—walls, columns, even the floor beneath his feet. Each rune seemed alive, pulsing faintly as though reacting to his presence. He traced his fingers over one, feeling a hum of energy beneath his touch.

Then he saw a chamber at the far end of the hall. Its entrance shimmered with a faint magical barrier, and as Arion stepped closer, he saw a grid of rune tiles, their patterns chaotic and misaligned. "A puzzle," he muttered. The goal was clear, realign the runes to form a sealing sigil.

He knelt before the puzzle, narrowing his eyes. His [Mana Sight] activated, revealing glowing trails beneath the tiles—clues hidden to the untrained eye. He studied them, his mind working quickly, piecing together patterns and potential alignments.

He reached out and shifted a tile. The runes glowed briefly, then dimmed. Encouraged, he continued, sliding another into place. But his confidence wavered when a soft click echoed through the chamber. A trap had activated.

Spears of light shot from the walls, forcing Arion to roll backward. His movements were quick, his dexterity keeping him just ahead. He took a breath, heart pounding, and refocused on the puzzle.

Mistakes weren’t an option.

This time, he moved slower, relying on his intelligence and wisdom stats to guide him. Each tile he shifted seemed to hum with approval as he aligned them. After what felt like hours, the final piece slid into place.

The chamber shuddered. A low rumble filled the air as the magical barrier dissolved. The door creaked open, revealing a small chamber bathed in golden light. Arion stepped inside, his breath catching at what lay before him.

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The relics rested on pedestals, each radiating power.

The first was a heavy tome, its cover glowing faintly with runes—The Tome of Experience. When Arion touched it, knowledge surged through him, and he felt his power grow.

[You have leveled up]

Next, a fragment of ancient stone—the Fragment of Sealing Knowledge. Its energy seeped into his core, strengthening his abilities.

Your Sealing Rune has reached Level 4]

[Your Sealing Aura has reached Level 3]

A map lay unfurled on another pedestal, its detailed markings revealing the location of the Fifth Monster Sealer’s tomb.

Finally, there was a talisman, simple yet brimming with an ancient aura. As Arion picked it up, his vision blurred, and the world around him shifted.

Something—or someone—was showing him the past.

When his vision cleared, he stood on a battlefield. The earth was scorched black, split by deep cracks that leaked plumes of smoke. Weapons lay shattered across the ground.

Ahead, a monstrous silhouette towered against the dim horizon. Its form was indistinct, but its presence was suffocating—a monster of unimaginable power.

Arion’s gaze shifted. Two figures stood before the shadow. The first was a Monster Sealer. The name came to Arion like a whisper on the wind. "Lyram Vael, the Fifth Monster Sealer!"

Beside him, King Eldrath the Resolute radiated strength. His golden armor gleamed, and his crown seemed to defy the gloom. Together, they fought as one.

Their teamwork were devastating. Lyram’s staff traced sigils into the air, each glowing mark searing the beast’s shadowy form. Eldrath’s blade carved through the darkness, his movements bold and unyielding. For a moment, it seemed they could win.

But then, Arion saw it. A flicker. The king’s eyes turned to the relics Lyram carried. A crystal embedded in the staff. A pendant glowing faintly at his chest. Greed twisted Eldrath’s face, warping his regal bearing into something monstrous.

The betrayal was sudden.

Eldrath’s sword turned, striking not at the beast but at his ally. The blade pierced Lyram’s side, his robes blooming red. He staggered, turning to face the man he had called friend.

"Why?" Lyram’s voice was sharp, cutting through the chaos. "Eldrath, why?"

The king said nothing. His gaze was cold. He stepped back, leaving Lyram defenseless.

The beast descended. Its claws tore through the air, silencing the Monster Sealer in a single strike. Lyram fell. His staff clattered to the ground.

The vision blurred, the battlefield dissolving into shadows. Arion stood in the temple once more, his chest heaving. Anger surged through him, hot and unrelenting.

"A noble sealer," he thought, "betrayed by greed."

But anger wasn’t all he felt. Determination rose, cutting through the fury.

"If the Eryndor Kingdom obstructs my path of sealing monsters, I will destroy them back. I will carry the will of my predecessors no matter what!"

The temple's entrance loomed behind Arion, its shadows fading into the roar of the waterfall as he stepped out into the light. The cascade drenched him once more, but he didn’t care. His grip tightened around the rolled map tucked securely in his hand.

Sunlight broke through the mist, glinting off the river that had guided him here. He stood still for a moment, letting the cool air wash over him.

Arion unfurled the map slightly, studying its markings. The Fifth Monster Sealer’s tomb was far, hidden in a land of jagged mountains and unyielding terrain. The path would be treacherous, but it was the only way forward.

“The Fifth Sealer…” he murmured, rolling the map again. His thoughts churned. Each step brought him closer to unraveling the mysteries of his lineage and the kingdom’s relentless interference.

Arion’s jaw clenched as he gazed at the horizon. He remembered the betrayal he had witnessed in the vision. His mission wasn’t just about sealinv monsters anymore. It was about justice. About truth.

“I’ll uncover the truth of why the kingdom prevents the sealers from sealing monsters. And they’ll regret underestimating a Monster Sealer.”

With the vow echoing in his mind, Arion turned toward the path ahead. One step at a time, he would think about his mission.