Edward materialized in a flash of light; his senses overwhelmed by the sudden shift in his surroundings. His vision swam as he tried to make sense of the disorienting experience, but the world around him was a blur of colour and sound. His body felt heavy, as if weighed down by an invisible force; he couldn’t move at all. Yet Edward wasn’t worried. He remained calm, focusing on his breathing, cantering himself as he had been taught. There was a stillness within him that could not be shaken by chaos. Instead of panic, he allowed his gaze to wander, admiring the world around him.
He stood on a narrow ledge, high up in a mountainous region that was unlike anything he had ever seen. The jagged peaks rose sharply around him, piercing the sky, which curved upward in a way that defied all logic. Edward’s heart skipped a beat as he realized the truth: he was standing inside the ring of a colossal structure in space. This was unlike any ancient legends he had ever heard of. The landscape stretched out in all directions, following the curve of the ring, with mountains, forests, and deserts all contained within this massive construct.
Above and to the sides, the sky was a deep, endless void dotted with distant stars, and below, the ring’s curvature continued, creating a horizon that wrapped around itself. The sheer scale of it all was dizzying, and Edward felt a flicker of awe at the sight. He wanted to steady himself against the rocky wall behind him, but there was no need—he couldn’t move anyway.
Before he could fully comprehend his situation, a voice echoed through the air, clear and commanding, yet almost playful in its tone.
The voice spoke about a challenge and killing other challengers. Edward listened; his mind clear. He had no interest in killing anyone. He would defend himself and his friends if needed, but he was not a killer. The sound faded, leaving Edward in calm silence, and the wind whistled through the mountains. He marvelled at how far he had come—from a simple village, where life was defined by peace and routine, to this extraordinary place. The idea of having to kill someone did not disturb Edward; he knew that if it ever came to that, it would be the only possible choice, made in the balance of life and death. But for now, he was just content to be present, soaking in life, the good and the bad alike. Every moment was a gift, and to not appreciate every second would be a great insult to every soul who would never have this chance.
As the paralysis that had gripped his body began to fade, Edward cautiously took a step forward, feeling the return of movement as a shield formed around his body. He smiled, sensing Sir Tyler’s protective influence, a quiet reassurance that he was not alone in this strange new world. He silently thanked his new friends, feeling a surge of warmth for the brief connections he had made, and began scanning the area around him. The rocky terrain was treacherous, with loose stones that threatened to send him tumbling down the steep cliffs if he wasn’t careful. The cold wind whipped through the narrow valleys, carrying with it a wonderful sense of isolation—yet to Edward, it was more a space for reflection than a source of loneliness.
“A spiritual man could truly lose himself in deep meditation up here,” he said to himself, his voice barely more than a breath against the wind as he began to explore the ledge.
As he moved further along the narrow path, Edward noticed something out of place in the landscape—a structure carved into the side of the mountain. It was ancient, weathered by time, yet still imposing. The entrance was flanked by two enormous stone statues, their features worn smooth by the elements but still exuding an aura of power and reverence. Intrigued, Edward felt a pull toward the temple, as if something was calling out to him from within.
Edward approached the entrance with caution, the shadows of the statues looming over him like silent guardians, their massive forms carved from the same ancient stone as the mountain itself. Their faces, though weathered by countless eons, still bore an expression of stern vigilance, as if they had stood watch over this place since time immemorial. The air around the temple was thick with an ancient energy, a tangible force that seemed to hum just beneath the surface of reality. It was an energy that prickled against Edward’s skin, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, as if warning him that he was treading on sacred ground.
Despite the foreboding atmosphere, Edward felt a pull that was impossible to ignore, a compulsion that drew him forward. His curiosity, a trait that had always driven him to explore the unknown, outweighed his caution. With a deep breath, he stepped inside, the cool air of the temple enveloping him like a shroud.
The interior of the temple was dimly lit, with only a few shafts of light penetrating through cracks in the ceiling, casting long, thin beams that sliced through the darkness like the blades of ancient warriors. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings, their details worn smooth by the passage of time but still depicting scenes of battles, rituals, and beings of immense power. The artistry spoke of a civilization long lost to history, one that had understood the mysteries of power and the price it demanded.
As Edward ventured deeper into the temple, the air grew colder, each breath he took visible as a faint mist in the dim light. The sense of ancient power became almost overwhelming, pressing down on him like the weight of a thousand years. It was as if the temple itself was alive, a slumbering giant that had been awakened by his presence. Every step echoed through the silent halls, a reminder that he was intruding on something far greater than himself.
He arrived at the central chamber, where an imposing altar stood, crowned by a towering statue of a deity long forgotten. The figure’s gaze seemed to follow him; eyes carved with such precision that they almost appeared to be alive. Yet, despite the grandeur of the room, Edward couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. The aura of power was strong, but it felt... incomplete, as though the true heart of the temple was concealed.
Edward’s eyes scanned the chamber, searching for any sign of what lay hidden. As his gaze moved over the altar, he noticed something unusual—a faint line, barely perceptible, running along the base of the statue. It was a crack, subtle and nearly invisible, as if the stone itself had tried to heal over it but had failed. His heart quickened. There was more to this place than met the eye.
Compelled by a growing sense of urgency, Edward allowed the shadows within him to rise, his body dissolving into a smoky, wraith-like form. This was the power that made him an anomaly in this world, a power that allowed him to traverse short distances through solid matter, especially when entering the mind of another being. But now, he would use it to slip through the crack, into whatever secret chamber lay beyond.
He seeped into the narrow fissure, feeling the resistance of the ancient stone as it tried to bar his way. But his form was malleable, ethereal, and he pushed through the barrier, determined to uncover what the temple was hiding. The passage was tight, oppressive, and for a moment, he was enveloped in complete darkness, the weight of the mountain pressing down on him.
Then, with a sudden release, he emerged into a hidden chamber on the other side. The space was smaller, more intimate, and bathed in an eerie, otherworldly glow that seemed to emanate from the very walls. It was as if the room itself was alive, pulsing with a quiet, ancient energy.
At the centre of the room, bathed in that strange, unearthly light, stood a massive crystal. It was easily the size of a house, its surface smooth and flawless, with a faint luminescence that pulsed like a heartbeat. Within it, something—or someone—was encased, suspended in an eternal stillness.
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Edward’s breath caught as he took in the sight. The crystal was a marvel, a work of art and power that defied comprehension. Inside, a woman’s form floated, her skin as pale as the moon, her long hair cascading around her like a river of silver. She was beautiful, but there was an unmistakable sense of sadness and despair etched into her delicate features. Even through the thick barrier of the crystal, Edward could feel the power it emanated—a power so intense it was almost suffocating. The crystal’s purpose was clear: to seal this woman away, to lock her in a prison from which there was no escape.
Edward knew instinctively that no weapon in the world could penetrate this crystal. It was as if the very laws of reality had been bent to create this unbreakable barrier. He knew it with the same certainty that he knew the sun would rise in the morning.
Yet, something deep within him stirred, a deep, unspoken need to help her. It was a compulsion, as if some force beyond his understanding was guiding his actions. Edward approached the crystal, his hand trembling slightly as he reached out to touch its cool surface. The energy that pulsed beneath his fingertips was unlike anything he had ever felt before—alive, ancient, and utterly alien.
The crystal was impenetrable, its surface smooth and unyielding, but Edward knew he had to find a way to communicate with the being inside. Closing his eyes, he called upon the shadows within him, the foreign power that had become a part of him since he arrived in this strange world. His body dissolved into a smoky, wraith-like form, a manifestation of his power that allowed him to traverse short distances through solid matter when entering another being’s mind.
He seeped into the crystal, slipping into the cold, dark world within it. The moment he crossed the threshold, he felt an immense resistance, a force pushing back against him with a strength that took his breath away. The crystal was powerful, a creation designed to keep out any and all intrusions, and it fought against him with everything it had. But Edward’s power was foreign to this world, something the creators of the crystal had never anticipated. It wasn’t built to resist him, not entirely.
It was as if the crystal recognized him as something beyond its design, an anomaly that it could not fully comprehend or repel. It strained against his presence, but there was a crack in its defences, a flaw that Edward exploited. He pressed forward, his form slipping deeper into the crystal, into the cold, dark mind of the being within. The resistance was overwhelming, but he persisted, driven by the need to connect, to understand, to help.
Edward could feel nothing but a wall of static within the mind of the being trapped in the crystal. It was a strange, empty sensation, as if he were trying to listen to a whisper lost in the roar of a waterfall. He reached out with his consciousness, probing deeper into the void, seeking any trace of life or awareness.
As he delved further, the static began to shift, subtly at first, like the rustling of leaves before a storm. It wasn’t the fear, anger, or desperation he had expected. Instead, it felt more like the faint flicker of a consciousness stirring from a long, deep slumber, a presence slowly waking after ages of dormancy.
Suddenly, the presence within the crystal moved, not with panic or confusion, but with a calm, almost casual curiosity. The static cleared, replaced by a voice that was neither distressed nor hostile, but rather bemused, as if amused by the situation. "Oh, hello there. Who might you be?"
Edward was taken aback by the unexpected response. It wasn’t the voice of a tormented soul or a desperate prisoner. It was relaxed, almost as if the being behind it was simply waking up from a long, restful nap. "I’m Edward," he replied cautiously. "I didn’t mean to intrude, but I found you trapped in this crystal. I wanted to help."
The presence within the crystal seemed to pause, considering his words. "Trapped... Oh! My avatar! I nearly forgot I left it here." The voice chuckled softly, a sound that was both light and resonant, neither entirely male nor female. "It’s been quite some time, hasn’t it? But I’m afraid there’s not much you can do. The seal on this thing is rather... thorough."
Edward blinked, trying to wrap his mind around what he was hearing. "Your avatar?" he echoed, still piecing together the situation.
"Yes, this body in the crystal. It’s merely a representation of me in this world. While it was trapped, I couldn’t interact with anything here, but I wasn’t entirely absent. I was just... elsewhere. Does that make sense?" The voice remained friendly, almost conversational, as though they were discussing a minor inconvenience rather than millennia of entrapment.
Edward nodded slowly, still processing this new perspective. "So, you weren’t actually imprisoned here?"
"Not really. Just this form."
Before Edward could fully grasp the implications, a surge of mana shot through the connection he had with Tyler. But instead of reaching Edward’s physical form, the energy was drawn into the crystal, into the avatar of this ancient being. The crystal began to glow brighter, the energy within it building to an incredible intensity.
"Whoa, hold on," the voice said, a sudden thrill of excitement coursing through it. "Looks like we’ve got some serious energy coming in!”
With a deafening crack, the crystal that had held the avatar for so long shattered, sending shards of glowing crystal flying in all directions. Edward instinctively reformed his body just in time to shield himself from the cascading debris. When the dust settled, he looked up to see the being standing—or rather, floating—before him, no longer bound by the crystal’s constraints.
But the figure before him was not the woman he had seen encased in stone. Instead, the being had transformed into a glowing orb of pure energy, her essence now free and unbound. The orb pulsed with a soft, warm light, like a newborn star, hovering closer to Edward with a playful energy that radiated curiosity and life.
"Wow! That’s incredible! You, my friend, just pulled off something that should’ve been impossible!" The voice emanated from the orb, brimming with enthusiasm and vitality. "You have my eternal gratitude! It’s been so long since I’ve been able to stretch my legs... metaphorically speaking, of course."
Edward stood before the glowing orb, the awe he initially felt giving way to a warm, almost friendly connection. "I’m glad I could help," he replied, still coming to terms with the realization that he wasn’t dealing with a tormented goddess, but rather someone who had just regained control of a cherished avatar—whatever that truly meant. “My name is Edward, it’s a pleasure to meet you, god of avatars.”
“Hi, I’m Aelithra. Nice to meet you, Ed! So, what brings you to this charming little corner of the universe?" Aelithra asked, her tone light and curious, like someone catching up with an old friend.
Edward sighed, the weight of his journey settling heavily on his shoulders once more. "I was taken from my world," he began, his voice carrying both sadness and resolve. "I come from a simple village, where life was peaceful, where I had family, friends... everything I needed. But then, I was brought here, to this tower, to participate in a challenge. I’ve made friends here—good people who have shown me kindness. I feel a responsibility to them, to see this through, but... I miss my family. I miss my home."
Aelithra’s light pulsed softly, as if in contemplation. "That sounds rough. So, you want to go back, then?"
Edward hesitated, caught between his longing for home and his sense of duty to his newfound friends. "If it were possible... yes, I would like to go back," he admitted, his voice trembling with the depth of his desire. "But... there's something else. This power I have—the ability to become a shadow, to enter the minds of others... it’s not something I want. It feels like a burden, one that I was never meant to carry. If you could send me home, could you take this power away? Let me return as the man I was before, without this terrible gift."
Aelithra’s light flickered, as if weighing his request. "Hmm, I get it—balance and all that. If I remove it from you, it’s going to need somewhere else to go. It can’t just vanish into thin air; it will seek a new host. How about this—I’ll offer it to one of your friends. If they want it, it’s theirs. If not, well... we’ll figure something out."
Edward thought of his friends—Sir Tyler, Master Elric, Sir Darius, Sir Markus, and Lady Livia. They were strong, capable, and perhaps one of them could bear the burden that had weighed so heavily on him. A thought crossed his mind, and he asked, "But how will you know who my friends are?"
Aelithra’s light brightened with a playful glimmer. "Oh, don’t worry about that, Ed. I have my ways."
Edward chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Of course…"
"Consider it done," Aelithra replied, her light brightening with resolve. "And as for you, let’s get you back home..."
With that, Edward felt a sudden shift, a sensation of being pulled away from the temple, the mountains, and the tower itself. He closed his eyes, trusting Aelithra to fulfil her promise, and when he opened them again, he found himself standing in a familiar place—the village he had once called home. The air was filled with the scent of fresh earth, and the sound of distant laughter carried on the wind.
Edward’s eyes welled with tears as he took in the sight before him. He was home, at last.