Chapter 10: The Rising Tide

The sun was setting as Ithan returned home, the memories of his recent trial echoing through his mind. He hadn’t spoken to his family about the looming danger, choosing instead to bear the burden alone. But now, each encounter with the Hollow King’s influence drove home the truth: the world was changing, and those he loved were vulnerable.

After a quiet dinner with his family, Ithan retreated to his room, where he found an unexpected gift—a pendant, simple yet elegantly crafted, with a symbol that matched the Sigil etched in his palm. A note from his mother lay beside it.

“To protect you and remind you of home.”

Ithan clutched the pendant, feeling the surge of renewed purpose within him. He didn’t know if they sensed the battle he was about to face, but this small gift would serve as a reminder of his purpose every step of the way.

The following day, Kaelan introduced Ithan to a new section of the city—a hidden complex beneath the Hall of the Ancients. Filled with relics from past Sigil wielders, the space hummed with power. But it was the center of the hall that drew Ithan’s gaze: a vast pool of shimmering, crystalline water, flowing endlessly into an abyss below.

“This is the Astral Pool,” Kaelan explained. “Each Sigil wielder has trained here. It’s said that the waters reveal visions of one’s future—or one’s destiny.”

“What do I do?” Ithan asked, his voice steady.

Kaelan gave him a slight nod. “Step forward and submerge yourself. Let go of your fears, and allow the pool to show you what lies ahead.”

Without hesitation, Ithan stepped into the pool, feeling the cool water engulf him as he lowered himself. When his head dipped beneath the surface, the world around him vanished, replaced by a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds. His heartbeat slowed, his mind quieted, and he felt himself drawn deeper into the vision.

He found himself standing on a vast battlefield, cities burning on the horizon, and the Hollow King’s dark forces surging forward like a storm. Ithan’s family and friends were there, caught in the chaos, calling for him.

At the center of it all was the Hollow King, his figure towering and shrouded in shadows. “Do you think you can protect them all?” he sneered. “Power alone isn’t enough.”

As Ithan’s hand tightened around the Sigil, another figure emerged from the shadows beside him: a girl with piercing, ethereal eyes—Lyra. She reached out to him, her touch calming the storm within.

“We’re stronger together,” she whispered, her voice carrying the promise of something greater.

Back in the physical world, Kaelan watched as Ithan’s eyes opened, glowing faintly. He emerged from the Astral Pool, feeling as if he’d glimpsed a truth beyond the present.

“I saw them…” Ithan murmured, his voice steady. “I saw the people I have to protect—and the future I need to change.”

Kaelan’s eyes gleamed with understanding. “Good. Then remember that vision, and let it guide you. You must reach beyond your limits, Ithan, for the battles that lie ahead are unlike any you’ve ever known.”

As Ithan continued his training, word of his dedication began to spread quietly among the city’s protectors. Whispers of a young Sigil bearer rising against the Hollow King reached even the hidden alleys and markets, inspiring others to stand against the coming darkness.

In the coming days, Ithan grew stronger, mastering techniques that once felt beyond his reach. His encounters in the Astral Pool had sharpened his resolve, and his progress left even Kaelan and Seraphine impressed. But the Hollow King’s forces were also stirring, their agents lurking in the shadows and moving closer.

One evening, while training, he overheard two guards discussing a new sighting—an attack not far from his family’s district. The Hollow King’s soldiers had left their mark, spreading fear and reminding the city that their influence was far from diminished.

Ithan felt his heart tighten. He needed to act fast, but he knew he couldn’t face them alone.

The next morning, he met Kaelan and Seraphine, his gaze unyielding. “The Hollow King is getting bolder. I’m ready to take the fight to him, but I need allies. This isn’t a battle I can win alone.”

Kaelan looked at him with approval. “It’s time you learned about the Network—the alliance of those who oppose the Hollow King. We’ve been waiting for a new Sigil bearer, someone with the strength and the heart to lead.”

A sense of purpose surged within Ithan as they led him to the Network’s base—a hidden haven of resistance, buzzing with individuals who had fought and survived the Hollow King’s tyranny. Among them were warriors, scholars, and even ordinary citizens, each holding a quiet determination that mirrored his own.

Ithan felt a shift, a growing certainty that his path forward was not only clear but filled with allies ready to stand beside him. For the first time, he felt the true weight of what lay ahead, but he also felt a flicker of hope—a belief that together, they could overcome anything the Hollow King threw at them.

As he prepared to step into the Network’s ranks, Ithan clutched the pendant from his family, feeling their presence as he took his place among the defenders of the city.

“Let the Hollow King come,” he thought, his gaze fierce. “This city, my family, and everyone I care for—I’ll protect them all.”