Merslin and his party arrived in Altechna, a city located at the heart of the Celesta continent. Altechna was one of the largest and most powerful human kingdoms in the region, surrounded by massive stone walls and intricate architectural structures. The people here were tall and well-built, exuding an aura of authority and grandeur throughout the city.
However, the moment Merslin set foot in Altechna, he was struck by an intense feeling of déjà vu. Despite it being his first time here, he felt as if he had walked through these streets before.
Merslin (looking around, thinking to himself):"Why does this place feel so familiar? I know I've never been here before… yet it feels like I've passed through this city once before."
As he tried to shake off the strange sensation, his companion and lover, Elena, approached him, noticing the troubled expression on his face.
Elena (concerned):"Merslin, what's wrong? You look like you've been here before. What are you thinking about?"
Merslin met Elena's gaze and slowly nodded. He began to realize that this feeling wasn't just a coincidence. The overwhelming sense of familiarity wasn't merely an illusion—it was something much deeper.
Merslin (thinking):"This isn't just some passing thought. There's something here… something I remember."
Then, a faint voice echoed in his consciousness. The voice did not come from his surroundings but rather from within his own mind. It was the voice of the ancient spellbook—the very book that had once transported him to Luminarya and later sent him back to Earth.
Spellbook's Voice (in Merslin's mind):"Merslin, does this place not feel familiar to you? You have walked through here before… a place you once passed, and a place you will return to again."
Merslin clenched his fists as the memories stirred within him. He couldn't yet fully grasp what they meant, but he knew that this voice was guiding him toward something crucial.
Merslin (responding internally):"I've been here before? But when? And why?"
Spellbook's Voice:"You have already left your footprints here. But at that time, you existed on a different timeline. That trace remains, and time has now led you back to it. Here, you will find the answers you seek."
Elena gently took Merslin's hand, sensing his inner turmoil.
Elena (softly):"Whatever it is, you can tell me. I've never seen you this unsettled before."
Merslin smiled at her reassuringly but remained silent about the voice in his mind. He needed to uncover the truth first before burdening his companions with uncertainty.
Merslin (resolute):"There's something hidden here. I need to find out why I've been led back to this place."
Following the voice's guidance, he made his way toward the center of Altechna. The city's architecture was not just the work of ordinary humans—there was something more. The meticulous designs and grand structures carried traces of ancient influence.
Elena (observing the people):"These people… they look different from other humans. They're taller, stronger… they seem to have an aura of power. Could they be descendants of the Ancients?"
Merslin (thinking):"This city is more than just another human kingdom. It holds remnants of the Ancients. Could their bloodline still flow within these people?"
The spellbook's voice grew stronger, pulling Merslin toward a hidden relic at the city's heart. The energy there resonated with him, as if linking his past and present. At that moment, he knew—Altechna was a place where the past and the future intertwined.
Spellbook's Voice:"Here, you will find what you seek. The past and present converge in this place."
Determined, Merslin and his party began to explore the ruins, realizing that Altechna held secrets far older than they had imagined.
******
The Journey to the Ancient City
After investigating Altechna, Merslin decided that the answers he sought did not lie within the city but rather in the Ancient City to the north. He knew this because the spellbook's voice continued to whisper in his mind, urging him forward.
Merslin (determined):"What we're looking for isn't here. The real truth lies in the Ancient City to the north. That's where we need to go."
Elena and the others trusted Merslin's intuition and prepared for the long journey ahead. As they traveled through the mountains and dense forests, Merslin felt fragments of memories resurfacing—memories he couldn't fully understand yet.
Elena (concerned):"Merslin, what exactly are you remembering? It feels like this place means more to you than you're letting on."
Merslin (hesitant):"I don't have all the answers yet. But… I know that I was once part of something important here. Something that ties into our mission now."
After days of travel, they finally reached the ruins of the Ancient City—a once-magnificent civilization now reduced to rubble. The remnants of massive structures bore witness to a time when the Ancients thrived.
As soon as Merslin set foot in the ruins, he felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. His fragmented memories began to align. At that moment, an ethereal energy pulsed from the heart of the ruins, and a spectral figure appeared before them.
Elena (startled):"Merslin, look! It's…!"
The spirit of an Ancient materialized, regal and dignified, gazing at Merslin with a knowing expression.
Ancient Spirit (solemnly):"Merslin… you have finally arrived. We have been waiting for you."
Merslin's heart pounded. The Ancients had been waiting for him? But why?
Merslin (uncertainly):"Who are you? And why were you waiting for me?"
The Ancient Spirit's expression was bittersweet, as if remembering an old tragedy.
Ancient Spirit:"Long ago, we were the mighty civilization that ruled this land. But a curse was cast upon us—we could no longer produce heirs. We believed it was a curse, yet in truth, it was evolution. Our time had come to an end, and we failed to recognize it. By the time we understood… our civilization was no more."
Merslin listened, feeling a deep sadness in the spirit's words.
Merslin (softly):"So that's how your civilization fell… but you didn't realize the truth in time."
The Ancient Spirit stepped closer, his gaze filled with both regret and hope.
Ancient Spirit:"Our legacy did not die with us. Our descendants still live… in Altechna. They carry our blood, though they do not remember their origins. But you, Merslin… you have returned to tell our story."
Merslin understood now. The people of Altechna were not just ordinary humans—they were the last remnants of the Ancients.
Merslin (resolute):"I will return to Altechna and uncover the truth. I will make sure your legacy is not forgotten."
The spirit nodded in gratitude.
Ancient Spirit:"The key to the truth is hidden in Altechna. The past and the present must be reunited. Seek out the remnants of our knowledge and awaken their memories."
Merslin clenched his fists. He had found his next path. He would return to Altechna and reveal the forgotten history of the Ancients.
His journey was far from over. It was only beginning.