The figure moved closer, its voice becoming cryptic. "Maybe because you are more suited to your new ordination? Maybe a new Myriarch has chosen you? Who knows? It can be anything, the possibilities are endless."
Lucian's head reeled. "Just give me a straight answer....and even if a new Myriarch has chosen me I haven't seen this pattern anywhere."
The figure's voice softened. "Do you not know of Ordinates beyond the seven? Ah, I guess with the passage of time they all were forgotten huh...well, I can't say much to you about this but this ordination is beyond the power of the seven."
Lucian's breathing caught. "Beyond the seven Myriarchs? Impossible. If more ordinates were to be present then that would mean there would be more Myriarchs, but there is nothing, no proof, no history, no records about other Myriarchs other than the seven. The ordinations are final:
Axiom
Embers
Expanse
Harmonium
Solace
Reverence
End
There's nothing else. Ditto with the seven elements.
The man laughed, a deep, full-throated sound that seemed to shake the emptiness. "Ah, the arrogance of mortals and immortals alike. Do you think the world is so black and white, so neatly defined? Tell me, Lucian, have you ever stopped to think that the Myriarchs may not be quite so perfect as they like to pretend to be?"
Lucian had no idea what to say. His whole life had been built upon the teachings of the seven deities, pillars of knowledge in his world. To doubt them seemed. Sacrilegious.
"Your Sigil," the creature went on, "is attuning itself to an ordination that lies outside the seven with which you are familiar. It is the ordination of @#$%^^ an ordinate not claimed by any deity right now and one that most mortals do not even know exists."
"What? What did you say again? I couldn't hear it properly.?" Lucian said, stretching his ears and tapping them to hear clearly.
The figure nodded. "Hmm, figured. I can't tell you about this yet huh? Consider it the fabric of existence is not a singular thread but an intricate weave, a merge of countless strands, each vibrating with its resonance, its truth. To perceive it is to stand at the crossroads of all that is and all that could be, where the melody of harmony intertwines with the dissonance of chaos, where the stillness of solitude meets the fervor of connection. It is not a path but the convergence of all paths, a realm where questions and answers are one, where beginnings and endings are indistinguishable, and where the very act of seeking becomes the destination. As for the rest, figure it out yourself"
Lucian's thoughts whirled with the attempt to make sense of this. "But why me? And I couldn't make head or tail of what you said just now."
The figure came closer, its luminescent figure bathing Lucian's ethereal form in a warm glow. "I too wonder why you of all people. Why did @#$ select you? Just know that you are so much more than you know, and your path has just begun."
Lucian wished to believe the words, but skepticism remained. "Even if that's true, what does it matter to me now? I'm trapped in this....nothingness...I can't return. I don't even know if my body is intact"
"Ah, yeah don't worry about that I'll send you back, but before that-"
Before Lucian could say anything, the figure lifted its hand, and a wave of energy flowed through the emptiness. The darkness that surrounded them started to ripple, shining like a puddle of water that had been stirred.
"I will give you something to assist you," the figure stated, its voice stern. "A gift from my end. Hope you enjoy it."
The figure extended its hand, placing two fingers on Lucian's forehead.
The figure's words dissolved, and the emptiness surrounding Lucian rippled again. A tug seized him, pulling him into a brilliant, all-too-real scene.
When his eyesight cleared, Lucian stood in the grand dining hall of his past. The room was blinding as always, with chandeliers shimmering and sending a golden light over the gathering of nobles and dignitaries.
It was a meeting of power and prestige.
The seven royal families were there in all their glory, their heads as pillars of strength. Each of them was looked up to as one of the strongest people on the planet alive during this time, their very presence demanding awe and respect.
Lucian's parents stood among them, his father's stoic demeanor a testament to his authority, while his mother radiated a calm grace. Valeria, his sister, flitted between conversations, her laughter bright and contagious.
His former self stood by the refreshments, his princely clothes spotless but his mood was reserved and distant, like he was avoiding getting attention.
Lucian, observing from this unnatural, spectral existence, felt a pang in his heart as he watched his family so vibrant and unaware of the turmoil that was soon to beset them.
The atmosphere was broken when the doors crashed open with a sound that was like thunder.
Masked assailants burst in, their blades shining and their purpose clear. Shouts of warning filled the room as people dispersed. Nobles, who had once taken arrogant airs to new heights, cowered and ran, but the heads of the seven houses remained firm.
Pulling out their weapons that throbbed with centuries-old strength, the tough leaders fought back. The hall was transformed into a war zone as their conflicts rattled the foundations of the room. However, there were opponents of similar strength among the attackers, individuals who could buy some time and the house heads blow for blow, for a while.
Amid the battle, Lucian's younger self had pulled out his sword, his face determined as he charged into the fray with the guards. While not yet a great swordsman, his resolve shone bright.
Lucian's eyes moved towards the darkness, where a dark clad boy approached with methodical stealth. The boy, clad in an attire identical to that of the attackers, was not part of the fight. He was advancing towards Lucian's younger self.
Lucian kept his eyes fixed on the boy, for now, his anxiety mounting. The boy pulled out a shining trinket from under his cloak that emitted a warm energy. He flicked his hand once, and a vortex of swirling air coalesced into a shimmering portal behind him.
The atmosphere thickened with an unmistakable presence. It was a primal, suffocating energy that sent hairs standing on the back of Lucian's neck.
"Abyss," he said, the taste of the word bitter in his mouth.
The power emanating from the gateway caused the room to ring with waves of raw fear. Even the strongest among them were shaken, their eyes straining toward the abomination vortex.