Leon stepped into the clearing, his boots crunching softly against the overgrown ground. The shrine loomed ahead, its weathered stone pillars standing like silent watchers.
His marked hand throbbed—stronger now, more insistent.
Jarek hesitated at the edge of the clearing. "Tell me we're not walking into another nightmare."
Leon didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on the symbols covering the shrine's surface. They were similar to the one burned into his palm—but older. More intricate.
And most importantly?
They weren't just warnings.
They were instructions.
---
Echoes of the Past
Leon ran his fingers across the carvings, feeling the grooves in the stone. The whispers in his mind shifted, becoming clearer.
"Bound in stone. Sealed in shadow. The veil shall hold."
"But the key was lost."
Leon's eyes narrowed. A seal.
Jarek crossed his arms. "You're really into touching cursed things lately."
Leon ignored him. He focused on the center of the shrine, where a large stone slab stood upright. Unlike the others, this one was untouched by time—the carvings were crisp, the symbols almost… alive.
And at the heart of it—
A handprint.
The same shape and size as his own.
---
A Decision to Make
Leon exhaled. It was a test.
The mark on his palm had appeared when he first touched the corrupted symbol. Now, this shrine was presenting a choice.
Activate it? Or leave it alone?
Jarek watched him closely. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Leon nodded. "This shrine is connected to whatever's happening here. If I activate it, I might learn more."
Jarek sighed. "Or you might summon something that wants to eat our faces."
Leon smirked. "Possibly."
Jarek groaned. "Of course you don't care."
Leon didn't hesitate any longer.
He placed his marked hand against the stone.
---
The Awakening
The instant his palm met the surface—
A surge of energy.
The shrine rumbled, dust shaking loose from the cracks. The symbols around them flared to life, glowing with an eerie silver light.
Jarek stepped back, hand on his sword. "Oh yeah, this is bad."
Leon's vision blurred. His mind was pulled elsewhere.
Darkness.
A vast, endless abyss.
And then—
A voice.
"You bear the mark."
Leon's breath caught. This voice wasn't like the whispers.
It was stronger. Older. A presence.
"The seal weakens. The gate stirs. The world forgets… but you remember."
Leon forced himself to speak. "Who are you?"
"A warden. A prisoner. A warning."
The shrine trembled. The voice grew distant, yet urgent.
"You have set things in motion, Beast Tamer. The veil can only hold for so long."
"The Hollow sees you now."
Then—
Silence.
The light faded. The carvings dimmed. The shrine went still once more.
---
The Aftermath
Leon staggered back, breathing heavily.
Jarek grabbed his arm. "Leon! What the hell just happened?!"
Leon looked down at his hand. The mark was still there—but something felt different.
The presence he had touched wasn't just some mindless force. It was intelligent.
And it had warned him.
The Hollow sees you now.
Leon exhaled slowly.
He had taken a step forward.
Now, whatever was on the other side of that veil…
Was taking a step toward him.
---