CHAPTER 30: THE EYE AND THE ABYSS
The floating islands drifted through the crimson sky.
Several days had passed since Nolan awakened the power of the Golden Mage.
Training had become brutal.
Every morning.
Every afternoon.
Every night.
Ryulga pushed both Shen and Nolan beyond their limits.
No excuses.
No breaks.
No mercy.
Nolan Althur was not an ordinary prince.
He was the heir to the Althur Kingdom.
A boy born with the dormant bloodline of the legendary Golden Mage.
Before meeting Ryulga and Shen, his life had been simple compared to theirs.
Royal lessons.
Sword practice.
Politics.
History.
Now he found himself standing on floating islands beyond the world he knew, facing powers that could destroy nations.
And his Golden Eye was becoming more dangerous every day.
At that moment Nolan was sleeping.
Or at least his body was.
His mind was somewhere else.
A nightmare.
No.
A vision.
Golden fire exploded around him.
He stood inside a massive throne room.
Countless faces were carved into the walls.
Some were screaming.
Some were crying.
Some were laughing.
At the center stood a golden throne.
And upon that throne sat a man.
The man looked exactly like Nolan.
Older.
Colder.
More powerful.
One eye was missing.
The remaining eye glowed like a miniature sun.
The man's lips slowly curved upward.
"You finally arrived."
Nolan froze.
"Who are you?"
The man laughed.
"I am what you become."
The throne room trembled.
Golden flames erupted everywhere.
Nolan staggered backward.
"What are you talking about?"
The man slowly stood.
"You call me Veyl."
The moment the name was spoken—
Nolan woke up screaming.
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
Golden light erupted from his right eye.
The entire campsite exploded with energy.
Shen immediately appeared beside him.
A shadow-covered hand grabbed Nolan's shoulder.
"Nolan!"
The prince was trembling.
Golden flames leaked from his eye.
His breathing became uneven.
"It happened again..."
Ryulga sat nearby eating breakfast.
Completely unconcerned.
"I told you."
Nolan looked at him.
"Told me what?"
Ryulga swallowed another bite.
"The eye is evolving."
Nolan's stomach dropped.
"Evolving?"
Ryulga nodded.
"The Golden Eye isn't just showing the future anymore."
"It's connecting to something."
The atmosphere became heavy.
Shen frowned.
"Something?"
Ryulga looked directly at Nolan.
"Someone."
Silence.
Nolan's face paled.
"You mean Veyl?"
Ryulga nodded.
The prince clenched his fists.
"No."
"That thing isn't me."
"That monster isn't me."
Ryulga shrugged.
"Maybe."
"Maybe not."
The answer only made Nolan angrier.
Before he could speak again—
BOOOOM!
A golden sword suddenly fell from the sky.
The blade embedded itself into the ground between Nolan's feet.
Everyone froze.
The weapon radiated golden energy identical to Nolan's.
Shen immediately stepped forward.
"What was that?"
Ryulga stood.
For the first time all morning.
His expression became serious.
"Looks like Veyl found us."
Nolan stared at the sword.
His eye began glowing again.
The weapon reacted.
Golden symbols appeared along its blade.
Ancient runes.
Thousands of years old.
The sword suddenly lifted itself from the ground.
Floating.
Waiting.
As though recognizing Nolan.
The prince slowly reached forward.
The moment his fingers touched the hilt—
A vision exploded inside his mind.
A battlefield.
Millions of soldiers.
Golden banners.
Mountains of corpses.
A shattered sky.
And standing at the center of it all—
Veyl.
Holding the same sword.
Nolan immediately released it.
The vision disappeared.
He fell to one knee.
Sweat covered his body.
Shen grabbed him.
"What did you see?"
Nolan remained silent.
For several seconds.
Then—
"A war."
His voice shook.
"A war so big it could destroy the world."
Shen's expression darkened.
Ryulga sighed.
"Then we're running out of time."
The prince slowly stood.
His golden eye burned brighter than before.
"What does that mean?"
Ryulga looked toward the horizon.
Beyond the floating islands.
Beyond the clouds.
Toward something only he could sense.
"It means Veyl is preparing something."
"It means the Arcane Generals are moving."
"And it means your training is over."
Shen blinked.
"Over?"
Ryulga grinned.
The familiar dangerous grin.
"No more practice battles."
"No more lessons."
"No more preparation."
He pointed toward the distant horizon.
A massive black tower had appeared.
Far away.
So far it seemed impossible to reach.
Yet its presence dominated the sky.
The moment Nolan saw it—
His eye erupted with golden light.
The same words echoed inside his mind.
THEY MUST NOT REACH THE TOWER.
The prince staggered backward.
Shen caught him.
"Nolan!"
The golden light faded.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Then Nolan looked toward the tower.
His face completely serious.
"Ryulga."
"What is that thing?"
For the first time since meeting him—
Ryulga's smile vanished.
His answer was quiet.
"The beginning of the real war."
To Be Continued...