The Shadowbound Prophecy

Chapter 13: Ripples of the Unseen

The sun broke over the horizon the next morning, casting long shadows across the landscape. The night's events lingered like a dark cloud over the camp, the remnants of the creature's attack still fresh in Harry's mind. He sat by the riverbank, staring at the spot where the seal-like creature had vanished beneath the water. His body still ached from the strain of using magic he barely understood.

Seraphina stood nearby, pacing restlessly, her sword strapped to her side. She hadn't said much since the creature had been defeated, but Harry could feel her concern. Her eyes flickered toward him every few moments, as if expecting him to collapse under the weight of whatever had just happened.

But Harry didn't collapse. Instead, he sat there, lost in thought. He couldn't shake the feeling that the creature had been a harbinger of something worse—a sign of the turmoil that lay ahead. The seal on his power had wavered last night, allowing him to access a small fraction of what had once been his. But it had come at a cost, draining him almost completely. If he were to face a greater threat in this weakened state, he wasn't sure he'd survive.

Find me.

The whisper echoed again, just as it had before. But this time, it wasn't a dream. It was a command, clear and undeniable. The Fallen God was calling to him, urging him to move forward, to break free from the chains that bound him. But how could he answer that call when he didn't even know where to start?

"Harry?" Seraphina's voice broke through his thoughts. She stopped pacing and knelt beside him. "You've been quiet all morning. Are you alright?"

He nodded, though he wasn't sure if the answer was true. "I'm fine," he said, his voice hoarse. "Just... thinking."

Seraphina narrowed her eyes, studying him carefully. "That creature last night—it wasn't a coincidence, was it? It came for you."

Harry hesitated, then nodded. "It was sent to remind me. Of the seal on my power. And of what I'm supposed to be."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Who sent it?"

"The Fallen God," Harry said quietly, almost afraid to say the words aloud. "Or whatever remains of him. He's been calling to me, Seraphina. In dreams, in whispers. And now, I think he's watching me. Testing me."

Seraphina's expression darkened. She had heard legends of the Fallen God, stories whispered by those who feared the ancient powers that once roamed the world. But she had never believed them—at least, not until now.

"And you think this is all connected to your power?" she asked.

Harry nodded. "The gods sealed my true abilities because they feared what I might become. But the Fallen God... I think he knows how to break that seal. He's waiting for the right moment."

Seraphina glanced at the river, her eyes narrowing. "And you're going to find him, aren't you?"

"I have to," Harry said. "It's the only way to unlock my full potential. And if we're going to stand any chance against the gods... I need that power."

Seraphina didn't argue. She knew Harry was right. The gods had already shown their willingness to interfere in their quest, sending obstacle after obstacle to prevent them from reaching the truth. If Harry's power could tip the scales in their favor, then they had no choice but to seek out the Fallen God—wherever he might be.

But the question remained: where did they start?

The answer came unexpectedly, in the form of an ancient map that Seraphina had been carrying with her for weeks. She unrolled it on the ground, revealing a detailed depiction of the world's major realms and territories. At the edge of the map, far beyond the known lands, there was a small, isolated island surrounded by turbulent seas.