The Five Realms

Chapter 12: Joey IV

The Light Within the Darkness

The cool air of the underground chamber enveloped Joey as he stood before the ancient inscription, eyes tracing the unfamiliar script etched into the stone. His heart was still pounding from the intensity of the last few hours. The battles, the explosions, the frantic chase through unfamiliar territories—it had all left him breathless and overwhelmed. But now, in this moment of stillness, everything felt different. The tunnel before them stretched like an endless mystery, its secrets just beyond the reach of his understanding.

*Garjzla, nosu tauthr.* He repeated the phrase in his mind as his fingers hovered over the strange runes on the wall. His voice was steady, though inside, he felt a rush of excitement mixed with uncertainty. The moment he began reciting the words aloud, he was caught off guard by the sudden drain of energy that coursed through him, as if the tunnel was pulling something from within him. The intensity of it was sharp, but it wasn't just fatigue—it was also power.

His *gedwëy ignasia*, the silvery mark on his palm that had only recently begun to make sense to him, flared with a brilliant blue light. The glow from the mark intensified until it formed a bright orb that hovered above his palm. He could feel its energy pulsing through his veins, lighting up the tunnel in a warm, expansive glow that cut through the darkness like a beacon.

Joey could hear the collective gasp of his companions as the light spread, revealing more of the tunnel's beauty. He turned his head slightly, catching his sister Chyna's wide-eyed expression of awe. Her lips curled into a small smile, one that mirrored his own sense of wonder.

"What does it mean?" Joey asked Arya, still grappling with the immensity of the moment, with the sudden and inexplicable power he now wielded.

"'Light follows us,'" Arya responded, her calm voice grounded in an unshakable certainty. She placed a hand on his shoulder, sending a wave of calming energy through him that helped to dissipate the initial rush of fatigue.

Joey blinked, momentarily dazed. "Whoa..." He glanced at Chyna, who nodded in silent understanding. They shared an unspoken acknowledgment that something profound had shifted in their journey.

"That's incredible," Joey whispered, extending his hand toward Chyna for a high-five. As their hands connected, a strange spark of energy passed between them, a jolt that was both surprising and oddly familiar.

'That was weird,' Joey thought, still marveling at the lingering sensation.

*I know, right?* came a voice—Chyna's voice—but not through his ears.

Joey stopped, looking at his sister with wide eyes. "Wait... what?"

"What?" she asked, confusion etched on her face as well.

"You heard me?" Joey asked, now realizing something even stranger was at play.

Chyna blinked, her own eyes widening as the realization dawned on her. "I did. But... I didn't hear you out loud."

A moment of silence passed between them, a new understanding slowly settling in. They had communicated telepathically—without even realizing it.

Arya, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward with a knowing smile. "This is common among those who begin tapping into their magical abilities. The bond between you is strengthened by your shared power. In time, it will become second nature."

Joey exchanged a quick glance with Chyna. He could see the excitement and curiosity swirling in her eyes, reflecting his own. Telepathy was just another layer to this already overwhelming experience. It was something they hadn't anticipated, yet it felt... right.