Chapter 112: The Forgotten Paths

The newly restored pieces of the Mirror of Fantastic Illusions hovered above the stone pedestal, slowly circling one another as silver light flowed between them. 

Every few moments the artifact emitted a faint pulse that rippled across the ancient chamber, revealing more carvings hidden within the walls.

Gene couldn’t stop staring.

“It almost feels alive.”

“It is,” Great Teacher replied.

The Elder Black Dragon stood near the center of the chamber, his obsidian scales reflecting the mirror’s pale glow. “The Mirror of Fantastic Illusions is more than a relic. It remembers every Dreamseer who has ever carried it.”

Selene stepped closer.

“So the mirror itself is guiding us?”

“In a way.”

The dragon lowered his head.

“The mirror remembers where its fragments were taken.”

Athena projected a glowing map beside Gene.

“I am detecting residual spatial signatures.”

Great Teacher nodded approvingly.

“Excellent. Your artificial companion can perceive what remains of the ancient pathways.”

Silver light spread across the floor.

Lines slowly appeared, branching like rivers across an enormous map carved into the stone.

Seven circles surrounded the central vault.

Only one glowed brightly.

“The Black Gem has awakened this sanctuary,” Great Teacher explained.

“Each recovered fragment strengthens the Mirror.”

“As it grows stronger, more forgotten roads will reveal themselves.”

Gene watched several of the glowing lines stop abruptly.

“What happened here?”

The dragon’s expression darkened.

“War.”

“The Hollow King’s armies destroyed countless Dreamseer roads.”

“Many realms that were once connected became isolated forever.”

The map continued changing until four locations began shining brighter than the others.

Great Teacher gently touched the first.

“The next fragments lie here.”

A mountain fortress appeared.

“The second location rests within an ancient observatory that once studied the stars between worlds.”

Another light appeared.

A frozen valley surrounded by enormous crystal forests.

“The third waits where winter has never ended.”

The final light flickered weakly.

An enormous floating ruin drifted through endless clouds.

“The fourth fragment sleeps inside the Sky Archive.”

Moira hurriedly wrote every detail into her notebook.

Gene smiled.

“So we actually have a map this time.”

Lilith clapped excitedly.

“No more wandering around until we accidentally find treasure!”

Gene laughed.

“Hopefully.”

Great Teacher’s massive tail slowly swept across the floor until it rested over another glowing symbol.

Unlike the others…

This one shimmered beneath waves.

“The Green Gem.”

Everyone looked toward it.

Selene frowned.

“That’s underwater.”

The dragon nodded.

“It always has been.”

The map shifted.

An entire kingdom slowly rose from the glowing projection.

Coral towers.

Brilliant blue domes.

Living bridges woven from giant sea plants.

Schools of luminous fish drifted through wide streets while enormous sea creatures swam peacefully above the city.

Lilith’s eyes sparkled.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It was,” Great Teacher corrected quietly.

“The city was once one of the greatest Dreamseer sanctuaries.”

Gene noticed something odd.

“There aren’t any roads leading to it.”

“There used to be.”

Great Teacher pointed toward a shattered ring carved into the map.

“The Dreamseer Vault possessed a permanent gateway to the underwater kingdom.”

“It allowed travelers to cross between worlds in moments.”

His voice grew heavy.

“It was destroyed during the First War.”

Athena enhanced the damaged carving.

“The gateway appears to have been intentionally collapsed.”

The dragon nodded.

“So the enemy could never reach the Green Gem.”

Gene folded his arms.

“So if the gate is gone…”

“We’ll need another way to reach the city.”

“Correct.”

Moira looked thoughtful.

“There may be surviving portal records elsewhere.”

“I’ll begin searching the library as soon as we return.”

Great Teacher smiled.

“An excellent idea.”

Selene studied the glowing image of the underwater city.

“My grandmother visited this place, didn’t she?”

“Many times.”

“She was welcomed there as a friend.”

The dragon became unusually quiet.

“I hope they still remember the Dreamseers.”

Silence settled over the chamber.

Finally Gene asked the question that had been bothering him.

“If the Green Gem is so important…”

“Why wasn’t it used to seal the Hollow King?”

The dragon actually laughed.

“You assume every Gem shares the same purpose.”

Gene shrugged.

“I kind of did.”

“The Seven Gems were never identical.”

He walked toward the central pedestal.

“The Red Gem grants overwhelming resolve.”

“The Blue Gem strengthens understanding.”

“The Black Gem safeguards forgotten knowledge.”

“The Yellow Gem guides inheritance.”

He looked toward the underwater city.

“The Green Gem was entrusted with preservation.”

“It was created to protect life after catastrophe.”

“It was never woven into the prison itself.”

Athena immediately updated her records.

“Interesting.”

Gene blinked.

“So…”

“The Green Gem wasn’t part of the original sealing ritual?”

“No.”

Great Teacher slowly turned toward them.

“Neither were two of the remaining Gems.”

The room became perfectly still.

Selene whispered,

“Then why is the Hollow King Cult searching for all seven?”

The dragon’s golden eyes narrowed.

“Because they misunderstand history.”

“They believe assembling every Gem will free the Hollow King.”

“In truth…”

He looked directly at the partially restored mirror.

“…only four Gems were required to imprison him.”

Everyone stared.

Gene frowned.

“If that’s true…”

“Then why hasn’t anyone figured it out?”

Great Teacher sighed.

“Because the final pages of Dreamseer history disappeared.”

“The sealing ritual itself was deliberately hidden.”

Moira slowly closed her notebook.

“So the knowledge was erased.”

“Yes.”

The dragon’s expression hardened.

“The spell was never lost by accident.”

“It was hidden.”

“Scattered among the greatest Dreamseers so that no single person could misuse it.”

Athena projected several probabilities.

“The Hollow King Cult is operating under incomplete historical information.”

“Eighty-nine percent likelihood.”

Gene smiled for the first time in several hours.

“So they’re chasing three things they don’t actually need.”

“Exactly,” Great Teacher replied.

“They waste precious time searching for every Gem.”

“While they search…”

The dragon looked toward the Mirror of Fantastic Illusions.

“…we recover the Mirror.”

“…we uncover the forgotten spell.”

“…and we prepare to bind the Hollow King once more.”

The Mirror suddenly pulsed.

A new silver beam extended from its surface toward the glowing map.

It settled upon the mountain fortress—the nearest resting place of another fragment.

Great Teacher smiled.

“The Mirror has chosen.”

Gene adjusted his armor.

Selene rested a hand on the Black Gem.

Lilith swung her enchanted bag onto her shoulder with a grin.

“Treasure hunt?”

Gene chuckled.

“Treasure hunt.”

As the ancient vault slowly echoed with the Mirror’s silver song, the path toward the next fragment—and the forgotten magic that could save every world—finally lay open before them.