Chapter 17: The Chains That Speak
"They tried to erase the past. But some memories can scream louder than time."
Scene 1: The Council's Judgment
Ren stood before the great circular chamber, lit by floating glyphs and arcane lenses. Around him—twelve masked Councilors, all from ancient bloodlines and divine orders.
Chancellor Viridelle's voice cut through the silence:
"Ren Kamizuki. You wield a Codex not meant for mortals. You've awakened forbidden tiers of magic. The chains of balance have begun to fray."
Ren met her gaze calmly.
"Then maybe the balance was never real."
Gasps echoed. But before a response could come—
The Codex Nullum opened on its own.
A voice, layered and ancient, filled the air.
"The Council speaks of law. I remember when they broke it first."
"Let me show them."
Dark glyphs floated from the book—echoes of chained gods, shattered seals, and a child with golden eyes walking among ruins.
"...You are the Sealed Child."
"You are Aetherion's Heir."
Scene 2: Lira's Secret
Later, in the Astral Gardens, Lira pulled Ren aside. Her hands trembled.
"They'll come for you now."
"That voice from the Codex—it wasn't just an echo. It was a memory I sealed."
Ren's eyes widened.
Lira stepped back, removing the locket she always wore. Inside: a faded glyph—the Crest of the Mirror Keepers.
"I was trained by the Library of Forgotten Tomes. My order guards secrets… but I broke an oath the day I saw you in the Echo Mirror."
"You weren't just a student. You were a warning."
She met his eyes, whispering:
"I think I was sent to protect you... because I failed you once."
Scene 3: Kael's First Move
Within the Hollow Sanctum, Kael Veylor knelt before a seal of thorns.
"Cradle of Thorns," he whispered.
"Give me what I need to shatter Ren Kamizuki."
Chains unfurled—alive—and embedded in Kael's spine.
"You are no longer bound by mortal constraints," a voice replied.
"You are now the Crown of Wrath."
Back at the Academy, Kael stepped into the main courtyard where students gathered… and declared:
"Challenge. Void Duel. Ren Kamizuki. Seven dawns from now."
Deep Lore Drop: Void Protocol - Unsealed Fragments
The Void Protocol is not one ability—it's a buried algorithm from the era of fallen gods, encoded into divine language.
Known effects (so far):
Echo Absorption – Ren can absorb spells, knowledge, and trauma from others.
Null Rewrite – He can cancel or overwrite lower-tier divine abilities temporarily.
Memory Pulse – The Codex can transmit ancestral or sealed memories into his consciousness.
Chain of Origin – ??? (TBA in Chapter 18)
The Protocol isn't just power.
It's an interface to a forgotten war.
The Council of Seals
Twelve masked figures, each from divine or cursed bloodlines. Their purpose: maintain cosmic balance in mortal academies.
Factions within:
The Binding Order: Strict traditionalists (vote for Ren's elimination).
The Visioned Lineage: Secretly interested in Ren's potential.
The Watchless Flame: May have ties to Kael…
Symbol: A blindfolded eye bound by twin chains.