Night slowly descended upon this mysterious world, enveloping it in the soft glow of stars. Lumis and Eili continued their journey across the silvery grass. Their steps sounded quiet as a breath, and around them, an atmosphere of anticipation lingered.
— These towers… Have they always been here? — Lumis broke the silence, his gaze fixed on the spirals of light ahead.
— Always, — Eili nodded. — But for many, they are just part of the landscape. They are noticed only by those who are ready to look deeper.
— And you… have you always known about them? — he asked, filled with curiosity.
Eili paused for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully.
— They have always been a part of my world. But I, like you, didn’t understand at first why they were calling. — She stopped and looked at him. — And now, are you ready to understand why?
— I don’t know, — Lumis replied honestly.
— Maybe I’m just searching for something… something greater than myself.
Eili smiled gently, and something deep and almost elusive flickered in her eyes.
— Sometimes, we seek what we do not even know. But answers can only be found when you are ready to ask the right questions.
Lumis wanted to respond but was interrupted by a strange sensation. The air around them began to vibrate, and a quiet whisper floated in from afar—a whisper that was both incomprehensible and familiar, as if it were echoing from his own thoughts.
— It’s them, — Eili said softly, looking at the tower that was now quite close.
— Who are “they”? — Lumis asked, tensing up.
— The towers, — she explained. — They are alive. And they know we are here.
Lumis felt his heart begin to race. He looked at the tower, which now glowed brighter than ever. Its threads of light seemed to pulse, and the whisper became more distinct, transforming into words:
— Come… understand… become part of.
— What does that mean? — he murmured, barely managing to grasp the meaning.
— They want you to know the truth, — Eili replied, but there was something anxious in her voice.
— You sound like you’re afraid.
— Because the truth is never easy, Lumis. It changes everything you know about this world… and about yourself.
Lumis felt a cold wind brush against his skin. But at the same time, he realized that he could no longer retreat.
— Then I want to learn it, — he said, looking directly at Eili. — But will you come with me?
Eili gazed at him thoughtfully.
— I will go. But remember: the closer you get to the truth, the more questions it raises.
Lumis nodded, and taking a step forward, he touched the gleaming surface of the first tower. At that moment, everything around them ignited in bright light, and the whisper transformed into a voice that seemed to envelop his entire being:
— Welcome, seeker. Your journey has only just begun.
For a moment, the world vanished, leaving only him, Eili, and the infinite pulsation of light.