The Silent Name

Ryn wandered through the sprawling archives of Luminalis, the sigil on his chest still pulsing faintly. The Arbiter had granted him temporary sanctuary within the neutral city, though the representatives of the Houses had not been pleased. Their disdain lingered in every corridor he walked.

The archives were a labyrinth of knowledge, filled with scrolls, tomes, and artifacts from every age of the realm. If answers existed, they would be here.

He traced his fingers along the spines of ancient books, their titles written in languages long forgotten. Finally, he found a section dedicated to myths and obscurities. Pulling a dusty tome from the shelf, he sat at a nearby table and began to read.

The text spoke of forgotten patrons, those who had existed before the establishment of the Fifteen Houses. It was said that some were cast aside, their power deemed too volatile or dangerous for the structured hierarchy the Houses sought to maintain.

Ryn's eyes widened as he came across a passage describing the "Nameless One"—a deity shrouded in mystery, associated with chaos, transformation, and forbidden knowledge. The text claimed that the Nameless One had been sealed away, their existence erased from history to prevent their influence from spreading.

"Could this be connected to my sigil?" Ryn muttered.

Before he could delve further, a shadow fell across the table. He looked up to see Lady Serafina standing there, her indigo robes swirling around her like a living thing.

"You've stirred quite the storm," she said, her tone unreadable.

Ryn closed the tome. "If you've come to interrogate me, you're wasting your time. I'm as confused as everyone else."

"Interrogate?" she repeated with a faint smile. "No. I'm here to offer guidance. Or, at the very least, an ally."

He frowned. "Why?"

She pulled out a chair and sat across from him. "Because anomalies like you often herald change. And change is something this realm desperately needs."

Her words unsettled him. "You think I'm here to disrupt the order?"

"Perhaps," she said, leaning forward. "Or perhaps you're here to reveal a truth we've long ignored. Either way, I intend to find out. Tell me, Ryn, what do you know of your lineage?"

He hesitated. "Nothing. My mother died when I was young, and she never spoke of my father. I grew up in the outskirts, far from the influence of the Houses."

Lady Serafina studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then we'll start there. If the Nameless One is tied to your sigil, their history must be uncovered. And if the Houses have hidden it, we'll have to dig deeper than anyone ever has."