Threads of Deceit

The dimly lit study was a sanctuary of knowledge, filled with the scent of aged parchment and ink.

Bookshelves lined the walls, crammed with tomes on ancient history, multiversal theory, and arcane symbols. Zazm sat at a cluttered desk, his brow furrowed in concentration as he flipped through a thick book, the pages yellowed with age.

The mark on his arm glowed faintly, pulsating with an energy that felt both foreign and exhilarating. The hourglass on it felt somewhat otherworldly and the intricate lines of stars completed the beauty.

Across the room, Jahanox lounged in a chair, his own mark shimmering softly. He watched Zazm with a mix of curiosity and concern, sensing the tension radiating from his friend.

"You've been at this for hours, Zazm," Jahanox said, breaking the silence. "Are you sure you're not overthinking it? Maybe we should take a break."

Zazm looked up, frustration etched on his face. "I can't take a break, Jahanox! I don't understand how can you be so calm" he closed the book and looked at Jahanox,

"We received random marks out of nowhere and, I found a mysterious letter that just raised my suspicion. What if these are something dangerous? By ignoring a phenomenon such this we can not just harm ourselves but also those around us."

Jahanox leaned on the chair, the weight of Zazm's word leaning against his heart. He knew Zazm was right.

If these marks are something dangerous, it will bad for them and for some reason it's best, if they don't get any other person involved in this.

Since, these marks appeared randomly it's best to keep them a secret... Atleast for now.

He slammed the book shut, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

Running a hand through his hair, he tried to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. "I get it," Jahanox replied, leaning backwards on his chair.

"But we don't even know if they're dangerous or if they're just some kind of rite of passage. Maybe we should just wait and see what happens."

Zazm shook his head, determination unwavering. "What if they're connected to something bigger? What if they're a key or something else? We can't just ignore them."

Zazm carefully touched the mark with his fingers, feeling the energy resonating from it, "The problem isn't that we have these marks... We can somehow hide them. The problem is how did we got them? And why?"

He stood up abruptly, pacing the room as he searched for inspiration. Grabbing another book from the shelf, he flipped through the pages with urgency.

"Okay, but what if we're looking at this the wrong way?" Jahanox suggested.

"Instead of searching for answers in books, what if we experiment a little? See if we can feel anything when we focus on the marks?"

Zazm paused, considering Jahanox's suggestion. It was a different angle, one that might yield results.

"You mean like… meditate on them? See if we can tap into whatever energy they're connected to?"

"Exactly! It's better if we experiment with different stuff. Since, this mark is slightly glowing it's impossible for it to be something normal."

Jahanox said, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "We can sit together, focus on the marks, and see if anything happens. It might help us understand them better."

Zazm nodded, feeling a surge of hope. He returned to his desk, clearing a space for them to sit. They both settled down, facing each other, and closed their eyes.

"Alright, let's do this," Zazm said. "Focus on the marks and try to feel their energy. We'll see if we can unlock any insights."

As they concentrated, Zazm felt the warmth of the mark on his arm intensify. He focused on the sensation, allowing it to wash over him. Images began to flicker in his mind—fragments of memories, colors, and shapes that felt both familiar and foreign.

"Do you feel that?" Jahanox's voice broke through the haze of his thoughts. "It's like… a pulse. Almost like it's trying to communicate with us."

Zazm nodded, his heart racing as he leaned into the sensation. The mark seemed to resonate with his thoughts, creating a connection that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.

"Yes! It's like there's a current running through me. I can almost see… something. It's just out of reach."

Suddenly, the energy surged, and Zazm gasped as a vision flashed before his eyes—a glimpse of a vast multiverse, threads of reality intertwining, and a sense of purpose that felt just beyond his grasp.

Dripp

Blood started flowing out of his eyes but before he could grasp what had happened, he lost consciousness.

"ZAZM??" Jahanox got up from his seat and rushed towards Zazm. "Tch...The hell is this" he clicked his tongue as he questioned what to do. He glanced at Zazm's mark which was glowing slightly brighter now.

******

"Wha-- where am I?" Zazm squinted his eyes and tried to figure out where he was.

"You're up... That's great, I was just going to take you to the hospital." Jahanox told Zazm in a relieved tone.

"I don't understand.... Hospital? Weren't we just trying to look at our marks?" Zazm put his hand on his head.

"Yes! But suddenly your eyes started to bleed and you fell unconscious."

Zazm looked at him in confusion before he realized it, "Yeah! That's exactly, I felt an extreme pain in my head and then everything became fuzzy..."

"What did you see?"Jahanox asked, opening his eyes.

"I don't know… it was like a glimpse of something important, but it slipped away before I could grasp it. It was something vast and..... Unimaginable beautiful" Zazm spoke in an amazed tone.

Jahanox glanced at Zazm his lips straighted showing concern,"Then why did you fell unconscious?"

"I think.... My mind wasn't able to handle the sudden surge of energy and all those things... It shut itself down like an electrical device trying to stop a virus."

Jahanox massaged his temples and fixed his glasses,"That's not how human brain works, Zazm"

"Can you understand a freaking example? We aren't here to discuss how the brain works, Nox." Zazm spoke in an irritated tone.

"But..... I think we should keep going and eventually we will find something out."

Jahanox nodded in agreement before something crossed his mind, "Wait, what are we supposed to do, if something like this happened again?"

Zazm started tapping his fingers on his other hand and eventually he spoke in a carefree tone, "We will see when that happens."

Jahanox looked at Zazm with a concerned expression who just.... Shrugged his hands. 'Not like he would listen to me...'

Jahanox nodded, determination shining in his eyes. "Then let's keep going. We'll figure this out."

******

"Nothing is happening....." Zazm spoke in a frustrated tone before laying on his back.

"It's weird... I'm sure I can feel the energy but it's not like the first time." Jahanox shared his thoughts agreeing with Zazm.

Zazm looked around the room before he suddenly got up, "We tried several things but, I think we should carefully look at the marks once... Perhaps, we can try to understand what they mean."

With renewed resolve, they closed their eyes once more, ready to delve deeper into the mystery of their marks, united in their quest for understanding.