One of the students hesitantly raised their hand and asked, "Sir, why should this era be known as the Era of Calamity? What calamity is going to come?"
The old man paused, nudged his spectacles, and looked at the student with a solemn expression. "The crisis is not something of the future; it is already upon us. And it is none other than the Abyss," he said, his voice heavy with foreboding.
The students exchanged uneasy glances, and one of them asked, "The Abyss?"
The old man clasped his hands behind his back and took a step forward. "The Abyss is a primal force of darkness that is slowly encroaching on our world. It spreads insidiously, engulfing lands and turning them into shadow zones. These zones, tainted by miasma and rot, become uninhabitable for ordinary life and instead host creatures born of the Abyss. At the heart of each shadow zone is a ruler—an Abyssal Lord. Under these lords, wraiths operate as their agents, infiltrating human lands to corrupt and turn people against their own kind."
The room grew silent, save for the faint creak of a chair as a student shifted uncomfortably. Many swallowed hard, their faces pale. Finally, Selena raised her hand, her voice trembling slightly. "Sir, what exactly is this... Abyss?"
The old man turned to her, his gaze sharpening. "The Abyss," he repeated, "is a thing of the unknown. No one truly knows what it is or how it came into existence. Some theorize it to be an extradimensional force seeking to devour our reality. Others believe it to be the work of an otherworldly god, casting a devouring power to consume all creation."
He began pacing slowly, his robes flowing with each step. "Dungeons—those chaotic realms that started appearing during the Third Era—are said to be tied to the Abyss. The Third Era, as you’ve learned, was the most chaotic and violent of all. The collapse of law and rampant battles among beings might have inadvertently birthed this darkness. It is possible the Abyss took root then, feeding on the chaos, and has since grown to the monstrous force it is today."
The students sat transfixed, hanging on his every word.
The old man stopped and looked at them, his expression grave. "Make no mistake—the Abyss is not just a threat to individuals or kingdoms. It endangers the very existence of our world. Its encroachment has forced even the Gods, who had retreated, to reappear and gather followers. Through belief, they grant us the power to resist. But even their influence is waning."
He fixed his gaze on Selena, then swept his eyes across the room. "This is why we must study, understand, and prepare. The Abyss does not wait for us to act. It moves silently, and when it strikes, it will be too late for hesitation."
A heavy silence fell over the class as the students absorbed his words, their minds grappling with the enormity of the danger they now faced.
The lecture hall was silent except for the sound of the old man’s chalk against the board.
"Let’s talk about the Gods and Goddesses," Martin began, adjusting his glasses. He listed them one by one, his voice calm but commanding.
"The Goddess of Light, Ophelia. A symbol of hope and purity," he said, drawing a sun-like symbol on the board.
"Martina, the Goddess of Destruction. A force that ends what must be ended," he continued, sketching a broken sword.
"Nyx, the Goddess of Darkness, who guards secrets and shadows."
"Agneya, the Goddess of Fire, representing passion and fury."
"Kraft, the God of War," Martin said with a faint smile. "Always pictured as a bald old man with endless battle scars."
"The God of Storms," he added, gesturing to a lightning bolt. "A young man who commands the skies."
"Hera, the Goddess of Space, and Rebecca, the Goddess of Creation," Martin finished.
The students hung on every word, their eyes wide with fascination. By the time the bell rang, they were so engrossed they hadn’t noticed the time.
CRING!
Martin smiled. "It seems our time is up. We’ll continue next week."
As the students gathered their things, Lukas noticed Selena quickly slipping out, avoiding his gaze. He frowned, watching her leave. Something’s up with her, he thought.
Shaking it off, he turned to Martin, who was stacking his notes.
"Sir Martin!" Lukas called out, stepping closer.
The old man looked up. "Yes, young man?"
"I want to know about spirits and specters," Lukas said, his voice steady.
Martin froze for a moment. His eyes narrowed slightly, studying Lukas. "Spirits and specters? Why are you asking about them?"
Lukas hesitated but then said, "I think... I can see spirits. It’s been happening for a while now, and it’s getting more frequent."
Martin’s expression turned serious. "You see them?" he asked softly.
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"Yes," Lukas said. "Some are calm, almost peaceful. But others... they feel angry, like they’re watching me."
Martin sighed, setting his notes down. "Spirits are the souls of those who couldn’t move on, tied to this world by strong emotions. They can be harmless—or even helpful. But specters…" He paused, his tone grave. "Specters are corrupted spirits. Twisted by hatred, pain, or something worse. They’re dangerous."
Lukas swallowed. "What should I do, sir?"
Martin leaned forward, his voice low. "If you truly see them, you must be careful. Do not interact with them. Do not let them know you see them. The Abyss feeds on such connections. And if it’s noticed you…"
He didn’t finish the thought, but his warning was clear.
"What does that mean?" Lukas asked, his voice shaking slightly.
"It means you might be marked," Martin said simply. "And if you are, things will only get harder from here."
"So, what should I do?"I asked with genuine concern.
"Don’t interact with anyone.For now, you seem to be safe.Give me your number, I will message you when I have free time and teach you some things until then don’t let your curiosity get better of you,"Martin explained seriously.