This wasn't something they could ignore. Chaos was known to be the stronger being in existence after all. Anything related to him was bound to be world defying.
They were also certain that the temple where this gemstone was found was created a long time ago, before even Chaos was born. That further meant that this gem didn't belong to Chaos.
This gem, and Chaos, both had a threat that connected them to something. They just don't know what this unified thread is connected to.
Still, with the new information, they were more eager than ever to uncover the mysteries of the gem, to the point that they even forgot about Caen or the task to explore this world
Over the following days, they dedicated themselves to understanding the ancient runes and symbols.
They understood that to know the gem, they needed to know the place that it was kept in.
That's why, fortunay brought out the book in which he had noted all the ancient inscriptions that were carved on the wall.
Initially, he wanted to hand this over to the High Council, but that was before he found the gemstone. Now, he didn't want anyone else to know about it.
He and the others used their knowledge of the Realm of Gods to cross-reference the inscriptions with ancient texts they had studied.
Slowly, they began to piece together fragments of the forgotten history and the potential significance of the gemstone.
Unfortunately, what they could understand was only a tiny fraction of the inscriptions.
Hours turned into days as the Young Gods continued their study of the gemstone and the ancient inscriptions.
Their knowledge and understanding of the forgotten history deepened, but they were still far from comprehending the full extent of the gem's power and significance. Each day, they grew more captivated by the enigmatic artifact, their eagerness to unlock its secrets driving them forward.
Elysia was the one who made the most progress in deciphering the inscriptions. Her insight into the ancient language helped her even more.
As she pieced together more information, she became increasingly convinced that the gemstone was not merely a source of power, but something even more profound—a key. She just didn't know what this was a key for.
She kept translating the inscriptions to understand more.
Fortunay, on the other hand, focused on finding connections between the gemstone and Chaos. He became obsessed with understanding the relationship between the two, convinced that this connection could lead them to the source of the gem's power.
He also wondered if this gemstone was the secret behind Chaos' sudden rise. If that was the case, then he could become the next Supreme God once he uncovered the secrets, or so he thought.
As he delved deeper into his research, he noticed that some of the inscriptions referred to the gemstone as the "Heart of Eternity."
The significance of this name was lost to them, but it filled them with a sense of intrigue.
Eris, who initially advocated for seizing the gemstone, started to become cautious again. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were treading on dangerous ground.
The more they learned about the gem, the more she felt a growing sense of dread. It was as if the gemstone itself was aware of their attempts to unlock its secrets, and it seemed to react subtly to their investigations.
One evening, while they were deeply engrossed in their studies, the gemstone began to emit a faint, pulsating light.
It was barely noticeable at first, but it gradually intensified until the cave was bathed in a gentle glow. The Young Gods exchanged surprised glances as they sensed the strange phenomenon.
"What's happening?" Elysia asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
"I don't know," Fortunay replied, moving closer to the gemstone. "It's as if it's responding to something."
"Is it reacting to us?"
As he reached out to touch the gem, he froze. An unexpected vision flashed before his eyes. He saw a vast cosmic expanse, a realm beyond anything they had ever known.
In that vision, he saw celestial beings of unimaginable power, each holding a fragment of a greater whole—the Heart of Eternity.
As soon as the vision stopped, the gemstone stopped shining. Fortunay returned to his senses, dropping to his knees as if his body had suddenly lost all the strength. He felt so weak in the vision, as if he was merely an ant before the Celestial beings. His heart was still beating fast.
"The gemstone is linked to other fragments like itself," Fortunay gasped, trying to make sense of the vision. "It's not just a single artifact; it's part of something much greater!"
Elysia frowned. "You mean, there are more of these gemstones scattered across the universe?"
Fortunay nodded, still processing the vision. "Yes, and when bring them together..."
"When we bring them together, then what?" Eris asked impatiently.
Fortunay looked at all of them, before speaking a single sentence, that made all the Young Gods go pale.
The gravity of their discovery weighed heavily on them. The gemstone they had found was not an isolated artifact but part of a cosmic puzzle. Each gemstone held a piece of the Heart of Eternity, and when they all came together... The young gods found it hard to believe.
"We need to find the other fragments," Eris said after coming out of her daze, her voice filled with a newfound determination. "If we can bring them together, everything would change!"
"Agreed," Elysia chimed in. "But we must be cautious. The power we're dealing with is beyond anything we've encountered before."
Fortunay nodded solemnly. "We'll need to be prepared. And we can't let anyone else know about this—not until we have a better understanding of what we're dealing with. We must hide it from Caen at all costs!"
"I want everyone here to take a Heavenly Oath! If you try to tell it to anyone, your heart will be crushed under the heavenly laws and you will die instantly before you can speak anything!" He suggested, realizing how grim this situation was.
The Young Gods vowed to keep their discovery a secret. They didn't plan to leak it either so they took the Heavenly Oath.
