THE SHATTERED REALM: FORGOTTEN ECHOES

"You seem fascinated by our surroundings, Hordin," An old, hunched man with a squashed face said to the little boy sitting across him in the carriage they were traveling in. The boy, having the appearance of someone who had just entered adolescence looked outside, ignoring the elderly man. He was lost in his thoughts, the scene just kept replaying in his head. It was just yesterday when he sat in his room, reading about magic attributes and cultivation, something he will never have. The door opened and in walked the old man now sitting across him.

"I hope you're doing well, young prince," he said in his irritating voice. The boy ignored him then and the old man smirked, even though he didn't look at the man's face, he could feel it.

"I would listen to this humble servant if I were you. The news is directly coming from your father. He asked me to come to get you for him, Hordin Bone, so be a good boy and come with me to go see your father, the king of the Bone kingdom." Hordin was shocked the moment he heard about his father, nothing good happened when it had to do with his father. Hordin was a bastard son to him, nothing more than that.

The only reason why he still existed was that his father had no sons other than him and had been worried he might not get one if he were to eliminate Hordin. His mother died mysteriously one time when he was only seven, but Hordin knew better than to believe she died mysteriously. The killer was his father, whether he did it with his own hands or he made someone else do it didn't matter. The truth was that the death was because of his father, and that man he so dreaded wanted to see him. He hated to go, but he had no choice.

You could say he was a cornered mouse who had no choice but to go to the cat and hope the cat would pity him and allow him to live. He closed the book he was reading and walked outside without saying a word before the old man could say more. His second most hated person was that man and he had no intention of hiding it.

The old man followed him as he walked to where his father would be waiting for him; in the throne room. When they reached the large doors, he hesitated. The last time he entered in they still gave him nightmares and there and then the images flashed in his mind, making his heart beat faster. Sweat dripped from his forehead to the floor and he held the door to support himself, but the old man wasn't the type to wait, especially for some bastard kid who didn't even like him. He pushed the door open and Hordin stumbled in.

"Your beloved son has been brought to you as you requested," he shouted as he walked in before Hordin could right himself. He quickly followed behind, knowing very well that if he were to show weakness, his father would get angry and probably do something terrible to him.

They walked till they were only a few steps away from the throne where he sat. The place looked dark and gloomy. The King, his father's eyes had this sparkle in them as he studied his son. The light coming from those two snake heads wasn't that bright and creeped him out. He couldn't see his father's expression and that scared him more.

"Leave." He said, and the old man bowed slightly and left the room. Hordin slightly jumped up in fear when the door shut behind him.

Again.

Having no attribute was painful. He couldn't cultivate. Ever since he'd failed to show signs of developing any attribute, Hordin had spent his days poring over every book on cultivation he could find.

Cultivators relied on youm, the energy that flowed through all things, mixing with the air they breathed. Cultivation was divided into gates, each representing a stage in a cultivator's growth. At his age, he should have been at the Genesis Gate, where one would manifest their first attribute. From there, it was a gradual progression, moving on to the Bronze Gate with its three steps. The steps increased with each gate, from the Silver to the Platinum Gate, and beyond, as one developed new skills and insights.

Attributes came in many forms. Some were elemental, like fire and water, while others were more specialized, like Alchemy, where one could draw complex formations with varied effects. There were also abilities like Curse, which allowed users to hex others, and Space, which gave control over dimensions. Blood, which altered and manipulated one's own blood, was just as dangerous as it was powerful. Then there was Damned, an attribute that manifested a beast form, Plant, which granted full control over plant life, and Echo, which let the user manipulate sound waves. Vibration could alter the very molecules of matter, and there were many other rare and fascinating attributes, each more unique than the last.

Having no attribute wasn't unheard of, but it was a constant reminder that he was different—maybe even defective. People around him respected his intelligence and diligence, but he could never reach their level. He could never manifest that defining spark of power that marked a true cultivator.

He was left with the monster he feared and hated with no escape. He couldn't look up at his father and only stared at his feet in fear. He heard some rustling and watched in horror as his father rose to his feet and walked to him. His father stood towering over him and Hordin didn't know what to do. He stared up at his father in fear, still unable to see his expression in the darkness. He had no time to know what was happening before he was thrown to the floor from a hit on his head.

"You are nothing but a disappointment," the king muttered, his voice low but laced with contempt.

Hordin coughed and tried to get up, but the man was before him in a flash. He was kicked to the floor and more kicks entered his body which racked with intense pain as he screamed his throat hoarse.

"Get up."

"Don't go screaming like some girl."

"Get up."

"Prove to me that you're a boy, that you deserve to have my blood running through your veins."

"Get up"

"Don't show me that weak side you always show, will you?"

"Get up"

"Tch- You'll never be what I need"

He could only roll into a ball and accept the pain inflicted and the painful words his father poured onto him. Even though the words his father said were toxic, he still spoke them with a calm tone as if they were the most normal things to say to a child his age. He wondered what kind of face that man had as he said those words, but he just couldn't. The truth was he had never seen his father's face. He was either in this dark room where the shadows covered his face or he wore that skeletal mask of his.

After what felt like an eternity, he was left alone to lie there crying silently.

"When they're done treating you, you're leaving right away for the Vermillion Kingdom. One of the precious princesses is turning twelve, so she'll be unlocking her cultivation abilities. You'll be representing the Bone Kingdom. Use this chance to learn something about people. Get up and leave…" The rest was just a blur with everything turning dark and then he was waking up in his room with his wounds gone from his body, but he still felt some pain when he moved. Next, he found himself in this carriage journeying to the Vermillion Kingdom.

Henndar had received news that some visitors from The Bone Kingdom had arrived and was on his way to meet them when the explosion sounded loud.

He wanted to go find out what it was, but duty came first.

He decided to go check it out after the meeting but asked someone to hurry and get him the news on what it was that had caused that explosion.

Just before he arrived, the person came running to him, telling him what had happened to Aramith.

He wanted to go there immediately to know if all the children were alright, but he chose not to.

They would be cared for.

The place they had allocated for those from the Bone Kingdom to lodge at was within the castle walls but separated from the castle, just like the other visitors.

He was escorted by two of his guards as he entered, at least that's what the eye and perception would tell one, but he had about five more others close at hand.

The door was opened and he entered to find eight people in the room, but only two were seated, the rest were guards.

The pair looked a bit odd to him; a small boy looking either a year or two younger than Aramith and an old man who sat hunched.

The boy looked a bit pale and sat stiffly, but something about his eyes and the way they moved around interested him.

The old man on the other hand looked nothing short of ugly. His face looked like it had been sucked in and it was hard to tell whether he was frowning, smiling, smirking, or whatever expression it was he held. Nature was really cruel to some people.

Henndar immediately recognized him when he noticed a white ring on his hand.

He was the one they called the backbone of the Bones. It was rather interesting that they were the first among the five main Kingdoms to appear.

Other people from the smaller kingdoms had appeared, but they were nothing compared to the great five ruling powers.

Hordin sat there feeling nervous but he forced himself not to look awkward.

Something about the King made him feel uncomfortable, but he had no idea that was all in his head.

Henndar was a King and a father, and he reminded Hordin of his father which scared him.

He looked at the two who followed him and realized they were guards.

That startled him, why would he come with guards? Is there anyone dangerous here or something is going to happen?

Suddenly, his attention was drawn to the corner of the room. He saw a faint outline of a person there but couldn't see anyone and the figure he saw was so still. It didn't move in the slightest and the face was what he wondered about.

He couldn't tell where or who the person was looking. He kept staring at it and suddenly as if noticing his gaze, the figure just turned and looked at him.

That scared Hordin and he jerked his head back in shock.

That movement caught the attention of all the others in the room. He realized his mistake and apologized but Henndar smiled at him, quite the opposite of what he expected to receive.

"There's nothing to apologize about, young man. I'm Henndar if you don't already know, what's your name?"

He reached out his hand to shake his', but Hordin noticed Henndar glance where he'd seen the person.

He was quick to avert his eyes but Hordin didn't miss that.

"H-Jordin, my name is Hordin,"

Hordin spoke stiffly and reached out to shake Henndar's hand. Henndar took his hand and smiled

"That's a nice name. I suppose you're here because?"

Henndar asked him, wanting to know his identity but before he could reply, the old man spoke up instead.

"He's the crown prince of the Bone Kingdom, very few people outside the kingdom know of his existence." He said.

Here's something extra.

Gate Breakdown:

Genesis – 1 Step

Bronze Gate – 3 Steps

Silver Gate – 4 Steps

Gold Gate – 5 Steps

Platinum Gate – 5 Steps

Crystal Gate – 6 Steps

Dark Gate – 6 Steps

Transcending Gate – 7 Steps

Dragon's Gate – 7 Steps***

Heaven's Gate – 8 Steps

Divine Gate – 8 Steps

Gate of Origin – 9 Steps

Pantheon Gate – 10 Steps