1 Chapter one

:*Echoes of the past:*

Rin finds himself drowning his sorrows in a dimly lit bar, attempting to escape the pain and turmoil that has plagued his life. He nurses his drink, lost in a sea of regret and despair.

Suddenly, the entrance of a menacing group disrupts the quiet ambiance of the bar. Fear grips the patrons as they recognize these newcomers as members of one of the most powerful and ruthless gangs in town. While everyone else cowers in terror, Rinfueled by a reckless resolve, decides to take a stand.

He confronts the gang members, ready to defend himself and perhaps seek a sense of redemption through this act of defiance. However, the odds are stacked against him, and the gang delivers a brutal and merciless beating, leaving Rin battered and broken.

As the gang departs, leaving chaos and destruction in their wake, the bar owner, recognizing trouble when he sees it, promptly kicks Rin out onto the streets.

Bruised and bloodied, Rin begins his walk of self-reflection. He contemplates the series of unfortunate events that have haunted him throughout his life, from the tragic loss of his father to his ill-fated involvement with a gang, which ultimately cast him aside when they discovered the devastating extent of his power. He now finds himself reduced to a mere drunkard, an easy target for those who wish to inflict pain upon him.

As he stands on a bridge overlooking a cliff, contemplating whether life is worth living in this wretched state, a sudden and unexpected intervention occurs. A bony hand grabs him from behind, preventing him from taking that fateful leap.

The mysterious figure, whose identity is unknown to Tekashi, compels him to follow. Rin , without hesitation, falls in step with his enigmatic savior. In a moment of vulnerability, Rin confides in this stranger, sharing the despair that has gripped his life.

The stranger introduces Rin to the concept of the "Wraith Makers" and offers a potential solution to his problems. With a sense of renewed hope and determination, Rin is given an address and instructed to arrive there within the next three days. This unexpected encounter sets the stage for a transformative journey that may hold the key to Rin's redemption and the reclamation of his life.

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The moon hung low in the night sky, casting long shadows across the desolate alley. Rin stood in the cold, his breath forming ghostly wisps in the air. He was at the crossroads of a decision that could change everything.The past few weeks had been a blur of discovery and danger. He had triggered deaths, learned their fragmented stories, and uncovered a web of intrigue that reached far beyond anything he could have imagined. But the one thing that had eluded him was the truth about his own curse, the source of his power. Rin clenched his fists, the leather gloves creaking softly. He had received a tip about a mysterious figure known only as the "Wraithmaker." This elusive individual was said to possess knowledge about the origins of the death-triggering ability, and Tekashi was determined to find them.As he stood in the dimly lit alley, a chilling wind rustled through his coat. The shadows seemed to converge around him, as if the night itself held its breath. He pulled out a crumpled note from his pocket, the hastily scrawled directions leading him to this forsaken place.With cautious steps, he followed the alley's twists and turns until he reached a nondescript door. It was weathered, with peeling paint and a rusty doorknob. The kind of door that hid secrets. Rin raised a gloved hand, hesitated for a moment, then knocked three times. The echoes of his knocks reverberated through the stillness, fading into the silence of the night . Seconds turned into minutes, and just as he was beginning to doubt the reliability of the tip, the door creaked open. A shadowy figure stood in the doorway, obscured by the dim light from within."You're late," the figure hissed, their voice a whisper in the darkness. Rin stepped forward, his heart pounding. "I had to be cautious," he replied, his tone resolute. "I'm here for answers."The figure in the doorway chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Rin's spine. "Answers, you say? The truth you seek comes at a price."Rin clenched his jaw. He was prepared for sacrifices, for deals with darkness if that's what it took. "I'll pay whatever price is necessary. Just tell me about the origin of this curse, this power to trigger death."The figure stepped aside, allowing Rin to enter. The room beyond was small and dimly lit, filled with the scent of old books and dried herbs. Shelves lined the walls, holding ancient tomes and curious artifacts."Sit," the figure gestured to a worn leather chair in the center of the room. "We have much to discuss." Rin settled into the chair, his senses on high alert.

The figure remained in the shadows, their features concealed. They began to speak, their voice low and hypnotic, weaving a tale that sent shivers down Rin's spine."Long ago, in a forgotten age, there existed an order known as the Keepers of Eternity," the figure began. "They sought to unlock the secrets of life and death, to gain control over the very fabric of existence. It was said that they discovered a forbidden ritual—a way to tether one's soul to the cycle of life and death itself."Rin leaned forward, his heart pounding. "Go on.""The ritual granted them immense power, but at a grave cost," the figure continued. "The curse of the Wraithmaker. The power to trigger death, to glimpse the memories of the departed. It was a curse born of their ambition and their arrogance."Rin mind raced with possibilities. "And how do I break this curse?"The figure hesitated, then stepped into the dim light, revealing a face shrouded in sorrow. "To break the curse, you must find the essence of the first keeper, the one who initiated the ritual. Only by confronting their lingering spirit and unraveling the mysteries of their past can you hope to sever the bond."Rin felt a weight settle in his chest. It was a daunting task, but he had come too far to turn back now. "Where do I find the essence of the first keeper?"The figure extended a hand, offering a worn pendant adorned with an ancient symbol. "This pendant is your guide. Seek out the forgotten temple in the depths of the Whispering Woods. There, you will find the first keeper's essence, and perhaps, a chance to rid yourself of this curse." Rin took the pendant, its cool metal a reassuring presence in his palm. He nodded, his determination unwavering. "Thank you. I won't forget this."As he left the shadowy room and stepped back into the cold night, he knew that his journey had only just begun. The Whispering Woods beckoned, and with each step, he drew closer to the answers he so desperately sought.But little did he know that the secrets of the Keepers of Eternity ran deeper than he could fathom, and the price of breaking the curse would test not only his resolve but the very essence of his being.

The Whispering Woods lay ahead, a place steeped in legends and shrouded in ancient magic. As he ventured deeper into its dark embrace, the woods seemed to come alive with eerie whispers and ghostly apparitions. It was a place where time and reality blurred, where the boundary between life and death was thin.

Each step brought him closer to the heart of the forest, and with every passing moment, he felt the weight of his quest bearing down on him. The pendant around his neck pulsed with a faint, ethereal light, guiding him through the labyrinthine paths.

The memories of those he had triggered deaths for echoed in his mind, their voices a haunting chorus of regret and longing. He knew that the answers he sought were tied to the fate of the first keeper, a figure lost to the annals of history.

As he delved deeper into the woods, he couldn't help but wonder if he was prepared for the revelations that awaited him. The past and present intertwined in this mystical place, and the truth he sought might be a double-edged sword, cutting through not only the curse but also his understanding of the world itself.