Whispers of white

Adrian connected the purple-hued landscape to Vyrtalis solely because he recalled witnessing him employ a comparable mist in the presence of the chained one-eyed individual.

Adrian remained uncertain whether Vyrtalis was the originator of the fog or if he simply stumbled upon it, but the pervasive influence of the mist on the forest was undeniable.

Observing the rich concentration of purple hues on the temple, Adrian became convinced that he had indeed arrived at the correct location.

'I must be truly foolish to venture here without considering the potential risks. What if there's someone inside that temple, far surpassing my skill level?'

Engaged in an internal monologue, Adrian let out a faint chuckle that promptly brought his attention back to the lingering pain in his shoulder.

Contemplating the uncertainties surrounding his newfound form and the extent of his powers, Adrian pondered, "What should I do about this? I don't even know the capabilities of my healing ability in this altered state." The musings were interrupted by a hiss of pain, a stark reminder of the challenges he faced.

Surveying the purple-drenched surroundings and deeming them unsuitable for rest, Adrian considered his options. Contemplating where he could find respite, his gaze drifted toward the temple's entrance, inadvertently drawing attention to the heels.

Adrian chuckled to himself, "It's a sentient relic, I know, but why is it so useless? Perhaps it's still a toddler, treating me like its mother?"

"Hey heels, come over here to your mother!" Adrian called out, his decision made. Almost as if acknowledging Adrian's musings, the heels began to make their way toward him.

"Mother, I've become. If only I had stumbled upon a more useful child," Adrian mused wryly as the heels approached.

Realizing that he couldn't indefinitely keep this enigmatic relic around without understanding its nature or significance, Adrian acknowledged that he had to confront the mystery sooner rather than later. The present moment seemed opportune for unraveling the secrets that the heels held.

With his shoulder in a shattered state and limited options at his disposal, Adrian found himself with little else to do except persist in his ongoing, albeit unsuccessful, attempts at creating a relic.

Observing the heels approach effortlessly, devoid of any visible exertion of power, Adrian found himself in the dark about the full extent of the heels' capabilities. The enigmatic nature of the relic left him with a sense of uncertainty and curiosity.

"You never introduced yourself to me. Don't you think you're lacking some manners?" Adrian inquired, his words directed at the heels, even though they were still at a considerable distance.

Refusing to accept any immediate response from the heels, Adrian patiently waited, maintaining vigilance over his surroundings. In his dying state of pain, he was cautious not to leave himself vulnerable to any potential attacks.

'Not dying but it is damn painful.'

Soon, Adrian noticed the heels right beside him. Lowering himself and settling on his legs, he scrutinized the heels, searching for any sign that might hint at malevolent intentions.

'They are white, the exact opposite of evil if i say.' 

Adrian wasn't naive enough to solely judge a relic by its appearance, but he sought some form of reassurance. Convinced, or perhaps justifying to himself, that the heels were neither malevolent nor a cursed relic based on their color, he extended his hand to touch them.

Observing the lack of any discernible reaction from the heels to his approach, Adrian finally took a deep breath and made contact, touching the enigmatic relic.

As Adrian's fingertips made contact with the pristine white heels, a subtle vibration coursed through his senses. The cool touch of the relic elicited a peculiar sensation, as if a dormant energy stirred beneath the surface. The white hue seemed to absorb the ambient light, creating a gentle contrast against his skin.

The relic's surface felt smooth, yet there was an undercurrent of latent power that tingled in his touch. It was as if the relic held a reservoir of untold stories, secrets waiting to be unveiled by those with the sensitivity to perceive them. 

The heels, though physically inert, conveyed a sense of potential, as if they were conduits to realms beyond the visible spectrum.

A faint echo of memories, not his own, flickered in Adrian's mind, a glimpse into the journeys these heels had undertaken. 

There was a subtle interplay between the relic and his consciousness, an exchange of energies that transcended the physical realm. It was as though the relic whispered tales of elegance, whispered secrets of those who had once adorned it.

In that fleeting touch, Adrian found himself connected to a lineage of experiences, a silent communion with the relic's past and an invitation to explore the mysteries concealed within its elegant facade. 

The white heels became more than a mere relic; they became a portal to a narrative woven into the fabric of time, awaiting the curious to unravel the enigma they cradled.

As Adrian went through this process, he couldn't help but withdraw his hand from the heels, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Now, this is weird. Why is everything here tied to memories of the past?" Adrian pondered, his thoughts echoing in the peculiar landscape.

Even though Adrian attempted to rationalize these thoughts, it wasn't that simple. The heels were once worn by her…

…Vyrtalis's mother.

'So he made relics for her as well.'

Reflecting on her brought a smile to Adrian's face, recalling the extended period of time they had spent together. She had played a maternal role in Adrian's life, filling a void that had been left by the absence of motherly love in his own childhood.

Adrian remembered how she cared for Vyrtalis and showered him with love, fully aware of the challenges her son would face in this unforgiving society.

She went to the extent of leaving her own comfortable life, choosing to reside in this forest, all for the sake of ensuring her son could have a normal life free from worries.

"My parents could have done the same, couldn't they, heels?" Adrian spoke with a melancholy tone that was challenging to conceal.

Touching the heels once again, Adrian sensed a different kind of emotion emanating from them. There was warmth, affection, and a tinge of sadness.

"You do understand me, and here I was thinking it would be hard to get through my words to you," Adrian mused, finishing his statement. He then sat down, letting out a dry laugh as if jesting at his own fate.

Adrian addressed the heels with a plea, "Can you please tell me what is happening here and what happened with Vyrtalis and his mother?"

It dawned on Adrian, only after posing his question, that the heels couldn't speak.

"..."