Whispers of Existence

Previously

…In his place was someone who had looked into the heart of darkness and emerged, not unscathed, but undeniably changed. The whispers of existence were no longer a theoretical concept, a subject of academic pursuit. They were a palpable reality, a constant, low hum beneath the surface of his awareness. He knew, with a certainty that chilled him to the bone, that his life, and his understanding of the world, would never be the same. The sanctuary’s secret was secured, for now. But the knowledge of what lay beneath, of the ancient, slumbering power, had left an indelible mark upon his soul. He was a man forever changed by the depths.