Chapter 33: Reward and bad outcomes
The rifts weren't what destroyed the world. The Arcane Scripture did, but after the First Wave, it no longer showed itself.
The First Wave was the beginning and the end of everything. The runes brought destruction, unleashing hundreds of rifts and hordes of soulless, rage-blinded monsters. The First Wave had only one 'gift' to mankind - the Rune Brand.
Then, the Arcane Scripture no longer appeared in this world, leaving the trials for Tainted and Awakened at the Astral Dimension, another world full of pain and hope.
Rifts appeared from time to time, mostly in the forbidden lands. The Arcane Scripture had nothing to do with it, it was the fault of the Tainted and Awakened.
Kain blinked a few times, looking at the black sword hovering over the bridge, the treasure guarded by the wandering runes.
"What is that?" he gulped.
"Hah, it's your first clearing of the rift, right? Although I'd say in this case we just closed it before the portal had a chance to open. It happens sometimes, not always, but it does. So you can consider us lucky."
Again.
A strange feeling consumed Kain.
Was he lucky again?
Could it be that it wasn't the curse, but that he had provoked his misfortune and treated his luck terribly? Both now and with the stone throne.