The moonlight barely pierced through the thick canopy above, casting long shadows that danced on the forest floor. The trees whispered with every gust of wind, their branches creaking like the bones of ancient giants. Kael stood at the edge of the clearing, his fingers trembling around the hilt of his father's sword.
He had not moved since the figure disappeared, unsure of what to think, unsure of what to believe. His heart pounded in his chest like a drumbeat, and his mind raced faster than he could catch it. The stories, the legends—everything he had ever heard, everything he had dismissed as fairy tales—felt too close now. Too real. Was it true? Could it be?
The sword at his side felt heavier than ever before. It was the same weapon he had carried all his life, passed down to him after his father's death. The hilt, worn smooth by time, the leather handle now slippery with the sweat of his palm. For years, Kael had thought of it only as a memento. A reminder of a father he could barely remember. But tonight? Tonight, it felt alive—pulsing with an energy he could not understand, like the blade itself recognized something Kael could not.
The figure's cryptic words echoed in his mind: "The blade you carry... will lead you to your true purpose."
True purpose. What did that even mean? Kael had spent his life in Aethar, a village so small it barely appeared on any map. His world had been simple—work the fields, help his mother with the chores, and occasionally, when the village was in trouble, help fight off bandits or deal with the small skirmishes that seemed to always pop up. He had always thought of himself as ordinary—nothing special, nothing important. But now, with that voice haunting him, everything had changed.
A gust of wind stirred the trees, shaking him from his thoughts. He blinked, taking a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. He still had no answers, and the night seemed too heavy, too oppressive. The sword at his side seemed to pulse once more, urging him onward. You have to go. You have to find out the truth.
Kael's hand tightened around the hilt. Without another thought, he turned and began walking back through the forest, each step taking him further from the clearing. His mind was a whirl of questions, but the answers were nowhere to be found. He had no idea where he was going—only that he needed to find something, someone, who could help him understand this strange turn of events. The path ahead was unclear.
As he walked, he passed familiar landmarks—an old well, the crooked oak tree his mother always warned him not to climb, the stone bridge over the creek that separated his family's land from the village. Yet, everything felt distant, as if he were seeing it all for the first time. The village, his life here, seemed so small now, insignificant even, compared to what lay ahead.
Kael reached his home, a modest cottage on the outskirts of the village. The warm glow of light from the windows cast shadows across the lawn. Inside, his mother was likely preparing for bed, though she always seemed to have a way of sensing when something was wrong. She never spoke of his father much, but Kael had overheard enough stories from the village elders to know the man had been a warrior—a respected figure who had disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Some said he'd been betrayed. Others whispered about his connection to something darker, something the elders had long since chosen to forget.
He pushed open the door, the familiar scent of wood smoke and drying herbs greeting him. His mother sat by the hearth, her hands busy with a bowl of herbs. She looked up when he entered, her gaze sharp, as if she had already sensed something was off.
"You're late," she said, her tone soft, no anger, just the familiar concern she always carried for him. "Is everything alright?"
Kael paused, unsure of how much to tell her. The stories, the figure, the sword—it was all too much, too strange, too unbelievable. He couldn't bring himself to say it aloud.
"I just went for a walk," he said at last, his voice as steady as he could make it.
His mother's eyes narrowed slightly, studying him for a moment, before she nodded. "Well, come sit. There's something we need to talk about."
Kael's stomach clenched. That tone—he had heard it before. It was the same tone she used when she was about to tell him something important. Something about the world beyond their small village. Something about his father. The life he had left behind.
He sat beside her by the fire, the warmth contrasting with the cold weight of uncertainty hanging over him.
"You know your father wasn't just a warrior," she said suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper, as though speaking the words out loud might make them real. "He was part of something much larger. Something that has been lost to time, but not forgotten. And there's a reason you carry that sword."
Kael's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected her to speak of it now. Not like this.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice soft, almost hesitant.
His mother turned to him with sorrowful eyes. "The blade you carry... it's more than just a weapon. It's a symbol. And your father was one of the Guardians—ancient protectors who wielded the power to protect the balance of this world. When the time is right, that power will pass to you."
A cold shiver ran down Kael's spine. The world he had known, the life he had thought so simple, suddenly felt far more complicated. There were secrets, powers, and a legacy he never knew existed. And it was his.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked, his voice rising with confusion and anger. "Why keep it a secret all these years?"
"Because I was trying to protect you," his mother replied, her voice low and heavy with regret. "I wanted you to have a normal life, Kael. I didn't want you to be drawn into this world, this life. But I fear those days are over."
Kael's hands shook as he placed them on his lap, feeling the weight of the sword at his side. The very thing that had always felt like a burden now seemed like an anchor, pulling him into a reality he wasn't prepared for. The world had changed in an instant. And he didn't know what came next.
"You've already been chosen," his mother continued, her voice distant, as if she were lost in her own thoughts. "You carry the legacy of the Guardians. And when the time comes, you must be ready."
Kael swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath. This world, his father's world, was bigger, more dangerous than he could have imagined. But there was no turning back now. It was his fate, his responsibility.
He nodded slowly, the decision weighing heavily on his shoulders. Whatever came next, he would have to face it. He wasn't sure if he was ready, but he knew he couldn't escape it.