Kael stood before two tombstones, his surroundings illuminated by the lantern he had placed next to his parents' graves. After burying them, he had searched the entire village for survivors but found nothing but mutilated body parts. The beautiful buildings had burned down, and the once vibrant streets of Blossom Valley lay in ruins. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and decay, a haunting reminder of the horrors that had unfolded.
He felt hollow as he knelt before the stones, the weight of grief pressing down on him like an anchor. The lantern flickered beside him, casting a warm glow that contrasted sharply with the cold reality of his surroundings. He traced the engraved names: Eldrin and Mira, his beloved parents. Tears streamed down his face as he recalled their laughter, their love, and the countless moments that now felt like distant memories.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I should have been here. I shouldn’t have left you.” The guilt gnawed at him, a relentless torment twisting in his chest. He had promised to protect them, to return home, and now he had failed.
His mind drifted back to when he was a child, a time when the world was peaceful, filled with laughter and light. He remembered the warmth of their embraces, the stories they told by the fire, and the way they encouraged his dreams. It felt like a lifetime ago, overshadowed now by the darkness that had consumed Blossom Valley.
Kael's heart ached as he recalled the day he had left. His father had been upset, disagreeing with his decision to join the military. For the first time, Kael had challenged him, determined to enlist no matter what. Their relationship had always been strained; Eldrin had never supported Kael’s aspirations. He wanted his son to pursue a safer path, one that would keep him close to home, away from the dangers of war.
The argument had been fierce, words exchanged in anger that hung heavy in the air. “Why can’t you understand? I have to do this!” Kael had shouted, his voice filled with youthful defiance. His father’s face had twisted in frustration, worry etched deep into his features. “You’re throwing your life away, Kael! You don’t know what you’re getting into!”
Now, standing before the gravestones, those words echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of their last conversation. A fresh wave of guilt washed over him. If only he had listened. If only he had stayed. “I thought I could make a difference,” he murmured, trembling. “I thought I could protect you.” The memories of his father’s disappointment and his mother’s gentle reassurances flooded back, intertwining with his grief. Mira had always been the peacemaker, the one who believed in him even when Eldrin didn’t.
Kael wiped his tears, his heart heavy with regret. “I was so stubborn,” he whispered. “I thought I could change the world, but I couldn’t even save my own family.” The weight of his failures pressed down on him, suffocating in its intensity.
As the lantern flickered, casting shadows that danced across the ground, Kael felt a surge of determination rise within him. “I won’t let this be the end,” he vowed, his voice steadier now. “I’ll find out who did this. I’ll make sure they pay for what they’ve done.”
With one last look at the tombstones of Eldrin and Mira, he straightened up, the flickering light reflecting the fire igniting in his heart. “I will honor your memory,” he promised. “I will fight for Blossom Valley, for you.”
Turning away from the graves, Kael stepped into the darkness, ready to confront the shadows that had taken everything from him. Each step felt like a promise, a commitment to seek justice and reclaim the light that had been extinguished from his life. The path ahead was uncertain, but he was resolute, fueled by love and a fierce desire to protect the memory of his parents.
Meanwhile in the dark shadows in the woods were two glowing eyes staring at the silhouette of Keal, the being dissolved into a smoke and flew into the air.
Following the east wind, it flew over mountains and river, valleys and lake, and in a short span of time it traveled to the wilderness.
The wilderness now cool by the night's wind was deserted , no living soul has ever stepped foot on this land.
It flew to the mountains in the middle of the wilderness and then into a cave. Inside the cave, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and ancient stone. The figure emerged from the swirling smoke, taking on the form of a tall, shadowy silhouette.
Clad in a smoky, hooded cloak that reached down to his feet, his face was concealed by the hood, leaving a space shrouded in darkness, with only his glowing eyes visible.
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With a wave of his hand, runes inscribed on the cave began to glow, stones and gravel began to float above the ground.
"Let my heart be consume by pain, and my soul by darkness!" His voice resounded in the cave like rumbling of stones. He took a step closer to the end of the cave.
"May my heart know not love and my mind light!" As the last words echoed through the cavern, a surge of energy pulsed from the runes, illuminating the cave with an eerie, flickering light.
Shadows danced along the walls, twisting and morphing into shapes that seemed to respond to the incantation. The air grew thick with tension, charged with the weight of intentions long buried.The soulless figure felt a deep connection to the ancient magic that surrounded it.
It was as if the cave itself was alive, reacting to the plea for power and darkness. The floating stones began to orbit around it, creating a swirling vortex that intensified the glow of its eyes.
Suddenly, a deep rumble shook the ground, and from the shadows emerged a wraith-like entity with eyes that mirrored the soulless one's own. It hovered before the figure, its form shifting like smoke in the wind.
The soulless figure knelt before the Dark Lord, the flickering shadows of the cave swirling around them. “Master,” it began, voice low and reverent, “I have come to serve you. The time has come to extinguish the last descendant of light. His name is Kael.”
The Dark Lord’s voice echoed through the cavern, deep and resonant. “Ah, the boy who mourns his parents. He harbors the light of hope, a flicker that must be snuffed out. What is your plan?”
Kael's name hung in the air, heavy with impending doom. “Kael is driven by grief and vengeance,” the soulless explained, its glowing eyes narrowing with focus. “He seeks justice for his family, and in his pursuit, he will grow stronger. We must strike before he realizes his potential. I propose we manipulate his emotions, lead him into traps that will test his resolve.”
“You speak of manipulation,” the Dark Lord mused, a hint of approval in his tone, “but how will you ensure he does not uncover his true power? He must remain unaware of his lineage until it is too late.”
The soulless leaned closer, its voice a whisper of darkness. “I will exploit his memories. I can create illusions of his parents, whispering doubts and fears into his mind. He will believe he is haunted by their spirits, urging him to seek vengeance against shadows that do not exist.”
“Clever,” the Dark Lord replied, a sinister edge to his words. “Fear is a potent weapon. But what if he discovers the truth? What if he learns of his heritage before you can strike?”
“I will sow confusion among his allies,” the soulless declared, rising slightly with newfound confidence. “I can infiltrate their ranks, spreading lies that will turn them against one another. Kael will find himself isolated, vulnerable to our influence.”
“And when he is alone, what then?” the Dark Lord pressed, his eyes glinting with dark anticipation. “How do you intend to confront him?”
The soulless took a deep breath, envisioning the chaos it would unleash. “I will reveal myself as a shadow of his past, a figment of his guilt and sorrow. In his darkest moment, I will confront him, forcing him to question everything he believes. He will doubt his strength and falter.”
“And if he fights back?” the Dark Lord warned, a note of skepticism creeping into his voice. “What if he draws upon the light within him?”
“I will ensure he is unprepared,” the soulless replied, determination hardening its tone. “He will face me in a moment of despair, believing he has lost everything. I will drain his hope and consume his spirit, leaving only darkness in its wake.”
A sinister smile formed on the Dark Lord’s lips. “Very well. You have my blessing. But remember, failure is not an option. The balance of light and dark must shift in our favor. Do not underestimate the boy; he carries the legacy of his ancestors.”
The soulless bowed deeply, resolve etched in every line of its shadowy form. “I will not fail you, Master. Kael will be broken before he can uncover his identity. The light will be extinguished, and the darkness will reign supreme.”
“Then go,” the Dark Lord commanded, his voice a low rumble. “Let the shadows guide you, and may your path be shrouded in the despair of those who dare to hope.”
With that, the soulless figure rose, determination igniting within its heart as it prepared to carry out the Dark Lord’s sinister plan.