Kael's body went cold as he stood frozen. The woman momentarily lingered over the fallen figure, ensuring her opponent was truly defeated. The stillness of the body—its complete lack of life—sent a shiver down Kael's spine.

"You—you… Killed him?" He wanted to look away, to forget the sight of death, but his body wouldn't obey.

It was the first time he had witnessed a human being killed. The reality of it overwhelmed him. His stomach churned, and he fought the urge to vomit.

The woman's sharp eyes found Kael's in the dimness of the forest. She looked at Kael as if Kael had just asked a stupid question. For a heartbeat, they locked gazes—her eyes intense and unreadable.

"Run!" she whispered urgently. "Run, now!"

'Run?' Before Kael could process her words, his body acted instinctually.

That was what he needed to focus on for now. He needed to run! Kael's legs surged into action as he dashed through the forest. Branches slapped against his face, and roots seemed to reach out to trip him, but fear pushed him to run even faster.

Kael sped away, unaware that the woman he left behind might have been trying to help him or was in the wrong place at the wrong time. His mind raced with too many thoughts to focus on anything else.

'Who was she?' Kael thought as he sprinted. 'Why did she help me?'

The trees loomed closer, their gnarled branches casting long shadows over the forest floor. Kael's heart raced, but he couldn't afford to stop.

"The guy must be one of the Divine Chosen…" He remembered the figure hunting him earlier—how the figure manipulated dust. The sheer thought of facing him again sent chills racing up his spine.

"That power… I can't face that," Kael muttered. "If they catch me…"

The shadows of the forest deepened as he ran. His vision blurred with tears he hadn't realized he was shedding. 'What's happening to me? What am I supposed to do?'

The legacy of Oranos, the Titan who said they had chosen him, felt like a storm raging inside him—too powerful and overwhelming. Why does he, a boy from a forgotten village, now bear the burden of a fate too large to comprehend?

Kael's feet stumbled over a root and crashed to the ground; a sharp pain pierced his knee from scraping against the rough earth.

"I didn't ask for this," he thought, gritting his teeth in frustration.

Gasping for air, he struggled to push himself up, but his muscles ached, making each breath shallow and labored.

He stayed down for a moment, trembling. "How can I stop the gods? The Divine Chosen?"

The thought of his uncle Gregor, Aunt Rhea, and Amna suffering because of him reignited a fire inside his chest. "I can't let them pay for this…"

With a grunt, Kael pushed himself to his feet. Pain seared through his leg, but he limped forward. The forest felt like it was closing in on him, the branches scraping at him like claws. He pressed on, driven by the knowledge that stopping meant death.

After what felt like forever, Kael stumbled into a small clearing. The sudden openness made his head spin, the contrast between the suffocating woods and the expanse of sky above disorienting.

He collapsed against a large rock, its cold surface grounding him as he gasped for breath.

He had escaped for now, but the silence of the clearing felt unnatural. 'Who was she?' Kael wondered again. The woman who saved him had moved with incredible speed and precision. 'Is that how I am supposed to fight?'

Kael looked at his hands, wondering how to draw such power. However, he had doubts. Even if he could draw the Titan's power, he had no confidence in facing the Divine Chosen.

Time dragged on as he sat against the rock. The exhaustion weighed heavy on him, and though he knew he couldn't stay exposed for long, the thought of returning to the dark, oppressive forest made him hesitate.

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It was too much for him to handle right now. He did not have enough time to process everything that happened and was forced to leave the village quickly. The toll on his mind and body was too much.

However, Kael knew that he could not waste his time over here. "I need to move now. There might be more of them coming after me," Kael muttered under his breath. He also knew he could not afford to let his guard down, not even for a moment.

Kael struggled to lift himself up, but the overwhelming pain and fear dominated his efforts. He was in a fierce battle with himself, torn between the urge to surrender and the will to keep fighting.

Then, he heard it—a soft rustling. At first, Kael thought he had imagined it, but the sound came again—footsteps crunching on dry leaves.

'What?! They're here already?' Kael's heart pounded so loudly that he was sure anyone nearby could hear it. He moved quietly, positioning himself behind a nearby tree to stay concealed without making any noise.

As Kael's pulse quickened, his hand automatically went to the small knife on his belt. It wasn't much, but it was all he had.

He understood that possessing even a superior weapon wouldn't improve his odds of survival against the Divine Chosen. Their mastery over dust was unmatched, while he... had no control over anything.

'Can I deliver blows similar to Oranos?' Due to overwhelming pressure and fear, Kael's thoughts wandered to the realm of the impossible. His imagination took flight.

Peering into the trees, Kael's eyes strained to find the source. From the darkness, a figure stepped forward.

It was her.

"Don't worry," the woman said, looking in the direction Kael was hiding. "It's me."

Kael stood frozen, unsure whether to trust her. She lowered her hood, revealing sharp blue eyes and dark hair that framed her face.

Unbeknownst to Kael, he had already stepped out from his hiding place.

"Who are you?" Kael asked, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and curiosity. He pointed his knife toward her. "Why are you after me?"

"You're safe for now, and I am not after you for evil thoughts. I'm here to help you," the mysterious woman replied, her presence in the clearing marked by smooth and deliberate movements. We must hurry; time is not on our side."

Kael hesitated, then lowered his knife, though his body remained tense. "I'll ask one more time... Who are you?"

The woman sighed. "Drop your weapon. You'll never be able to harm me with it."

She glanced around as if ensuring they were truly alone. "My name is Lyra," she introduced herself before adding, "I helped you because you don't yet understand your danger. The gods have marked you as an enemy. You've inherited the power of the Titan, a threat they cannot allow to exist—the Godslayer."

Kael shivered, yet his grip tightened. He raised his voice, "The Titans... I didn't ask for this! I don't even know what it means!"

"Lower your voice. You'll only attract danger," Lyra said, her expression softened. "None of us asked for this. But the Titans chose us for a reason. At the order of their Gods, the Divine Chosen will stop at nothing to hunt you down."

Kael's heart sank. "What do I do?" he asked, fear creeping into his voice. "What am I supposed to do?!"

Lyra stepped closer, her voice low and calm yet urgent. "There are others like us—marked by the Titans. We need to be with them. There's a nearby sanctuary hidden in the Aegis Mountain where we can regroup, train, and figure out our next steps. But we have to leave now."

Kael's thoughts raced. 'A sanctuary? Others like me?' The idea of allies was comforting, but leaving everything behind was suffocating.

"What about my village?" he asked, his voice cracking with emotion. "What happened after I left?"

Lyra hesitated, her expression clearly struggling with the truth. "Your village is safe for now. The Divine Chosen didn't harm them. But Rasmund has his men watching, waiting for you to return."

"That's good... That's good..." Kael sighed with relief, feeling a wave of comfort wash over him. However, this sense of relief was brief. Suddenly, his knees buckled, and he found himself overwhelmed with emotion.

Kael raised his eyes to meet Lyra's. "I have to go, don't I?" he whispered softly. He understood that if he chose to stay, it would only put the people he loved at risk.

Lyra nodded. "You do. But you won't be alone."

Kael felt the weight of the situation sink in. 'If this is my fate, then I must face it.' The fear still gnawed at him, but a spark of determination flickered inside.

"Take me to the sanctuary," he said, his voice steady.

Lyra nodded, her face serious. "Follow me. And whatever happens—don't look back."

With that, she turned and led the way toward the forest's edge.

Kael hesitated momentarily, glancing back at the clearing, at the shadows that seemed to linger there.

But then he set his jaw and followed her into the darkness.

As they moved deeper into the woods, the trees seemed to swallow them whole. Lyra navigated with ease, her steps swift and sure. Kael struggled to keep up but pushed forward, driven by a newfound purpose.

'This is my path now,' he thought, his resolve hardening. 'I have to be ready for whatever comes next.'