Kael and Aelira sat in the corner of the inn’s dimly lit common room, their faces tense and marked by exhaustion. The rescued man, now conscious but pale, rested on a nearby bench. His breaths were shallow but steady, his eyes filled with haunted fear.

Aelira placed a cup of warm broth in front of him, her voice soft. “Drink this. It’ll help.”

The man nodded weakly, his trembling hands clutching the cup as though it were his last lifeline.

Kael, however, was lost in his thoughts. He stared at his hand, flexing his fingers as if trying to summon the energy again. The power he’d unleashed against the Shade wasn’t just instinct—it felt like a fragment of something far greater.

“You should eat,” Aelira said, breaking through his reverie.

Kael looked up, meeting her concerned gaze. “What happened back there? That... energy I used?”

Aelira sighed, leaning back in her chair. “It wasn’t normal, that’s for sure. Whatever it was, it saved our lives.”

Kael frowned. “But it wasn’t just random. It felt... familiar. Like I’ve done it before.”

“That’s impossible,” Aelira replied. “You’ve been training, sure, but nothing like that.”

Before Kael could respond, the man they’d rescued spoke up, his voice hoarse. “The Shade... it wasn’t looking for me. It was looking for someone else.”

Both Kael and Aelira turned to him.

“What do you mean?” Kael asked.

The man’s eyes darted around nervously, his hands gripping the edge of the table. “I overheard... whispers in the market. People saying someone new had come to Vehrin. Someone... dangerous.”

Kael’s expression darkened. “You think it was after me?”

The man nodded. “It must be. Shades don’t appear randomly. They’re drawn to powerful emotions or... powerful beings.”

Aelira shot Kael a wary glance. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”

Kael leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening. “If it’s after me, then it won’t stop. And if I don’t find a way to deal with it, more people are going to get hurt.”

“You’re assuming it’s the only one,” Aelira said grimly.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Kael didn’t reply. He knew she was right.

The next morning, Kael stood in the inn’s courtyard, the cool air biting at his skin. He had risen before dawn, his mind restless with questions and doubts. He gripped his blade tightly, swinging it in a series of deliberate arcs, the motion steadying him.

“You’re early,” Aelira said, stepping into the courtyard. She had her bow slung over her shoulder and a pack in her hand.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Kael replied without stopping.

Aelira watched him for a moment before speaking. “You need to figure out what that power is. If Shades are being drawn to you, it’s only a matter of time before something worse shows up.”

Kael paused, lowering his blade. “And how do you suggest I do that? I don’t exactly have a manual for whatever this is.”

Aelira smirked faintly. “No, but you do have a lead.”

Kael raised an eyebrow.

“Thalorn,” she said. “You told me he trained you, taught you the basics. If anyone can help you figure this out, it’s him.”

Kael considered her words. It had been three years since he last saw Thalorn, but the old elf’s wisdom and strength were unparalleled. If anyone could shed light on Kael’s abilities, it was him.

“Fine,” Kael said. “We’ll go back to Elderwood.”

Aelira nodded. “Good. But we’ll need supplies and a plan. The road to Elderwood isn’t exactly safe.”

“Since when is anything?” Kael replied with a faint smirk.

By midday, they were on the road, the city of Vehrin shrinking behind them. The landscape gradually shifted from rolling plains to dense forests, the air growing cooler and more fragrant with the scent of pine and moss.

Aelira walked slightly ahead, her eyes scanning the path for signs of danger. Kael followed in silence, his thoughts a whirl of uncertainty and anticipation.

“You’ve been quiet,” Aelira said, glancing over her shoulder.

“Just thinking,” Kael replied.

“About the power?”

Kael nodded. “I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse.”

“It saved us,” Aelira said. “That’s what matters.”

“For now,” Kael said. “But what if it’s not enough next time?”

Aelira stopped, turning to face him. “Then you’ll figure it out. That’s what you do, Kael. You survive. No matter what.”

Her words were firm, but there was an edge of vulnerability to them, a hint of something unspoken.

Kael met her gaze, his expression softening. “Thanks.”

She smirked, turning back to the path. “Don’t mention it.”

As night fell, they set up camp in a small clearing. Aelira started a fire while Kael kept watch, his eyes scanning the dark forest.

“What do you think Thalorn will say?” Aelira asked as she cooked a simple meal over the fire.

Kael shrugged. “Probably something cryptic. He loves that.”

Aelira chuckled. “Sounds like him.”

The laughter faded into silence, the crackling fire the only sound. Kael’s gaze drifted upward, to the stars visible through the canopy.

“Do you ever wonder?” he asked suddenly.

“Wonder what?”

“Who you were... before all this?”

Aelira paused, her expression thoughtful. “Sometimes. But it doesn’t matter, does it? We are who we choose to be now.”

Kael nodded slowly, but the question lingered in his mind.

In the distant void, Aeon Tyrannis stood once again before the globe, his fingers brushing its surface. He watched Kael and Aelira in their camp, his expression inscrutable.

“Run, Kael,” Aeon murmured. “Run as far as you like. It won’t save you from what’s coming.”

One of his slaves approached, her dark eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Shall I send another Shade, my lord?”

Aeon shook his head. “No. Let him reach Elderwood. Let him grow stronger. It will make his fall all the more satisfying.”

The woman bowed, retreating into the shadows.

Aeon’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Soon, Kael. Soon, you’ll remember everything.”