Kael leaned against a moss-covered tree at the edge of the sparring grounds, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Sweat trickled down his brow, and his muscles burned from the relentless battle against Thalorn. Despite the exhaustion, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

“You’ve grown stronger,” Thalorn said, his tone calm yet tinged with a rare note of pride. He stood tall, his staff planted firmly in the ground as though unaffected by their intense bout. “But you’re still reckless. You rely too much on overwhelming force when precision would serve you better.”

Kael wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and chuckled. “You say that every time, old man. Maybe overwhelming force is just my style.”

Thalorn raised an eyebrow. “And what will you do when you face someone whose precision dismantles your strength? Remember, Kael, power without balance is self-destruction waiting to happen.”

Kael’s smirk faded, and he nodded slowly. “I know, I know. Balance. You’ve drilled it into my head enough times.”

Thalorn stepped closer, resting a hand on Kael’s shoulder. His gaze, though obscured beneath his hood, felt piercing. “I push you because I know what awaits you beyond the Elderwood. The enemies you will face, the choices you will make—they will test you in ways this sparring match never could. If you falter, the consequences will ripple across existence itself.”

Kael’s expression hardened. “You keep saying that, but you never explain what’s out there. What am I supposed to fight? What’s this destiny you’re preparing me for?”

Thalorn was silent for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully. Finally, he spoke. “The world beyond this forest is vast, Kael, and it is not as you remember. Forces are at play that seek to unmake the balance of all things. You... are a nexus in that balance. Whether you restore it or shatter it further depends on the choices you make.”

Kael frowned. “And how am I supposed to make those choices when I don’t even remember my past?”

Thalorn’s grip on his shoulder tightened briefly before releasing him. “Your memories will return in time, as will the full extent of your power. But for now, you must trust the instincts that remain. They are the echoes of who you were—and who you must become.”

Kael sighed, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “You always talk in riddles. Can’t you just tell me what’s coming?”

Before Thalorn could respond, the air around them grew still, unnaturally so. The gentle rustling of the trees ceased, and an oppressive silence fell over the clearing.

Kael straightened, his senses on high alert. “What’s going on?”

Stolen story; please report.

Thalorn’s expression grew grim. He gripped his staff tightly, the runes along its length flaring to life. “Something... or someone... has breached the Elderwood.”

Kael’s heart raced. In three years, nothing had ever disturbed the sanctity of the forest. It was as if the Elderwood itself had protected them from the outside world.

“Is it an enemy?” Kael asked, summoning his energy blade in an instant.

“Perhaps,” Thalorn replied, his voice low. “Or perhaps it is something far worse.”

The oppressive silence was broken by a distant hum—a sound that grew steadily louder, resonating through the forest like a heartbeat. The air shimmered, and a figure emerged from the shadows of the trees.

It was a woman, her form draped in a cloak of starlight, her hair flowing like liquid silver. Her presence was otherworldly, her gaze sharp and commanding. Her very aura seemed to bend the space around her, distorting reality itself.

Thalorn’s eyes widened, and he stepped in front of Kael protectively. “You should not be here,” he said, his tone laced with both respect and caution.

The woman tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. “And yet, here I am, Keeper. The balance you cherish so dearly is shifting, and you know it as well as I do.”

Kael stepped forward, his energy blade glowing brighter. “Who are you? What do you want?”

The woman’s gaze shifted to Kael, and her smile widened. “Ah, the prodigal one. You’ve grown since last I saw you, though you don’t remember, do you?”

Kael’s grip on his blade tightened. “Answer the question.”

The woman chuckled softly. “Impatient, as always. Very well. You may call me Astraea, though I am known by many names. As for what I want... I’ve come to deliver a message.”

Thalorn’s grip on his staff tightened. “What message?”

Astraea’s smile faded, and her voice grew cold. “The time has come for Kael to leave the Elderwood. His training here is complete, and the threads of fate demand his presence elsewhere.”

Kael glanced at Thalorn, confusion and frustration warring within him. “What is she talking about? I’m not ready to leave yet!”

Thalorn’s expression was unreadable, but his voice was steady. “Fate has its own schedule, Kael. If Astraea has come, it means your next trial is upon you.”

Kael shook his head. “No. Not yet. There’s still so much I need to learn.”

Astraea stepped closer, her eyes locked on Kael. “Your journey is not about learning, child. It is about becoming. The world waits for no one, not even you.”

Kael’s frustration boiled over. “And what if I refuse? What if I stay here until I’m ready?”

Astraea’s gaze softened, though her tone remained firm. “Then the world will burn, and you will live to see the ashes. The choice is yours, Kael Zephyrion, but make it quickly. Time is a luxury you no longer possess.”

Kael turned to Thalorn, searching for guidance. “What do I do?”

Thalorn met his gaze, his expression filled with both pride and sorrow. “You go, Kael. Face the world beyond this forest, and remember what I’ve taught you. Trust in your strength, but also in your heart.”

Kael swallowed hard, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Finally, he nodded, his resolve hardening. “Fine. If this is what I have to do, then I’ll do it. But I’m coming back. This isn’t goodbye.”

Thalorn smiled faintly. “No, it isn’t. The Elderwood will always be here, Kael. And so will I.”

Astraea raised her hand, and the air around Kael shimmered with a strange energy. “Then it’s settled. Come, Kael. Your destiny awaits.”

As the energy enveloped him, Kael looked back at Thalorn one last time. The Keeper raised his staff in a silent salute, his gaze filled with unspoken words.

And then, the world shifted, and Kael was gone.