Reya walked alone, the wind at her back and the road stretching ahead, her every step echoing in the silence of the vast, empty landscape. She had been traveling for what felt like days now, without a true destination in mind, but still driven by something deep inside. Her thoughts were clouded with the strange visions that had haunted her dreams, the swirling images of Kael—his final moments, his last breath, the sound of his voice calling her name as though she were the only one who could save him.

She hadn’t known the Guardians long, but their faces were seared into her memory. She remembered the first time she had seen them, their powers like nothing she had ever witnessed before. They had all seemed so certain, so confident in their roles, and yet now, Reya felt nothing but uncertainty as she walked the road alone. Kael’s face haunted her every step, his death—or perhaps his vision—growing clearer with every passing moment.

She was only a few miles from the Sanctuary, but the road before her felt like a lifetime away. She had come from a place of uncertainty, a place where her life had been anything but ordinary, but now, it seemed like everything was leading her somewhere she could never have prepared for.

The air around her seemed to grow colder as the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the barren landscape. Reya paused and looked around, feeling a strange weight on her chest as if someone was watching her. She had always had a keen sense of intuition, but tonight it felt sharper than ever.

And then, as if answering the call of her unease, the world around her shifted. She could see it before she felt it—the air shimmered and warped in the distance, like the very fabric of reality was being pulled apart. In that moment, she knew what it was.

Kael.

The vision appeared before her like a snapshot from a nightmare, a scene that played out with horrific clarity. She saw him, lying on the ground, blood staining his clothes. His breaths came in shallow gasps, his eyes wide and staring as though he were trying to reach someone—anyone.

Her heart pounded in her chest. He was calling to her. She could hear his voice in the back of her mind, his words indistinct but urgent. Reya could see the pain in his eyes, the fear as he reached out with his hand as if expecting her to be the one to save him. The vision was both overwhelming and surreal. She felt herself drawn to it, but as her body instinctively took a step forward, the image began to flicker and distort, shattering like glass under pressure.

She stumbled, and the vision disappeared entirely. She stood frozen, her breath heavy in her chest, her heart racing.

“What was that?” she whispered to herself, eyes darting around as the world returned to its quiet, still state. She was alone again, the emptiness pressing in from all sides. The vision had been so real, so vivid. But now, it was gone.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Was it a warning? A premonition? Or was it something else? The question gnawed at her. She could feel the weight of her decision pressing on her chest, the need to act, to do something, anything to stop Kael’s fate from becoming a reality.

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides as the winds picked up once more, pulling at the fabric of her tunic. She had come so far, but now she was at a crossroads. She could head to the Sanctuary to meet the others, to find the Guardians and face her trial, or she could try to find Kael before it was too late. But where would she even begin?

As if in response to her indecision, a figure appeared at the edge of the road.

Reya tensed, instinctively taking a step back as the figure slowly approached. The man was cloaked in a long, dark robe, his face hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. She could barely make out his features, but she sensed his presence more than saw him. There was something unnerving about him—something ancient in the way he moved, as though he didn’t belong in this time, or in this place.

“Another crossroads, I see,” the man said, his voice deep and smooth, like the sound of gravel being crushed beneath heavy boots. “You’ve seen the future, haven’t you? Kael’s fate, his fall, his death.”

Reya didn’t answer, but her heart stilled. He knew.

“The question you now face is simple,” the man continued, his steps slow but deliberate. “Will you follow your instincts? Will you run toward the Sanctuary, seek the others, and face the trial that awaits you? Or will you take a different path, one that promises not an end, but a beginning—a way to change the course of destiny itself.”

Reya frowned, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. “And what do you suggest?”

“Ah,” the man chuckled softly, the sound dark and hollow. “There are always choices, my dear. Always options. You do not have to follow the path of the Guardians, of the trials. You can choose another way, a way that will allow you to shape your own future, not one bound by the will of others.”

“What are you talking about?” Reya demanded, a chill running through her. “What future are you talking about?”

“The future of your choosing,” the man replied cryptically, his voice softening. “You need not face the trial, need not risk everything to join the others. Instead, I offer you an alternative path—one where you have the power to rewrite the rules. You can stop Kael’s death, but only if you choose this way. If you come with me, I will show you how to bend fate to your will.”

Reya’s heart raced, her mind spinning. The offer was tempting, but she could feel the weight of it pressing down on her. This was a dangerous choice—one that could lead her astray. But Kael’s face lingered in her mind. His voice echoed faintly, urging her to act, to save him before it was too late.

“I need to go to the Sanctuary,” Reya said, her voice low but firm, as she looked at the man with resolve. “I need to face my trial. I need to help them.”

The man’s expression was unreadable beneath his hood, but Reya could feel the tension in the air. His silence stretched between them like a taut wire, as though waiting for her to change her mind.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke. “Very well. But know this: You will not always be able to choose the path you walk. The forces at play are much greater than you realize. And sometimes, there is no turning back.”

With that, the figure turned and began to walk away, his footsteps disappearing into the wind.

Reya stood there for a long time, her heart heavy with doubt, but her resolve unwavering. She had made her choice. Now, all she could do was hope that it wasn’t the wrong one.