The small rider hesitated, his wild eyes darted toward his companions, who shook their heads. He didn’t lower his dagger, instead, he in turn, observed the wild men who were crazy enough to face him with low quality spears and arrows.

It was a standstill, the flickering torchlight casted uneasy shadows, illuminating the messengers’ disdainful eyes. Their expressions were unseen, yet the look they gave was full of contempt, their contempt evident in their postures. They looked down on the guards, viewing them as mear ants.

“Lower your weapons!!!” Brannik shouted as he quickly approched, clearing the way and rushing toward the front. Having just arrived and seeing the star on the man’s forehead, he understood full wall that everyone will get wiped out if any of the riders wished.

“Conceal your dagger, Rael, they wish us no harm!!” the blond haired man commanded.

The short man though reluctant, complied, the energy around him dissipating as he sheathed his dagger. The guards watched with bated breath, their fear palpable.

“What is your purpose?” Brannik questioned, his gaze never wavering from the five riders.

“We are here for the Challenger,” the man replied, his voice echoing with authority. “Notify your elders.”

Brannik studied the man, his eyes narrowing. “And who are you to make such demands in our village?” he asked despite already knowing the identity of the five!

Rael’s hazel eyes gleamed, fire seemed to swim in them. “We are the messengers of those from above, do not ask what you already know!!”

The tension was thick, but Brannik finally nodded. “Very well. I will send someone to inform the elders… but I will have to apologize for not being able to let you in till I hear back!” not waiting for their response, he turned his head toward one of the guards near him and nodded.

His eyes were clear, they hinted an order that quickly was relayed to the guard, who after understanding the message bowed and dashed off to deliver the news.

The leader of the riders shook his head. “We have no intention of causing harm. We seek only what has been foretold.” He announced, before he along the others tuned back and distancing themselves.

Once enough distance was made, the riders exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of pity and scorn as their eyes continued to observe the villagers in front of them.

“Why are they so barbaric?” one of the women asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“They are contaminated,” the third man among them said, his tone matter-of-fact. “That’s why they live this way. They cannot learn the arts and are merely remnants of the past.”

…

The guard soon returned, his face still panicking and his heart racing; he whispered into Brannik’s ear and waited for a response. After receiving a nod, he approached the five messengers and bowed respectfully. “Please, follow me,” he said, holding a torch to light their way.

The messengers didn’t ask him their destination, instead, they followed him into the forest, their beasts moving silently through the underbrush. Animals scattered as they sensed the formidable presence of these intruders.

The path led them alongside a river, its gentle flow a stark contrast to the tension in the air. Eventually, they reached a clearing where a huge cabin stood, a large structure that seemed out of place in the primitive village.

The guard bowed again, indicating to the cabin. “Rest here for the night. I will return in the morning to escort you.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The middle-aged leader nodded, and watched the guard retract his steps and leave. Finally, he gestured to his companies, and they all dismounted. The girl with the glowing eyes let out a tired sigh as her light dimmed.

The now quiet young man whispered a few words, and a dim red light traveled the area around them. “No danger,” he announced, having completed a complete scan of the area.

The leader nodded in satisfaction, he whispered a few words, and hay was conjured out of nowhere. He turned to the man besides him and nodded.

Understanding the hint, the man proceed to tie their beasts. The boy assisted him, and soon the beasts were securely fastened with food and water in front of them.

The group entered the cabin, it was pitch black, and everything was dark. “Lara!!” the leader called, and the girl who had flickered the light earlier snapped her fingers, igniting all the dormant torches inside.

The cabin was vast and well-constructed, far superior to the villagers’ homes. However, the young man still looked around in disdain.

“This place is filthy,” he muttered, a scowl on his face. He whispered something, and a red, glowing fire began to spread throughout the cabin.

The flames did not burn anything but instead cleansed the area, disintegrating bugs, removing dust, and purifying the air. The girls nodded in approval, smiling at the transformation.

The cabin, though now clean, lacked furniture. The middle-aged man whispered an incantation, making an unlocking gesture, and objects began to appear out of thin air. Five beds, complete with furnishings, materialized.

Lyra gestured with her hand and light covered the beds who she controlled to float into separate rooms.

Satisfied, the messengers removed their helmets, revealing their faces. Their skins were pale as if they hadn’t seen the sun in years, they hair came in a variety of unique colors, and they all had a white star etched into the middle of their foreheads.

There were three males and two females. The males were of three different age groups, while the women, although similar in age, also stood out in their own unique ways.

Rael, the youngest, had a fiery presence. His red hair was styled into a mullet hawk, giving him a rebellious look. His hazel eyes were a deep shade of brown, almost smoldering under the dim light. Every movement he made seemed to crackle with energy.

Their leader appeared to be in his Fourtie, exuding authority and confidence. His blond hair reached down to his shoulders, catching the flicker of the firelight. His piercing silver eyes reflected a mix of wisdom and determination.

The third male was a man in his twenties, caught between youth and full maturity. His hair was a dark, dirty green, cut short with the sides styled into a neat fade. His eyes, as black as ink, conveyed a constant sense of brooding intensity. His sulking face added to his enigmatic aura, making him seem like a shadow moving through the night.

Lyra possessed an understated grace. Her blond hair was tied in a neat ponytail, but when released, it flowed down to the end of her back like a golden waterfall. Her clear blue eyes contrasted sharply with the night’s darkness. She moved with quiet elegance, her steps barely making a sound.

Next to her was another woman of similar height but markedly different in appearance. Her short, pink hair was striking against the dull surroundings, and her eyes were a unique shade of purple, like amethyst gems catching the light. She had an air of calm confidence, her demeanor both soothing and comforting.

As they laid down their armor and prepared to rest, the room filled with the soft clinks of metal and the rustle of fabric. Their expressions relaxed slightly as they settled in for the night, the tension of their journey easing away.

Rael was the first to leave and the others followed suit, each retreating to their rooms, leaving the cabin in a serene, temporary, peace.

…

Far away from the village, deep within the heart of the mountain, a solitary figure sat in a dark chamber. The walls were lined with glowing blue stones, their light faint but steady. In the center of the room, seated on a rock bed, a man meditated in silence.

His breath was slow and even, his body perfectly still. Yet his lips moved in a barely perceptible whisper, mumbling words that were hard to decipher. The room was filled with an eerie stillness, broken only by the soft hum of energy surrounding the glowing stones.

Suddenly, his voice grew clearer. “Who... are they... here for?” he whispered, the words barely audible, yet full of tension.

A storm of light circled around him, swirling faster and faster. The blue rocks began to move, levitating into the air as they floated above the man’s head. The glow intensified, casting strange shadows across the chamber as the stones came together to form an image—a crude drawing of a young man with long hair.

The meditating figure’s eyes snapped open, glowing with the same ethereal light as the stones. He studied the image for a moment, his lips curling into a knowing smile. “It’s just as I thought,” he whispered to himself.

With a final nod, the stones fell to the ground with a heavy thud, their light fading rapidly. The room was plunged into darkness once more, leaving the man alone in the void, his presence an ominous shadow in the stillness.

The only sound left was his slow, even breathing, as he sat, waiting for what was to come.