Lightning split the sky and the storm raged like a furious beast. The heavy rain flooded the streets.

A woman, her cloak billowing in the wind, sprinted through the downpour.

In her arms , she cradled a newborn baby , who was covered in a tattered cloth.

Behind her, a shadowy figure clad in dark armor fought valiantly, his sword flashing like a beacon of hope in the storm's fury.

He was fighting against three shadowy figures wearing silver armour, who were relentlessly pursuing the woman, their eyes gleaming with greed and killing intent.

With a thunderous roar, the armored guardian cut down two of their attackers. But it was not the end .

He was also stabbed in the stomach.

Seeing the chance the last assailant, a brute with a scarred face, lunged at the woman. A cruel smile twisted his lips as he closed in.

The guardian, his armor now dented and bloodied, roared in defiance. He charged forward, but the lethal wounds from his previous fights slowed his steps. In a desperate move, he threw himself between the woman and her attacker, taking the slash meant for her.

"Run, young miss! Save the child, he is our only hope!" the warrior shouted, his voice thick with blood.

Tears streaming down her face, the woman summoned the last vestiges of her strength.

Ignoring the sound of the fight, she pushed her speed, while talking deep breaths.

Soon the sound of clashing steel faded, and was replaced by the relentless drumming of rain.

The woman's body screamed with pain, with each step sending a jolt of pain throughout her entire body.

Blood seeped from the deep wounds and injuries , staining the child's tattered swaddling cloth. Still, she pressed on, fueled by a mother's love that burned brighter than anything in the entire world.

She knew that giving up wasn't an option. So , she pushed on, fueled by a desperate love for her child.

Suddenly, a harsh laugh echoed through the rain-soaked alleyway. A lone figure emerged from the shadows, his armor bloodied but triumphant.

"That fool was strong," he sneered, wiping blood from his sword. "He took two of my companions with him, but finally, he sleeps ."

The woman spun around, her face filled with a mask of grief and determination. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her side, she raised her hand, her voice laced with raw power.

A beguiling spell erupted from her fingertips, momentarily illuminating the alley with an otherworldly light.

The woman could feel her lifeforce burning.

The man laughed like a maniac while saying "If you were at your prime condition , neither I nor they would have dared to face you. But now? You're so weak it almost saddens me and I even feel pity for you " .

But his amusement was short-lived. The woman unleashed another spell, a surge of pure wind energy that slammed directly into him.

He flew backward, crashing into a tree.

As he struggled to get back to his feet, his face was covered with surprise , pain and rage.

"I may be weak," the woman rasped, her voice barely audible, "but a mother's love is a power you'll never understand."

As the man was thrown away , she had few seconds .

So with a final, desperate surge of magic, she channeled her remaining life force into an intricate shield around her child. Which ultimately used her remaining lifeforce.

The man, fueled by rage ran towards her. He slashed with brutal efficiency, which resulted in , his blade piercing through the woman's back.

A choked gasp escaped the woman's lips as she crumpled to the ground, her blood mingling with the rain-soaked streets.

The man let out a victorious roar and started walking towards the child while shouting " With this boy's death, my mission is complete, just thinking about the rewards makes me euphoric."

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But his triumph was short-lived .

As before he could reach the child a blade pierced his heart. He turned, disbelief etched on his face, to see the woman standing behind him.

"I knew you would strike from behind," she whispered, a grim smile on her bloodied lips. "So I protected my heart with magic.

Your moment of victory made you careless – you forgot the first lesson every warrior learns: always ensure your enemy is truly dead."

Then before the man could utter a word, she beheaded him with a swift motion of her small knife.

Knowing her time has come, the woman slowly stumbled to her child.

She cradled him close, her tears mixing with the rain.

"I'm sorry, Vedik," she murmured, her voice fading. "I won't be there to see you grow up. I wanted to care for you, to shower you with love, but fate has other plans." With trembling hands, she placed a locket around the baby's neck and pressed a final kiss to his forehead. Then, with a shuddering breath, she closed her eyes for the last time.

Minutes later, a shadowy figure materialized beside the bodies.

It cremated the woman with solemn respect, then gently lifted the baby. A flicker of emotion crossed its obscured face before it vanished into the storm-wracked night, the child secure in its arms.

The Story Begins :

Vedik woke up from the deafening thunder sound booming outside.

He reached for the glass of water beside his bed , his hands shaking slightly as he drank it.

As the cool liquid calmed his nerves, he lay back down, staring at the ceiling while rain pattered against the roof.

Vedik had never understood why storms terrified him so much.

Vedik's life has always been one of quiet desperation like most orphans.

The orphanage was the only home he'd ever known. But he wasn't alone.

There was Raj who was 2 years older than Vedik and has always been there for Vedik.

He shielded Vedik from bullies, shared stolen fruits – the kind orphans rarely tasted – and filled the void left by absent parents. Raj was Vedik's anchor in a sea of uncertainty.

But their lives changed dramatically when Raj turned fourteen – the age of awakening. It was rare for commoners to awaken the Arcane magic, but Raj defied the odds.

Vedik watched, awestruck, as his friend conjured flames from thin air, shaping them into different patterns.

The other children gasped, their eyes wide with wonder and jealousy as with this everyone understood that Raj was no longer a orphan now, his life will change for the better.

Word of Raj's awakening spread quickly through the village.

Vedik felt a twinge of jealousy, but it was instantly replaced by happiness for his friend. But as the saying goes, good times don't last for long .

Soon a party of adventurers arrived at the orphanage .Their armor gleamed, and their eyes held promise.

They offered Raj a chance of a new

life – a ticket out of the orphanage.

Vedik's heart clenched as he watched his friend's eyes light up with excitement.

The adventurer party gave Raj one night to decide whether he wanted to follow them or not .

That night , Raj told Vedik that he had decided to follow the party.

But Vedik was a little anxious , as the adventurer party didn't give him a good feeling.

He wanted to tell Raj about his intuition but he didn't want him to think that he was saying that out of jealousy as it would surely sound like that.

Raj tapped Vedik's shoulder, eyes alight with excitement. "I'll visit you," he promised. "In two years, we'll be adventurers together. Imagine the tales we'll weave across the continent!".

Next day , Raj departed with the adventurer party.

After Raj's departure, Vedik found new determination. He helped passing adventurers with odd jobs like cleaning, cooking and learned Martial Arts techniques in exchange.

Although the techniques were third class , Vedik was happy to learn them .

Awakening the Arcane Arts was very rare among commoners but anyone could train in Martial Arts.

So instead of leaving his destiny to fate, Vedik did what he could to shape his future.

Two years passed like that in a blur of training and daydreams.

As Vedik's fourteenth birthday approached, he clung to the hope of reuniting with Raj.

They would form their own party, and set off to explore the world together.

Raj's face came in his dreams—the promise of adventure etched into every line. But soon this dream shattered.

One year ago , Vedik met a middle aged man named William .

William has taught many things to Vedik and they had a good relation.

Vedik also thought of introducing William to Raj.

Few days later , Vedik couldn't take it anymore , so he told William about Raj's situation and requested him, if he could gather some information about Raj .

As William was a famous adventurer in the village it was not difficult for him to collect information.

One week later as Vedik was training, William brought news that shattered his world. "I'm sorry, lad," William said, his voice heavy with regret. "There's no record of a boy named Raj reaching the city.

Those adventurers... they must have sold him into slavery.

That's why I've always told you – trust no one. Nobody does anything for another without self-interest."

Vedik felt his whole world crumble. A deep, all-consuming anger welled up inside him, accompanied by a crushing wave of despair.

His body shook with rage, and without realizing it, he began to emit an intense aura of killing intent.

William, a seasoned adventurer , found himself taken aback. He'd never felt such murderous energy from a mere boy. It both impressed and terrified him.

William, understanding what Vedik was thinking , placed a comforting hand on Vedik's head and said "I know you're angry, and want to hunt those bastards down. But you're not strong enough – not yet. Train hard, Vedik. Become someone Raj would be proud of. Then, when you're ready , you can seek the truth."

Vedik struggled to calm himself, but William's words penetrated the haze of his anger.

He thanked the man for the information and headed back to the orphanage, his mind a whirlwind of emotions.

That night, Vedik lay on his thin blanket, unable to eat or sleep. He felt powerless as he couldn't do anything.

As thunder continued to rumble outside, Vedik made a silent vow.

He would become stronger, no matter the cost . So that , he will never feel this powerless ever again.