Vedik woke up from his sleep . He stretched with a satisfied smile lingering on his face. The events of the previous day – the revelation of his achievements and the promise of learning Arcane Magic – filled him with an eager anticipation.

Today was a new beginning as today onwards he will finally start learning Arcane magic which is the dream of every child.

His parents were already awake, seated at the table enjoying a simple breakfast of roasted vegetables and flatbread. The tension that had hung heavy in the air yesterday seemed to have dissipated. Jasmin's smile was genuine, her eyes sparkling with a renewed sense of hope.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," William greeted him, his voice warm and welcoming. "Did you sleep well?"

Vedik smiled and replied , "Like a log, Dad. I'm excited to start training today."

Jasmin reached out and ruffled his hair affectionately. "We are too, Vedik. We are very proud of you."

The three of them ate in comfortable silence, the rhythmic chirping of birds outside their hut the only background music.

As Vedik savored his last bite, a sudden shift in Jasmin's demeanor sent a shiver down his spine. Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of chilling intensity.

"William," she whispered, her voice crackling with urgency. "Someone is trying to break my concealment spell and sneak into our territory."

A deep frown appeared on William's brow. Nobody knew of their secluded haven in this remote part of the forest. Anyone who stumbled upon their location by chance would just rotate around the area and then be on their way.

Without wasting a single second, William sprang to his feet and took out a ring he was wearing from his index finger and said " Come out my old friends".

Suddenly a pair of red crimson daggers appeared in his hand . They were dazzling and shined with red light like they were covered in red blood.

"How many?" William asked, his voice low and steady despite the rising tension.

Jasmin closed her eyes, focusing on the faint disturbances in the magical energy around their perimeter.

When she opened her eyes again, they held a flicker of concern. "Six," she replied. "Five warriors and a sorcerer. And a powerful one at that. A normal sorcerer wouldn't have detected our location, let alone attempt to breach my spell."

Vedik felt a knot of fear tighten in his stomach. Six intruders, one of them wielding powerful magic?

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This was no coincidence. He gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white. The reality finally hit him.

William scanned the room, his gaze falling on Vedik's trembling hands. "Stay here, Vedik," he commanded, his voice firm yet laced with concern. "This is not something you should be involved in yet."

Jasmin, however, placed a hand on William's arm, her eyes locked on his. "No, William. He needs to see this. This is why we've kept him hidden. He needs to understand the dangers.

William hesitated, his concern for his son battling with the knowledge that hiding Vedik wouldn't be an option forever.

Sensing their struggle, Vedik spoke up, his voice surprisingly steady for someone on the verge of panic. "I'm not a child anymore, Dad. I can handle this. I want to see what we're up against."

William finally gave in and said "Alright, but stay close. Don't do anything reckless."

William then moved towards a hidden compartment within the wall, retrieving a pair of leather bracers and a black plate armor adorned with wicked spikes. He wore them swiftly, the leather creaking as he adjusted the straps.

Jasmin with a flicker of recognition and dread crossing her features , drew a staff from thin air. The beautiful carved wood pulsed with a faint magical light.

Together, they moved towards the front door, their movements silent and efficient. Vedik followed close behind, his heart pounding in his chest, his grip tightening on the practice sword William had given him earlier.

Reaching the door, William placed a hand on the rough wood, whispering an incantation under his breath. The door creaked open, revealing a scene that chilled Vedik to the bone.

Six figures stood at the edge of the training ground . Five were heavily armored warriors, their faces hidden behind a black helmet.

The sixth, standing slightly apart from the others, exuded an aura of otherworldly power that sent shivers down Vedik's spine.

He was clad in a flowing black robe, a dark amulet hanging around his neck, its surface swirling with an ominous energy.

The air crackled with tension as the two groups locked eyes. The silence stretched, broken only by the rasping breaths of the warriors and the low hum emanating from the sorcerer's amulet.

"Identify yourselves!" William roared, his voice echoing through the forest.

The figure in black robe stepped forward, a cruel smile twisting his lips beneath the hood of his robe. His voice, when he spoke, was smooth and dripping with malice.

"Greetings, Mr William Ravenshadow and Mrs Jasmin Wilson," he spoke. "Fancy meeting you here. I didn't expect to find such a cozy little nest tucked away in the wilderness."

Jasmin's grip tightened on her staff, her intuition was right. She narrowed her eyes in recognition. "Thalnos," she spat, the name laced with venom. "What brings you to our doorstep?"

Thalnos chuckled, a chilling sound that sent shivers down Vedik's spine. "Curiosity, dear Jasmin. Rumors of a powerful hidden child tend to pique one's interest."

His gaze flicked towards Vedik, a predatory glint in his eyes. Vedik felt a surge of primal fear, the hairs on his arms stood up.

Vedik understood that this man, Thalnos, knew about him. He wasn't here for William and Jasmin. He was here for him.

William stepped protectively in front of Vedik, his red daggers glinting in the sunlight. "There is no such child here, Thalnos. Whatever your source may have told you, it's a lie."

Thalnos's smile widened, devoid of any warmth. "Oh, I don't think so, William. Both of your attempts to hide him were quiet good . But your luck ends now."

He raised a hand, his dark amulet pulsing with renewed energy.

A wave of dark magic surged forward, crashing against the remnants of Jasmin's concealment spell. The ground started shaking and the concealment spell dissolved into wisps of dissipating energy.

Jasmin gasped, her staff crackling with a defensive counter spell. But it was clear, Thalnos was far more powerful. The full force of his magic pressed down upon them, the air thick with oppressive energy.

Million thoughts surged in Jasmin's mind as she thought , how could she defeat this old monster ?

Thalnos was known throughout the continents as one of the most strongest sorcerer .

He belongs to the same generation of sorcerer as Jasmin's teacher .

She told the same to William.

William started thinking that in the past , he has heard the name Thalnos who is known as a notorious sorcerer , but didn't knew that he was an old monster.

So without wasting a second he said , Jasmin I will try to defeat these five warriors as soon as possible just hold on till then.

Jasmin smiled and said , you don't need to tell me that fool.

"Enough talk," Thalnos suddenly declared, his voice dripping with malice.

"William and Jasmin, hand over the child and live to see another sunrise."

Jasmin's eyes narrowed. "Never, Thalnos," she shouted, a torrent of emerald energy erupting from her staff and hurtling towards Thalnos .

William, also started running towards the five warriors and engaged in a intense battle with the warriors

head-on.

William's crimson daggers danced a deadly ballet, deflecting blows and finding chinks in the warrior's armor with deadly precision.

Thalnos started laughing like a maniac as he spoke, " Good I also prefer this ".