In the bustling city streets, Leoboirn, known as Leo to his friends, darts through the labyrinth of narrow alleys. His silver hair dances behind him like a shimmering waterfall as he runs, his keen elven eyes darting around for any sign of pursuit. Behind him, Jerrick, a mischievous troublemaker with an ear-to-ear grin, gives chase, the thrill of the pursuit lighting up his sinister gaze.
"You foolish Leoboirn, why must you run from the inevitable as always?" sneered Jerrick.
Leo takes a sharp left, narrowly avoiding a beggar's outstretched hand and a pack of rabid animals scavenging for scraps. "C'mon now, J-reck, is it inevitable if you can never catch me?" Leo taunts with laughter bubbling in his throat. But his laughter proves his undoing as he loses his footing and tumbles to the ground, gravel scraping against his palms.
Jerrick's sinister eyes gleamed with malevolence. "It seems there is always room for some change in the schedule."
Seizing an opportunity, Leo quickly grabbed a beggar's cup filled with meager coins and chucked it at Jerrick while regaining his feet. "Apologies, mister, but as you can see, I have a schedule to keep as well," he taunted, then bolted out of the alley, seeking refuge in an unrecognized gathering.
Leo's father, Asher, emerged from the crowd, his face a mix of concern and disappointment as he firmly gripped Leo's arm. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE CITY?" he demanded.
"Father, I just wanted to explore the city with some friends," Leo replied with a pouty face. Asher's expression turned to disappointment; he knew his son well enough to see through the lie.
"Now you know I can tell when you lie; we had this talk about the city before. You know you aren't supposed to be here," Asher scolded, leading Leo back home to their refuge called Uthrie. As they walked on an old, dirty, graveled road through the trees, Asher nudged Leo to get his attention. "Now, why do you have to do that to Jerrick? You already know you're faster than him and don't lie. I know what you were doing back there."
Leo's smile turned narcissistic. "I was just proving a point; he wants to keep picking on Aurora, so I gave him a taste of his own medicine, and he wanted to chase me like some deranged ogre."
Asher shook his head, trying to contain his laughter. "Why do you always have to care about your friend's problems? They can handle it by themselves, you know." Before Leo could respond, Asher pulled him behind some bushes, placing a hand over Leo's mouth. "Shh, look ahead, human knights patrolling."
"Why do we always get stuck on the dumb patrols? Nothing ever happens out here; are we to protect the city from rabbits?" complained one guard to the other, the glint of gold on the eye slits of his helmet indicating he was a captain.
"Oh shut up, all you do is complain. You know we are out here looking for the ashen," retorted the other guard.
Leo seized the moment and quietly tossed a rock to the other side of the road, giggling as the knights ran towards the sound with swords raised, thinking it might be a danger. "Why would you do that!" Asher whispered angrily, tightening his grip on Leo.
"Well, they said nothing ever happens out here, so I thought I would give them some excitement in believing something will," Leo giggled mischievously. Asher nudged him towards a hidden door, concealed behind a well-covered brush of leaves.
With disappointment in his tone, Asher said, "Have you not absorbed any of the lessons I told and taught you?"
Beyond the door lay a majestic world hidden within the cover of woods, a secluded refuge for a diverse array of villagers who greeted Asher with respect and admiration. As the so-called leader, they sought his advice, guidance, and direction in times of need. Leo, taken under Asher's wing, aspired to continue his father's purpose in the village when he came of age.
Unfurling his arms dramatically, Leo shouted, "IT IS I, THE PRODIGY, YOUR SAVIOR, YOUR DIVINE DEITY, I'VE ARRIVED...," only to be cut short as Asher swiftly slapped the side of his head. "Get home, you oaf," he admonished.
Leo rubbed his head in agony as he ran home. "He has no taste in a grand opening, I see." Before he could twist the doorknob to open the door, Aurora came running from around the corner and tackled him.
"Where have you been, Leo? You had me worried," she said, her voice tinged with concern.
"Oh, y'know, saving the world as always until my 'lovely' dad decided to intervene," Leo replied, his annoyance evident.
Aurora playfully punched his arms and laughed obnoxiously. "Oh, shush you, wannabe hero. We both know you don't have the skills for that yet."
An aggravated Leo stood up. "Oh yeah? Well, these skills I apparently don't have got me away from J-reck's shenanigans, unlike someone I know!" he retorted, sarcastically punching her arm.
Aurora's mood shifted, and she began to mope, visibly embarrassed by Leo's jest.
"Aurora, I-I didn't mean to upset you, I..." Before he could finish, a village watcher approached them, waving them away. "Hey you two, get home now. It's quiet time when you see the fireflies. You don't want to disobey the leaders' rules."
Leo walked through the door of the hut he shared with Asher, and the room was filled with the aroma of food and the warm glow of candles. Shadows danced on the walls as the flames flickered. "Why do I have the urgent need to stuff my face right now!" he exclaimed.
"Now, for the millionth time, you realize we have to wait for your father to get home; it's not much like eating as a family with one of the members missing, now is it?" said the house lady that Asher paid to tend to Leo's needs.
"No, ma'am, but am I really considered family if I wasn't born into it? I never feel like part of it with all these stupid rules Asher wants to put in place for me," Leo replied with a droopy face.
"HEY! You don't call your father by his-" The door slammed open as Asher entered, removing his gear and placing it on an old raggedy mannequin.
"Sir, your food is prepped and ready; I was just here telling Leo he shouldn't address you as..." The house lady was interrupted abruptly by Asher.
"He can call me whatever makes him feel comfortable. This was all forced on him just as much as it was on me. Now sit down and eat, Leo; we have a lot of training to catch up on tomorrow," Asher said, his laugh giving way to a more serious and comforting demeanor.
"I know, Sir, apologies, just old habits," Leo replied, his voice cracking slightly as a tear caressed his cheek, which he quickly wiped away before Asher noticed. "Father, when will I be able to carry a sword? I'm already proficient in the study and form of art. Please, please, please, Father."
Asher slammed his fist on the table, and bits of wood flew into the food. "Boy! We had this talk one too many times; you will know when the time is right."
"But, Father..."
"But nothing. Go ahead and clean up. I'll meet you inside the sparring fence when the birds start singing tomorrow," Asher said sharply, cutting Leo off, prompting him to get up and head to his room.
As Leo moved around in his sleep, the dreams grew more intense, causing him to sweat and pant. "Why do you listen to these puny and weak beings, Leoboirn? They're a waste of space and your time; come and join me. Have the power you deserve; I know you feel it deep within you. Don't let it go to waste; let me train you to use it and control it. No one else can, and you will soon realize that," a mysterious and determined voice whispered to Leo.
With a surge of power, Leo awoke, sitting up with his feet dangling off the bed. "Why won't these visions leave me be?" he questioned himself, but before he could ask more, a sudden rush of fear crept throughout his body.
"You foolish child, you will realize too late that you can't save everyone," the voice warned before a loud zap hit Leo in the back.
"OW!" Leo let out an agonized cry as he tumbled forward off the bed and onto the floor. Asher came rushing into the room to the sound of Leo's screams.
"What happened, Leo? Who was it? Tell me!" Asher demanded.
"It was nothing; I just stubbed my toe when I was coming back into the room," Leo lied, facing away from his father to hide his back, which was obviously sizzling from the bolt of lightning that had just struck him. Asher, knowing there was more to it, peered at his son in the darkness.
"Okay, boy, well, try to get whatever rest you can. Big day tomorrow," Asher said, heading out of the room and closing the door behind him. However, he stopped for a moment to glance back, making sure Leo was okay before continuing to his own room.
Leo, now nursing a burn on his back that would undoubtedly leave a mark, quickly climbed back into bed, vowing to himself, "You ugly thingy majigy, I will find you and make sure you get nowhere close to Aurora and Father!"
Unbeknownst to Leo, somewhere in an unfamiliar land, the malevolent being who had taunted him was now laughing with malicious delight, his arms outstretched to the sky. "Poor Leoboirn, I'm already there, and you don't even know it. Your precious friend will be hanging from your ceiling when you awake. My little toys are already on their way," he gloated.
Amidst the darkness, the mysterious and soothing voice whispered to Leo, "Be ready, my little Leo; they're coming."