A week after Adonis and Arphaxad's departure, at Hadon's house, everyone was preparing to say goodbye to Set, who already needed to return to Zoarlath to be at the head of his battalion and depart for the war that would happen in two weeks. The atmosphere was heavy with emotions, mixing sadness over the departure and concern about the imminent war.
Sahara, with eyes full of tears, hugged Set tightly. "Promise you'll come back to us, brother," she said, her voice choked.
Set smiled, trying to convey a calmness he himself did not feel. "I promise, Sahara. I'll be back as soon as possible."
Yorin, with his usual carefree attitude, tried to lighten the mood. "You know it's not allowed to go to war and leave all the fun for us, right? We'll miss you around here."
Set laughed, giving Yorin a pat on the back. "You always find a way to make things lighter, don't you?"
Aura, standing next to Markel, held her older brother's hand tightly. "Set, you need to come back. We need you here," she said, her voice trembling.
Markel, always reserved, nodded. "Take care of yourself. War is merciless and we need all of us together."
Adonis, who had not yet returned from Zoarlath, was in his thoughts. He knew his presence in Zoarlath was vital to ensure the safety of Hadon's house and his siblings. Set looked at everyone with a deep, serious look. "Take care of each other. Always be attentive and follow Hadon's guidance. He always knows what's best."
Draka, holding Ninea's hand, felt a mix of admiration and fear for Set. She knew he was a formidable warrior, but war was merciless and unpredictable. "Please, Set, be careful," she asked in a soft voice, almost a whisper.
Set knelt in front of her, holding her hands. "I always am, little one. And when I return, I want to hear all your stories and know everything that happened while I was gone."
With the farewells done and preparations finished, Set mounted his horse. As he rode away, everyone watched until he disappeared on the horizon, carrying with him the hopes and prayers of his family.
Meanwhile in Astalah, Kal was still talking to Pudin, who insisted on staying by his side. He realized the kitten had some emotional wounds and that's why she was so attached to him.
"Why were you so far from the shelter that day I saved you?" asked Kal.
"It was nothing, I was just hunting!" said the kitten, trying to change the subject.
Kal, realizing there were deep things Pudin didn't want to say, respected her decision to be quiet. He then asked her to leave him for a while so he could finally meditate and try to restore his connection to his spirit.
Pudin resisted, but finally agreed, saying in her sarcastic and funny way: "Alright, but only because a lady needs to go to the bathroom sometimes. Don't go getting lost without me, grandpa!" And with that, she moved away, giving Kal the space he needed.
Kal sat by the crystal clear lake and focused inward. His spirit cried out for Domeh or Daat, but neither responded. However, unlike other times, Kal's feelings resembled those he had when he had full access to Domeh or Daat's presence. Kal knew this was because he was in that mystical place, feeling the energy around him.
He took a deep breath and continued meditating, trying to connect more deeply, hopeful that eventually he would fully restore his spiritual connection.
While Kal was trying to meditate, he heard desperate, alarming screams. Some monkey and bird spirits entered the shelter, running and flying in all directions. Pudin quickly ran to the entrance and noticed that many spirits were wounded.
Concerned by all the commotion, Kal went to the entrance. "What's happening, Pudin?" he asked.
"I don't know, but many spirits are arriving and many of them are hurt!" replied the kitten, running to help the injured spirits.
The Wise Sage Ogan approached Kal and said: "The evil spirits are moving through the forest again. They must have followed the spirits that were fleeing here."
"But in here they will be out of reach of the evil spirits," Kal responded.
Ogan, however, disagreed with Kal: "I fear that may no longer be true. With Nin's disappearance, the dragon star's powers are diminishing, but evil is growing stronger within this forest. I don't think we'll be safe here much longer!"
Kal became worried upon hearing this. "So we're not safe here?"
Ogan shook his head negatively. "Unfortunately not. We must find a way to confront these evil spirits or we'll all be lost."
Determined, Kal said: "I will leave the shelter and confront these evil spirits. I cannot allow them to destroy the only safe place you all have."
Pudin looked at Kal with a mix of concern and admiration. "Be careful, Kal. These spirits are dangerous. We don't want to lose you too."
Kal nodded, determined to protect the shelter and spirits living there. He prepared to leave, knowing he would face great dangers but feeling it was the right thing to do.
Outside, Kal came upon six black wolves, all with red eyes, that were growling with pure hatred. He noticed that sadly some spirits did not manage to escape the wolves' attacks and had succumbed. Before he could do anything, Pudin screamed:
"You damn things, go away! This forest belongs to us!"
Suddenly, an evil smile echoed through the forest shadows. Behind the gloomy trees, a large wolf appeared, larger than the others, with even more hateful eyes. Its mouth, full of serrated teeth, foamed a drool that instantly killed the grass it touched.
"It belongs to you?" said the wolf in a dreadful voice. "It belonged to you. Soon we will occupy this entire forest and devour all of you!"
Kal felt rage grow within him upon hearing these words. He would not allow these monsters to destroy the shelter and harm the spirits that lived there. "Who are you?" Kal asked.
"I am Anubis, I am the leader of these demonic wolves!" responded the large wolf.
Kal prepared to fight, determined to protect that place at all costs. The tension in the air was palpable, with the wolves circling Kal and Pudin, growling and baring their sharp teeth.
"You stand no chance against us," taunted the lead wolf. "Our hunger is infinite, and our strength, unbeatable."
Kal gripped his steel prosthesis firmly, feeling the energy flow through it. "I will not let you destroy this place," he declared, his voice firm and resolute.
The wolves attacked simultaneously, surrounding Kal. He moved nimbly, using the prosthesis to deliver powerful blows. One of the wolves tried to bite his arm, but he was able to swerve and land a direct hit to the animal's head, knocking it out. Another wolf jumped at him, but Kal used his speed to evade and knock the wolf down with the force of his mechanical arm.
The spirits watched the battle with apprehension, knowing the outcome of this confrontation could decide the shelter's future. Kal continued fighting skillfully, but the wolves were many and relentless. He felt fatigue beginning to accumulate in his body. Until one of the wolves in a synchronized attack injures Kal making him move away.
Suddenly, Pudin leaped onto one of the wolves, scratching its eyes with her sharp claws. The wolf retreated, howling in pain. Kal took advantage of the distraction to strike another wolf with all his might, making it retreat.
Anubis watched with a growing expression of fury. "You are just insects trying to resist the inevitable," he growled. "But I will finish you off personally!"
Kal and Pudin prepared for the final showdown. Anubis charged with surprising speed, but Kal was ready. Using the prosthesis, he managed to block Anubis's attack and counterattack with a powerful blow, making Anubis retreat.
Pudin jumped again, this time aiming for Anubis's throat. However, Anubis's speed and strength were far superior to the other wolves and in a swift motion he evaded Pudin's attack and ferociously bit her, throwing her injured to the ground.
Kal quickly charged at Anubis, hitting him with his shoulder and throwing him against a tree, making the large wolf growl loudly in pain this time. Kal quickly picked up Pudin, who was on the ground, and looking closely realized the kitten was still breathing. He brought her back to the shelter entrance. "Someone come get Pudin, she is hurt!" But with fearful looks, no other spirit came to help Pudin.
Kal then shouted to Wise Sage Ogan "Please, Wise Sage Ogan, I cannot fight if I have to defend Pudin, she needs healing quickly!". But the spirits inside the shelter prevented Ogan from doing anything and turning their backs on Kal and Pudin, they just stood watching, hoping the young man could solve that problem himself.
Kal took a deep breath, his expression now showing a bitter sentiment regarding the spirits. He looked at Pudin, who was also panting but breathing, and said "Don't worry, I'll get you out of this!"
The young man was wondering if he should really fight for spirits who simply deny defending their own, but at the same time, he could not let Anubis go unharmed, since he had injured his friend Pudin. There were still four wolves in addition to Anubis and Kal knew that if he engaged in combat with the leader, the other wolves could attack Pudin.
He understood that if he retreated, he would be putting all the spirits in the shelter at risk, so he lamented having lost his powers. "Why does this have to happen, why am I always putting those around me in danger...!" thought Kal, again questioning whether his powers are truly a blessing or a curse.
Kal then saw no alternative but to face them all at once and taking a fighting stance remembered his sacred armor Hignit that he had left in Nannu and his sacred sword Dawn that he had lost in the tomb of kings in the battle against Spartan.
The wolves, led by the formidable Anubis, advanced all at once on Kal. Determined to protect the wounded and fallen Pudin, Kal positioned himself between the wolves and the small spirit cat. With quick movements, he evaded some attacks and received others, but managed to contain the infernal wolves, preventing them from approaching Pudin.
The battle was intense, and Kal fought with all his strength, using his steel prosthesis to deliver powerful blows and defend himself from the ferocious attacks. Anubis, the lead wolf, watched with hatred and determination in his eyes, waiting for the right moment to attack.
Kal remained defending Pudin for over three uninterrupted hours. His muscles were exhausted, and his body began to give in to fatigue. Every move became more difficult, and every blow more painful. Inside the shelter, the frightened spirits watched the fight, unable to go out and help. They wept in silence, aware that Kal was their last defense against the evil spirits.
"I... will not let you pass!" shouted Kal, his voice hoarse and choppy from exhaustion. He struck a blow with the prosthesis, hitting one of the wolves that was advancing on him, but immediately after, another wolf attacked him from behind, tearing his clothes and leaving a deep cut.
Anubis, noticing Kal's weakness, charged with an impressive speed. Kal tried to defend himself, but his strength was spent. The lead wolf leaped at him, sinking his claws into Kal's chest and knocking him to the ground. The young warrior looked to Pudin, who was still lying wounded, and felt a wave of despair and determination.
"I cannot... give up..." thought Kal, summoning all his remaining strength. With a final effort, he pushed Anubis away and stood up, ready to continue the fight.
The spirits inside the shelter watched the scene with tears in their eyes, knowing that Kal was sacrificing everything to protect them. Wise Sage Ogan, observing the fight from afar, uttered a silent prayer for Kal's strength not to be depleted.
Anubis growled, irritated at being repelled, and prepared for a new attack. But before he could advance, a golden glow arose around Kal. The stone in Kal's prosthesis began to glow intensely, emitting a light that blinded the wolves momentarily and causing Kal to fall to his knees.
Kal as if waking from a dream, opens his eyes in a different place from where he was, it was a large beach contrasting with the starry night sky, the tides were calm and serene and in the sky, a large and bright moon.
"Who are you?" asked a soft voice that echoed in all corners and made the surface of the waters tremble.
At that moment Kal looks towards the source of the voice and realizes he was facing great blue eyes like the very sky seen in that place. The young man realized it was a gigantic creature in front of him and understanding that the voice belonged to that creature replied:
"I am Kal Launno!"
And those great eyes moved and rose forming in front of the bright moon a silhouette of an enormous dragon. "How did you come to be here, Kal Launno?" asked the voice.
"I don't know, I was in combat and after a stone that was in my metal prosthesis lit up, I simply opened my eyes here!" replied Kal.
"Prosthesis? What prosthesis?" Asked the voice, causing Kal to look at his arm and startle when he saw his body was restored, with no more wounds or blood and even his arm torn off by Spartan had been restored.
"But I had lost my arm!" Kal questioned himself, confused. "Where am I? Who are you?" he asked.
And opening its enormous wings, the dragon rose into the air and before the light that increased its brilliance said with an imposing voice "I am Astaruin, guardian of the stars and protector of dreams, and you are in my spiritual sanctuary!". However, Astaruin noticed that Kal remained unmoved before her.
"Who are you truly Kal Launno? I see that you are human, but I see that you are a spirit too!" asked Astaruin.
Kal was trying to understand what was happening, and realized that somehow he had accessed the resting place of the great Dragon that had created the sanctuary, Astaruin. "Once again, I don't know how I came to be here, but I imagine that here is your spiritual sanctuary!" he replied.
"I can perceive something different about you Kal Launno, something familiar!" said Astaruin. However, fearing for what was happening to Pudin and the other spirits, Kal interrupted the great Star Dragon and pleaded:
"Great Astaruin, I was fighting evil spirits in defense of the spirits sheltering in your refuge, help me end these threats!"
Astaruin then sensing something pure coming from Kal, shrank, changing form to become a beautiful woman, with long blue hair the same color as that sky and shimmers that ran through her long hair like the stars ran through the sky, her eyes held a blue that flowed like the same sea that Kal was now above. Kal was amazed by the beauty of that being.
"I do not know you, but I feel in you a peace that touched me, a feeling that makes me feel at home and so, Kal Launno, you are welcome in my sanctuary!" she said. "My physical body rests beneath this forest and sustains it, so there will come a day when I must leave my rest, but that day has not yet come!" she finished, looking at Kal with a smile, understanding that the one before her could be capable of changing all existence.
"Then please allow me to return so I can continue fighting!" asked Kal.
"You are free to go whenever you wish." she said. "But tell me young Kal, why are you defending my refuge, what is happening?" she asked.
"The forest is full of evil spirits, they attack and devour other spirits and they are all fleeing to your refuge!" said Kal.
"Yes...yes...I can sense it, the world is changing and I believe you are part of that change!" she said, pointing to Kal. "But this should not be happening, my daughter is protecting the forest and as long as she lives, evil spirits will not dwell within it!" Astaruin finished.
Kal then remembered Ogan and Pudin's words that Nin was Astaruin's daughter, but Nin was no longer there and the great Dragon's daughter was probably dead. "Forgive me great Astaruin, but your daughter is no longer protecting the forest!" said Kal.
Astaruin paused for a moment and looked up, she remained in the same position for a few minutes and suddenly turned her gaze back to Kal, "I can still feel her, she is still alive, although very weak!" she said. "Very well Kal Launno, I will give you my blessing, but I want you after rescuing my refuge, to take my daughter back to the shelter, there I will speak with her and restore her strength, if this does not happen and the forest is taken by demons, my awakening will bring an end to this entire land!".
Kal accepted the mission given by Astaruin and closed his eyes, receiving a kiss from the dragon. A symbol of transmission of the lady of the stars' blessing. Kal felt a new wave of energy course through his body, a strength he knew its source. "Thank you lady of the stars!" he said, his voice now full of determination.
Kal opened his eyes before the wolves and all the spirits of that place, a golden light bursting with blue dots emanating brightly from his body illuminated the dark night and touching the wolves' skins, making them howl in agony from just the glow Kal now emanated, his eyes that before held a pale gold, now shone intensely in his right eye while the left had a blue glow like the sea.
Looking at Kal among all the spirits, Wise Sage Ogan simply said: "He who has the favor of the stars!"
All the Spirits were then amazed by the feeling now coming from Kal and sensing in him the presence of Guardian Astaruin, the spirits began to cry profoundly. That light deeply injured the evil spirits and at the same time brought comfort to the other spirits.
Kal then looked at himself and realized he had returned to his wounded body and prosthesis. Extending it toward Anubis, he whispered 'Serastar', which in the ancient language meant 'Light of the Stars'. And a burst of light illuminated from his prosthesis, shattering it but creating a flash of light that annihilated all the wolves except Anubis, who was now gravely injured.
"This is not over yet, human!" shouted Anubis before disappearing into the forest shadows.
The young man then turned to the spirits, with a serious and majestic face. Inside, Wise Sage Ogan took two steps forward and knelt down holding his staff. The other spirits knelt behind him, revering the light now coming from Kal. "Hail, he who has the favor of the stars!" shouted the Wyn passerby who had previously distrusted Kal, and then they all shouted in unison.
Kal then fell to his knees, exhausted but victorious. He looked at Pudin, who was now approaching him with a look of gratitude. "You did it, Kal. You saved us," said the little cat in a trembling voice.
The spirits began to emerge from the shelter, surrounding Kal and Pudin. Wise Sage Ogan approached, his expression serious but full of respect. "You fought bravely, Kal. But we must find a way to strengthen our refuge before they return."
Kal nodded, knowing the battle was far from over. But for now, he had managed to protect his new friends and give them renewed hope.