The paramedics on the scene were met with a sight that defied logic. The driver's side door hung limp, its hinges torn from the frame. The windshield resembled a spiderweb of cracks.
Confused murmurs filled the air as more emergency personnel arrived. They checked Aiden's vitals, expecting internal bleeding, fractures, anything that could explain his miraculous state.
But the readings were normal, almost impossibly so. His heart rate was steady, his oxygen levels perfect, his body devoid of even a scratch.
The doctors, baffled and intrigued, rushed him to the hospital. News of the 'miracle survivor' spread like wildfire, attracting the attention of the medical community,
Meanwhile, in the sterile white of the hospital room, Aiden stirred. He blinked, disoriented, the memory of the crash a fragmented dream. He looked at his arm, the concerned faces of the doctors, and felt a strange sense of detachment.
As he underwent a battery of tests, the doctors were baffled. No explanation fit the impossible reality of his condition. His body, seemingly unharmed
"He's alive," Dr. Reyes announced
"But... how?"
The paramedics exchanged bewildered glances. They'd seen miracles in their line of work, but this defied explanation.
X-rays showed no internal injuries, no fractures, not even a hint of trauma.
A young doctor with kind eyes and a worried crease between her brows leaned closer.
"You were in an accident. A truck lost control, collided with your car."
"The truck driver? Is he okay?" Aiden asked
"He's fine," the doctor said,
"Just shaken up"
Aiden frowned. Something felt off. He remembered the impact, the fear, but no pain, no searing agony that should have accompanied such a brutal collision.
"But my car," he started, his voice gaining strength. "It's totaled, right?"
"The car… well," choosing her words carefully. "It's totaled. Beyond repair, I'm afraid."
The doctor hesitated, her gaze shifting uncomfortably. "It's a miracle you're alive. You sustained some injuries, but…"
"But what?" Aiden pressed, a sense of unease twisting in his gut.
"What do you mean?"
Another doctor, a seasoned man with a weathered face, stepped forward.
"Kid, your injuries are… unusual. You have some minor scrapes and bruises, but nothing that explains the severity of the accident."
Aiden's heart hammered against his ribs. Unusual? What did that even mean? He looked at the doctor's concerned face.
"What's not being said?"
The older doctor cleared his throat.
"The truth is, we don't fully understand how you survived the accident with such minimal injuries. You were lucky, very lucky."
Aiden felt like a specimen under a microscope, poked and prodded, but never truly explained to. The doctors, bound by some unseen protocol, kept their silence, their worried glances offering little comfort.
Aiden frowned. It didn't make sense. The force of the impact, the way the car looked… something wasn't adding up.
The doctor sighed. "We're running tests. But honestly, there's nothing medically explainable about your condition. You're healthy, you're recovering well, and that's all we can say for now."
As the doctor left, Aiden lay back in the bed, staring at the ceiling
Outside Aiden's room, Dr. Reyes leaned against the wall, her brow furrowed in deep thought. Beside her, a seasoned nurse, Mary, watched her.
"Something's off, isn't it?" Mary asked
"There's something about him, something that goes beyond the physical. It's like he's..."
A silence fell between them
"Have you told anyone else?" Mary asked
Dr. Reyes shook her head.
"Not yet. Sharing these observations without concrete evidence could be seen as… unprofessional."
"But what if there's more to it?" Mary pressed.
"What if there's a reason he's different, a reason he survived the accident unscathed?"
"And you think telling anyone about it will help?" Dr. Reyes raised an eyebrow.
"We'll get laughed out of the medical board."
Dr. Reyes looked at her, "We need to be careful. We need to tread lightly, gather information discreetly. This could be bigger than we can imagine."
"I can't just ignore it. The way he talks… there's something about him that doesn't fit the picture." Mary responded
"What do you propose we do?" Dr. Reyes finally asked.
"We keep an eye on him," Mary said, "We document everything, even the unexplainable. And if it turns out to be something more… we'll be prepared."
Hours later, Aiden stared out the hospital window, the afternoon sun casting a golden glow on the city below. He felt restless, a strange energy thrumming beneath his skin
Dr. Reyes stood beside him. "We haven't finished your tests. Are you sure you're ready to leave?"
Aiden turned, his gaze meeting hers.
"I appreciate everything." he said, his voice sincere. "But I can't stay here any longer. College starts soon, and I have responsibilities."
"Just be careful" She said gently.
Aiden nodded, a wave of gratitude washing over him.
Meanwhile in Aethel
Seventeen years had passed since the passing of King Morwen, a titan of strength and wisdom whose absence echoed in every stone of the majestic structure. Now, the weight of leadership rested heavily upon the shoulders of Aeon, his brother.
Aeon paced restlessly, his brow furrowed in concern. His advisors, a council of seasoned guardians, observed him with watchful eyes.
"Aeon," Elara, the eldest and wisest of the council, spoke.
"What troubles your spirit?"
Aeon sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"Elara, seventeen years have passed. The World Tree's whispers are silent, offering no guidance on who will inherit the king's legacy."
"Patience," Kael, from the Inner Ring, interjected. "The right moment will come."
"Patience?" Aeon countered, frustration creeping into his voice.
"Without the Pinnacle's power, we are vulnerable."
"The child, born of the union of worlds, destined to inherit the King's legacy. We must have faith." Elara responded
He turned to Elara, his gaze resolute. "Gather the Inner ring, Elara. Find the child. The heir might not be who we expect, but someone chosen by Morwen himself."
Elara bowed her head, "It shall be done,"
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, Aeon stood tall against the twilight sky. The weight of the kingdom pressed upon him, but he was not alone.
He had his comrades, his allies, and the unwavering hope that the heir, wherever they may be, would rise to meet their destiny.
Suddenly, a flicker of movement in the distance. A figure materialized from the twilight, draped in shadows, his laughter echoing across the windswept plains like a chilling melody.
Moros, his obsidian eyes gleaming with malevolent amusement, strolled towards the edge of the shimmering barrier that protected Aethel.
"Well, well," Aeon's voice slithered through the silence,
"look who decided to grace us with their presence tonight." Aeon mocking Moros
Kael's hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword
Moros chuckled, a sound like brittle ice cracking.
"Relax, my dear Kael," he drawled.
"Didn't your mother teach you not to play with sharp objects?"
Aeon, however, remained calm, his gaze fixed on Moros's inscrutable face.
"What brings you here? Surely you wouldn't risk sullying the sacred ground of Aethel with your unwelcome presence?"
Moros raised an eyebrow, a sardonic smile playing on his lips.
"Aeon, where are your manners? Don't tell me you haven't missed your old… brother?"
Aeon scoffed
He raised a hand, silencing Kael's retort with a flick of his wrist.
"Relax. Today, fighting is not on the menu."
"I come bearing news. A declaration, if you will. Twelve moons from now, when the next eclipse paints the sky with darkness, I will return. And this time, Aeon," his voice hardened, the amusement replaced by a chilling certainty,
"I will not come alone."
Aeon's jaw clenched tight, his gaze unwavering. "You clearly underestimate us"
Moros threw his head back and laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed
"Use this time wisely. Prepare your defenses. Train your warriors. And most importantly," he leaned in,
"Prepare your precious prodigy. For when we meet again, it will be a battle unlike any you have ever known."
He gestured towards the sprawling Kingdom of Aethel
"Look around you, Aeon. This magnificent kingdom, built on the bones of past glories, now teeters on the brink. Morwen may have held things together with his brute strength, but without him?"
"This kingdom is nothing but a house of cards, ready to crumble with a single gust of wind."
"Without Morwen, people here are sheep waiting for slaughter."
His smile morphed into a cruel sneer. "You see, Aeon, I could end this all right now. A flick of my wrist, a whisper of power, and your precious barrier crumbles, your city burns, and your people become mere whispers in the wind. But where's the fun in that?"
"Where's the challenge in conquering a kingdom that surrenders itself? No, no, Aeon. I crave a fight, a glorious clash of wills. And what better opponent than the last flicker of King Morwen's legacy?"
"A generous offer, wouldn't you say?" Moros continued, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "A year to prepare your little hero. Consider it a gift, a chance to witness the glorious downfall of your precious kingdom."
With a final, mocking bow, Moros vanished into the shadows as quickly as he had appeared. The barrier pulsed faintly, a testament to the brief intrusion. Kael, his hand still on his sword, turned to Aeon
Aeon watched Elara return in the room, her brow furrowed in confusion, unaware of the chilling exchange that had just transpired.
Aeon gave her a grateful smile. "And the search for the heir?"
"Ongoing," Elara replied