Kael and the mysterious woman fled, gasping, through the winding streets of Eldoria. The guards behind them reverberated, crying out through the narrow alleys, but got fainter with each turn they took, until finally reaching a sequestered court—where the woman drew Kael into the shadows beneath a crumbling archway.
"Who are you?" Kael asked, still clutching the glowing amulet. "And how do you know about the prophecy?"
She glanced about to make sure they were quite alone before speaking. "My name is Aria. I'm with the Order of the Crimson Guard, sworn to protect the secrets of the amulet and to aid the Chosen One."
Kael raised an eyebrow. Skepticism swam plainly on his face. "And you expect me to believe that? You just happen to show up when I find this thing?"
Aria's eyes flashed with urgency. "I've been tracking the amulet for weeks, ever since it resurfaced in the Merchant's Guild. The moment it bonded with you, I knew you were the one."
Kael looked at the amulet. Its faint glow cast an eerie light on their surroundings. "Well, what now? What's so special about this thing?"
Aria took in a deep breath; her voice carried strong. "To touch the Crimson Amulet is to receive a great power—something forged centuries ago by the ancient mages of Aeloria. It is rumored to hold the essence of their magic and the key to ridding the world of the Shadow Guild, yet it is something that will only be wielded by the chosen of the prophecy."
Kael frowned to take in what she was saying. "And who exactly is the Shadowed Guild?"
"The Shadow Guild is a secretive, ruthless group that longs to have all of Aeloria bend under their will," Aria explained. "Lately, they've been after this amulet for years, seeking to use its powers to subdue the kingdom. If they find it, then Aeloria is lost."
Kael's mind was racing. The amulet around his neck felt heavier, for now its significance seemed to sink in. "So, if I am the chosen one, what am I supposed to be doing?"
"The Crimson Guard sanctuary," Aria said. "Some information on the capabilities of the amulet and how we can use it to fight the Shadow Guild. But first, we've got to get out of Eldoria. Sooner or later, the guards will catch up with us."
Kael nodded, his demeanor already set into one of adamant resolve. "Lead the way."
Aria led Kael through back alleys one after the other, through hidden passages. The girl's moves were confident; they were leading somewhere. They approached one building that, from the outside, looked abandoned: the door covered by a curtain of ivy. Aria pushed the ivy aside, revealing a narrow doorway.
"Just this way," she hissed at Kael as she guided him in.
The room was inside, walls dimly lit, decorated as an old library—musty books and age-old maps. Aria was explaining and moving to reveal another secret hatch in the floor. "This tunnel will take us clear across the city; it is an old smuggler's route that few remember."
Kael followed her down the ladder, the tunnel's cool air a stark contrast to the world of people and noise above. They went in silence, the only sound being their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. By the time they at last emerged into the moonlit forest outside Eldoria's walls, what had seemed an endless time spent in darkness was closer to five minutes of walking.
"We should be safe here for now," Aria said, closing the trapdoor behind them. "We can rest for a moment before continuing to the sanctuary."
Kael leaned against a tree, his mind still reeling from the night's events. "Why me, Aria? Why did the amulet choose me?"
Aria gazed at him, with her face overcasting a softer expression. "A hero with a heart pure enough to wield the power of the amulet. Someone who has experienced hardship yet has taken the road to light. The amulet has chosen you, for it saw something in you, Kael—something that even you, probably, have yet to see."
Kael sighed with the weight of that new responsibility that it pressed down on him. "I never asked for this."
"None of us chooses their destiny," Aria said, gentle. "But we can choose how we face it. And you won't be alone. The Crimson Guard will help you, and together we can stop the Shadow Guild."
Kael nodded, a flicker of resolve igniting within him. "O-okay. Now, we have to find this place and decide on the next steps."
As they packed up and got ready to move on, Kael knew, deep down, life would never be the same again. The amulet pulsed against his chest, a slight but insistent reminder of power and destiny inextricably linked to his own. He straightened his shoulders, Aria at his side, and met face-on toward the journey, ready to meet whatever had been waiting...