A new day had dawned with the very echo of clashing swords, the far-off hum of harnessed energy. Kael moved across the courtyard of the sanctuary now with a more confident air about him. Where each of his swings of the weapon had carried slightly more edge, each of his channelings into the amulet's power had been a bit more precise. The training was heavy, but he paid it off through feeling it in his muscles, in his mind. He was a warrior.
She stood off a ways, her eyes holding some measure of pride as well as concern. Kael was certainly improving, but she knew that power without wisdom could be a dangerous thing. After the morning drills, she approached him.
"Kael," she said, gesturing for him to follow, "there's something you need to see."
They walked in silence through winding corridors, the stone walls of the sanctuary lined with tapestries depicting battles and heroes from Aeloria's past. They finally came to a large iron-bound door, which Aria pushed open to reveal a chamber unlike any Kael had seen before.
"The room was vast, littered with ancient scrolls, books, and artifacts. There was a ridiculously large, elaborately carved table at the center, with maps and diagrams all over it. Air heavy with the scent of aged parchment and the weight of history. "This," Aria started, "is the heart of the Crimson Guard's knowledge. Inside here are every secret, every strategy, every lesson learned over so many centuries."
Kael rose and crossed over to the table, his eyes flicking down over the maps. "Why show me this?"
"Because you need to understand what you're fighting for," Aria said. "And what's at stake."
She picked up a scroll from the table; it was frayed with age, the edges beginning to tear. "This is the tale of the Crimson Guard," she stated, rolling it free to show a collection of meticulous illustrations and text faded with years. "We were founded during the first great war, when Aeloria stood on the brink of destruction. For all that time, our purpose was to protect the realm from the shadows that walk in darkness. And now, that darkness is rising again."
Kael listened with bated interest, as Aria regaled him on the history of the Guard: ancient battles and heroes who had given everything to save the realm from destruction. But she continued, her voice somber.
"There's something else," she said, handing Kael another scroll. "Something that we haven't talked about in generations."
Kael gingerly unrolled the scroll, and the text within was in some language he did not recognize. The illustrations told their tale quite clearly, however. There was, once more, a great battle—but this time, it was a Crimson Guard defeat. There, standing over fallen warriors, was a figure shrouded in darkness, wielding a blade that seemed to absorb light around it.
"What is this?" Kael demanded in a voice barely above a whisper.
"This," Aria said, "is the prophecy of an ancient enemy — one which the Guard fought before and one that would rise again. This time, it is said, only through the amulet's chosen can it be defeated."
Kael suddenly felt a chill warm down his spine. "You think this is about me?"
Aria nodded. "I do. But there's more. The prophecy also mentions a weapon, one that can tip the balance in our favour. It's hidden somewhere in Aeloria, waiting to be found."
"Then we need to find it," Kael said, his determination renewed.
"Yes," Aria agreed. "Now, another thing. There've been whispers of betrayal in the Guard. We don't know who or why, but might somebody work against us from the inside?"
The revelation hit Kael like a punch to the gut. He had grown to trust members of the Crimson Guard, to view them as allies. The thought that one among them was a traitor was almost too much to bear.
"We will need to be careful," Aria said, her hand on Kael's shoulder. "Trust no one, not fully. We cannot afford to be caught off guard."
Kael nodded, the weight of new knowledge pressing down upon his shoulders. But there wasn't time to dwell on that now. They had a mission to prepare for.
---
The rest of the day just blurred into one big preparation time. Kael and Aria gathered supplies, poured over maps, and worked on their route. It would be a long and dangerous journey, far away from the security of the sanctuary. But he knew it had to be done. The fate of Aeloria depended upon it.
As they started to pack their gear, Kael could almost taste the tension in the others. There seemed to hang an unspoken air of competition, which now that Kael's advancement was becoming obvious, fanned to new heights of conflict. One particular trainee—a tall, warrior with strong shoulders, going by the name of Thorne—sneered at Kael.
"Off on some special mission, are we?" Thorne said, his tone laced with resentment.
Kael gazed up from his pack. "Part of the training."
"Right," answered Thorne with narrow eyes. "With power in mind, remember one strong lesson: skill can be your only hope at times."
Kael locked eyes with him without wavering. "I'll keep it in mind."
The exchange had Kael on edge. He knew he just made an enemy of Thorne, possibly others as well. But he could ill afford to worry about that now. His focus must be on the mission.
---
Night had begun, and Kael, with Aria by his side, stood at the entrance of the sanctuary, their packs on their shoulders. There to send him off was Master Elion.
"Just be careful out there," Elion said, his face serious. "The way you are going to undertake is filled with dangers, but keep in mind that you are not alone in this. The amulet shall lead you."
Kael nodded. "We will get the weapon and make this prophecy anything but true."
Elion hit Kael on the shoulder with his hand. "I trust in you, Kael. You've come a long way, but the journey ahead will be your greatest challenge yet."
With these words, Kael and Aria set off into the night, accompanied by the looming shadows of the mountains. The road ahead was uncertain and filled with perils. But in some way, Kael felt more purpose than he had ever felt in his life. He was willing to go head-on into whatever lay before him, to discover the secrets of the Crimson Guard, and to fulfill his destiny.