The days that followed Aric's acceptance of his role as the lost heir were tense and uncertain. Kael, Borin, and Elara stayed close, observing the young man as he grappled with the weight of the responsibility that had been thrust upon him. The valley of Eldros was a place of quiet contemplation, where the ancient magic of the land seemed to hum in the air, yet it was also filled with the pressure of expectation.
Aric was not ready. Not yet.
Kael had tried to be patient, to give the young man time to come to terms with his destiny. But with each passing day, Kael felt the urgency growing. The Dark Lord's forces were not waiting for them. Every moment they spent here, armies were marching, cities were falling, and the kingdoms of Drakenor were crumbling.
Standing on a small balcony that overlooked the valley, Kael watched the sun rise. The sky was painted in hues of red and gold, but the beauty of the dawn did little to ease the weight on his shoulders. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Elara approaching, her expression unreadable.
"You're worried," she said softly, joining him at the edge of the balcony.
Kael sighed. "We don't have time for this, Elara. Aric... he's not ready. I don't know if he'll ever be."
Elara glanced out over the valley, her eyes thoughtful. "He's young, Kael. It's a lot to take in. Being told you're the heir to a kingdom you've never known... it's overwhelming."
"I know that," Kael replied, his voice tight with frustration. "But every day we spend here, the Dark Lord's forces grow stronger. The people are counting on us to find a leader, someone who can unite the kingdoms and lead them into battle. I'm not sure Aric is that person."
Elara didn't respond right away, her gaze distant. Finally, she spoke. "He may surprise you. Sometimes, the strength we need comes from the most unexpected places."
Kael frowned, turning to face her fully. "What are you saying?"
Elara smiled faintly. "I'm saying that there's more to Aric than meets the eye. He may not be a warrior yet, but he has the heart of one. He just needs time."
Kael looked away, unsure. "Time is the one thing we don't have."
As they stood in silence, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stone stairs behind them. Kael turned to see Aric approaching, his face pale but resolute. There was something different in his eyes, a flicker of determination that hadn't been there before.
"I need to talk to you," Aric said, his voice steady.
Kael and Elara exchanged a glance before nodding. They followed Aric into one of the temple chambers, where the young man stood before them, hands clasped tightly in front of him.
"I've been thinking," Aric began, his voice quiet but firm. "About everything. About the Dark Lord, about my role as the heir... and about what you're asking me to do."
Kael waited, sensing that Aric wasn't finished.
"I'm not a warrior," Aric continued, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I've never fought in a battle, I've never led an army. I'm not the kind of leader you need."
Kael opened his mouth to respond, but Aric raised a hand to stop him.
"But," Aric said, his voice growing stronger, "I can learn. I may not be ready now, but I'm willing to try. I want to fight for Drakenor, for its people. I want to be the leader they need me to be."
Kael studied him for a long moment, searching the young man's face for any sign of doubt. But there was none. Aric was afraid, that much was clear, but beneath that fear was a glimmer of something more—hope.
Elara stepped forward, placing a hand on Aric's shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone. We'll be with you every step of the way."
Aric looked at her, then at Kael. "I know. And that's why I'm ready to start."
Kael felt a surge of relief, tempered by the knowledge of what lay ahead. The road would be difficult, and the challenges they faced would test Aric in ways he couldn't yet imagine. But for the first time since they had found him, Kael believed that the young heir might actually be capable of rising to the occasion.
"There's a long way to go," Kael said, his voice softer now. "But if you're ready to begin, then we'll start preparing you."
Aric nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "What do I need to do?"
Kael crossed his arms, considering. "We'll start with combat training. You don't need to be the best warrior in the world, but you need to know how to defend yourself. And then we'll move on to strategy. Leadership isn't just about fighting—it's about knowing how to command, how to make decisions that will protect your people."
Aric swallowed hard, but he nodded. "I'm ready."
The following days were grueling. Kael pushed Aric hard, training him in swordsmanship, teaching him how to move, how to defend, and how to attack. Aric was quick to learn, though his body was not yet accustomed to the demands of combat. Each day left him bruised and exhausted, but he never complained.
Borin joined in, helping with the more physical aspects of the training, while Elara focused on honing Aric's mental discipline. She taught him how to remain calm under pressure, how to make quick decisions, and how to anticipate the moves of his enemies.
The young heir struggled at first, but as the days passed, Kael began to see improvement. Aric was no longer the uncertain boy they had found in the temple. He was becoming stronger, more confident. The glimmer of hope they had seen in him was growing, and Kael found himself believing that maybe—just maybe—Aric could become the leader they needed.
One evening, after a particularly intense day of training, Aric sat by the fire with Kael and Elara, exhaustion etched on his face but his eyes still burning with determination.
"I won't let Drakenor fall," Aric said quietly, staring into the flames. "I'll be the leader my people need."
Kael looked at him, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're already on your way."
For the first time in weeks, Kael felt a sense of cautious optimism. The road ahead would still be perilous, but with Aric by their side, there was a chance—a glimmer of hope—that they could succeed.