The moon held in the sky, above Eldoria, its round face glowing down in silver to the city of Solara, ancient in the land. In the midst of Terra Kingdom, overlooking the rolling plains that stretched for miles in every direction, Solara loomed across the plains, each majestic stone tower and garden holding whispers of forgotten magic. It was through these tranquil streets that a young boy named Arin pounded his heart towards the outskirts.
Arin, an orphan with tousled brown hair and emerald eyes, spent most of his sixteen years as an apprentice at old Master Yorin's potion shop. That pungent smell of herbs mixed with the soft glow from enchanted potions created an atmosphere soothing to Arin. But tonight, something restless tugged at him, drawing him toward the ruins of that ancient library lying abandoned beyond the city walls.
Legends shadowed the ruins, shrouded by mystery, remnants of a great academy of magic. Eldoria's elders warned of perils; however, Arin found much difficulties in letting his curiosity slide for so many untold secrets amidst these crumbling stones. His interest in magic was much more than mere curiosity; it was something like burning desire, searching a place for himself in the world that seemed not to take notice of him at all.
Lantern in hand, flickering, Arin crept through a dense forest that guarded the ruins. Ancient, gnarled trees stood around him, watching silently. Every step deeper into the woods, he felt he was going into the unknown, into the realm of forbidden knowledge. The path was overgrown, and Arin had to struggle through thick undergrowth and twisted vines. The forest had come to life at night, filled with the calling of creatures, eyes glowing right out of the darkness, but that did not deter Arin.
After an eternity, he saw the trees thin ahead, and there in the moon's weird light were the ruins. The remains of a library stood like silent sentinels, its upstairs arches now crumbling and smothered in ivy. Thus, the stone pillars lay, broken and strewn apart upon the ground, which was engirdled with fragments of stained glass from the great windows depicting glorious scenes of magical history.
Heart pounding, Arin stepped into the shadowy remains of the library. Dust hung heavy in the air, redolent with forgotten knowledge. Shelves, once filled with tomes on wisdom, now lay broken and vacant. The floor was strewn with scrolls and parchments yellowed by years of age. Yet something called to him—a very quiet whisper carried on the wind deeper into darkness.
Arin followed the whisper, his lantern throwing eerie shadows off the stone walls. Down a spiraling staircase he went, the echoes of each step ringing in the silence. Deeper and deeper he dropped, into where the whispers were stronger, until they seemed to surround him, guiding him toward some hidden chamber. At the very bottom of the stairs, he found himself in a great underground room. In the center was a pedestal, and on it an incredibly old book in dark leather, with shining runes inscribed thereupon.
Now it was that a shaking Arin walked to where the pedestal was. The book pulsed with life, almost as though it had a life of its own, with pages rustling in anticipation. He reached out to touch the cover, and some sort of strange energy coursed through him. Whispers, louder now, clearer, and the words could almost be sorted.
"Release the power within," said the book, beckoning. "Unlock the secrets of the Eldritch."
Some unknown force would have driven Arin to open the book. Its pages glowed much brighter, and ancient symbols danced in front of his eyes. As he started reading aloud, the chamber filled with resonant humming. The air was charged with electricity, and from the book, a chasm of light burst forth, completely covering him.
Pain and power lit his body. He felt his mind open up, his senses shift. Images of ancient battles, powerful mages, and forgotten spells flooded his consciousness. And then, as suddenly as it began, the light subsided, leaving him breathless and trembling.
The whispers had fallen silent, but another presence rustled inside him, latent power straining to break free into the world. He closed the book, its weight, its significance, in his hands. Eldritch Magic, forbidden and revered energy that could alter reality itself. A very essence of ancient power, unlike this magic, willfully bending fabric of the world.
Clutching the book to his chest, he stumbled back to Solara with each step as more and more questions seemed to jump out from everywhere to him. He felt he had stumbled upon something out of this world, something that would change his life once and for all. With such power came danger, though, and he couldn't shake off the smell he was being watched. As he turned back, he made his way through the forest, sure to catch every rustle of leaves and every breaking of twig. The woods, which before were only ancient and silent, now felt alive with unseen eyes, unheard whispers.
The city of Solara gleamed golden at dawn as he emerged from the forest. His encounter in the night made the streets, just stirring with early risers, surreal to Arin. He increased his stride through the waking streets, his resolve renewed to uncover the secrets of Eldritch Magic. He wanted guidance, and there was only one he could trust: Master Yorin.
Back at the shop of magic potions, Arin found Master Yorin hunched over some bubbling cauldron, mumbling incantations. The old man looked up, and his eyes widened in worry at the sight of the book in Arin's hands.
"Gods, Arin," whispered Yorin, his voice shaking, "what have you done?
Arin sucked in a deep breath to tell of his adventure into the ruins, the finding of the book, and the surge of energy that had washed through him. Yorin listened with interest, shifting from worry to near awe. The old master had seen much in his life, but the Eldritch Tome was legend, a relic lost to time.
"You have found the Eldritch Tome," Yorin finally said. "This is no ordinary magic, Arin. Eldritch Magic is ancient, perilous to its masters alone. It's a power able to protect and destroy alike."
Arin nodded, heavy with Yorin's words. "I need to understand it, Master. I need to know the ways to control it."
Yorin sighed and placed a hand on Arin's shoulder. "Very well, but we must be cautious. The kingdoms will not take kindly to the resurgence of Eldritch Magic. We'll begin your training in secret, and you must promise to be vigilant."
"I promise," Arin said, determination burning in his eyes.
As the first gleams of light pierced into the horizon, Arin felt a sense of purpose finally settle within him. More than that, he was to expect a lot of trouble on this journey ahead. Eldritch Tome in hand, aided by Master Yorin's guidance, he walked the course leading him towards solving both Eldoria's deepest mysteries and the ones connected with his own destiny.
Something about this old potion shop was changed now; it smelled of the beginning of something vast and unknown. He glanced once more at the book before tucking it away. The first step into a considerable larger world, with no turning back, had been taken by Arin. Hence, resolute determination began to set in his heart as Arin prepared to dive headfirst into the secrets of the Eldritch—unaware of great adventures and powerful enemies to come.
The city of Solara outside was slowly waking up. The noises of rising merchants arranging their stalls, children's laughter, and far-off tolling blended into the air. Arin took a deep breath, feeling that this was a moment to be absorbed. He could feel the presence of something momentous that he was threshold-stancing. The future was dim, but he was ready with his Eldritch Tome and Master Yorin's help for whatever lay ahead.
As Arin and Master Yorin began their secretive trainings, the world of Eldoria continued turning as usual, ignorant of the events whereby mighty forces came into being within its borders. Still, as far as Arin was concerned, every lesson learned and every spell mastered would bring him closer towards realizing what he was truly able to do—the understanding of his real nature and the role ordained for him by the fate of his world.