The entire forest was engulfed in a raging sea of flames, an inferno that had erupted without warning and had scorched everything in its path with relentless, unyielding fury.
The acrid smell of smoke choked the air, suffocating the living creatures and leaving them with no chance of escape. To make matters worse, the night winds howled fiercely, fanning the already ferocious wildfire into an even more devastating blaze. The once serene woodland had transformed into a hellish landscape of blazing destruction.
Within the chaos, a young boy struggled to survive. Alone and desperate, he relied on his magic to see through the thick smog. However, his magic was limited, and using it to sustain himself had taken a toll on him. He had never pushed himself to his limits before, and now, the effort was weakening him with each passing moment.
Everywhere he turned, he saw the same sight: burning trees and charred earth. Encircled by the relentless inferno, despair washed over him as he grasped the bitter truth: there was no way out for him. He knew he was lost in every sense of the word.
As a young boy alone in the burning woods, it had taken everything from him to survive up to this point. Overwhelmed by hunger and fatigue, the young boy's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, utterly drained of energy.
Lying on the ground, watching the intense flames burn in front of him, he knew he couldn't keep his promise.
He drew upon the recent memories of his mother, the woman who had forced him to continue living without her. Unfamiliar with the world beyond his own small existence, it took the weight of her dying breath for him to reluctantly accept her promise. The sorrow of her absence and the burden of her final wish weighed heavily on his heart, a constant reminder of the sacrifice she had made for him.
It had just been a few hours since he left her, yet here he was, returning to her loving arms.
He was certain his mother would scold him if they ever met again. Though the prospect of seeing her required his own death, he didn't feel as disheartened as he might have expected. He had tried his best, and in the end, the thought of finally reuniting with his family brought a bittersweet comfort. It was a solace tinged with sadness, knowing that only in death could he find the warmth he had lost.
But then, the thought of his younger brother struck him like a bolt of lightning.
His brother, away at school when the attacks broke out, had a latent talent for magic. Sent to the prestigious Helvaska Academy to develop his abilities, it had been almost a year since their last meeting.
If he died now, his younger brother would be left all alone in the world, with no family to turn to.
It was only then that he understood the true meaning behind his mother's promise. Though it felt cruel for her to ask him to live without her, he knew her request was born from a deep love for both her children. She wanted him to survive, no matter the cost, even if it meant sacrificing herself.
Tears welled in his eyes, not from sadness but from a profound sense of hopelessness. His strong will could not compensate for the power he lacked, and his weakened body felt like a cruel betrayal. Despite his desperate desire to live, his fate seemed sealed, and the crushing weight of his helplessness threatened to consume him entirely. Desperation clawed at his heart, each beat a reminder of how powerless he truly was.
He cursed himself for his weakness. Looking up at the night sky, he prayed to any gods, or even the devil, who might be listening. If anyone could hear his plea, he begged them to grant his wish. He was willing to pay any price, just to have the chance to live.
It was at the moment of his desperate wish that the ground suddenly shook beneath him. The winds intensified, swirling around a single point as they drew magic from the very air. A light blue hue emerged from the accumulated energy, gradually shaping itself into a portal. From the depths of its darkness, a figure began to materialize.
At first, he wondered if he was dreaming. Yet as he saw the small figure stepping closer, a surreal sense of wonder washed over him, as if she herself were the dream he had longed for.
She was utterly breathtaking.
The light from the portal illuminated her flawless ivory skin, making it glow with an ethereal radiance in the darkness. Her long, dark blue hair flowed like a silken waterfall, swaying gently in the wind but never obscuring her perfect face. Her eyes, deep and shimmering like the night sky, held an otherworldly allure.
As she stepped forward, another figure emerged from the portal behind her. This taller figure shared her striking features but bore the marks of age, with hair of a different hue. The contrast only heightened the younger girl's enchanting beauty, making her seem like a vision of pure grace and elegance.
The taller person, her face composed and serene, snapped her fingers. With a simple gesture, a powerful gust of wind extinguished all the surrounding fires. Without uttering a single incantation, the intense flames that had raged for hours vanished in an instant.
"Is this the one you have chosen?" the older figure inquired.
By then, the young girl was beside him, extending her hand. It took him by surprise when she tenderly caressed his face, a wave of familiarity washing over him.
He stared at her, captivated by her eyes, each a blend of summer greenery and the deep blue sea. Her eyes held a vivid vibrancy, the two colors entwined yet distinctly divided by her pupil, which reflected his own image within it.
In all his young life, he had never seen such unique eye color before. Despite his inexperience, he sensed a hidden power within those captivating eyes, a depth that both intrigued and comforted him.
Her presence was a blend of compelling charisma and a delicate beauty, making her irresistibly endearing. There was an undeniable warmth in her gaze that made his heart flutter.
The way she looked at him was unlike anything he had ever seen. Her expression was poignant, yet her touch radiated warmth and affection. He would only come to understand the true depth of that look, half a century later.
Gently wiping the soot from his cheek, she turned to face the older woman behind her. "I did not choose him, grandmother," she said, her voice so silvery and soft that he knew it would linger in his dreams. "He was already chosen."
"You mean he's him?" Her grandmother joined her side, her eyes narrowing in scrutiny.
"Yes, shortly after I left the Crimson Valley," the young girl confirmed.
The older woman sighed, studying him closely. Her expression was complex, a look that would have etched wrinkles on the face of any other elder. If it weren't for the young girl addressing her as grandmother, he would have never guessed her true age, for she possessed an almost ageless beauty.
The entire situation left him bewildered. Whether they were sent by God or the Devil, he couldn't tell. But there was a part of him that desperately hoped they were his saviours. As he gazed at the young girl, a deep yearning welled up within him, a longing for understanding and connection.
Mustering the last of his strength, he asked weakly, "Who...are you?"
The young girl didn't answer but stood up, her touch leaving him, making him feel colder than ever before. He reached out, trying to grasp her, desperate for her to stay, though he didn't fully understand why.
Her grandmother took her place, placing her hand over him and reciting an incantation in an unknown language.
Her magic lifted him from the ground, the mighty winds obeying her command. He had no idea what was happening, but he clung to the hope that his wish was being granted. The memory of the young girl's gaze provided a fragile comfort.
As he turned to look at her, he saw tears forming, droplets the same color as her eyes. It felt like he was seeing her for the last time, and a profound yearning filled his heart.
In that moment, he finally understood the feeling. Her expression mirrored the one his mother had worn before she left him, a blend of sorrow and love that made his heartache.
She stood at a distance, her lips moving in silent words. Despite the deafening winds, he swore he could hear her voice clearly.
"Let's meet again, Zadryss."