The boy looked away, his eyes fixed on the ground. This was too much, too much to bear. His whole world had been turned upside down, and he did not know what to do.

The man seemed to sense his hesitation, and he spoke again, his voice soft and reassuring.

"You do not have to believe me now," the man said. "But you will see. You will see that I am right."

With that, the man turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving the boy alone with his thoughts.

The sun had begun to set, and the boy knew he should head home, but his feet would not move. His mind was reeling, and he needed time to think. He sat by the stream, watching the water flow past, his thoughts a jumble of emotions.

The man's words echoed In his head, and the boy could not help but wonder if there was some truth to them. Perhaps he was destined for something more than a life as a farmer's son. Perhaps he was meant for greatness.

He looked down at his palm, tracing the outline of the birthmark. It was no ordinary birthmark; it was the mark of the Dragon Knights. The same mark worn by the heroes of old, the ones who had "aved Eldoria from the brink of destruction. Could it be true? Could he be destined for such a fate?

The boy did not know, but the thought sent a shiver down his spine.

He would not know the answer to those questions for a long time, but one thing was certain: his life had changed forever.