As Kairon made his way through the dense forest that bordered his village, he kept hearing the stranger's words echoing in his mind. Powers are awakening. The world is changing. And he was caught in the middle of it, whether he liked it or not.
But he wasn't prepared for what—or who—he would encounter next.
As he moved through the trees, he spotted a figure crouched beside a small stream, drinking from the water. The figure wore a long black cloak, and their face was obscured by a hood. Kairon's hand instinctively went to his knife.
The figure's head shot up, and in a flash, they were standing, a dagger gleaming in their hand.
"Who are you?" Kairon demanded, stepping forward cautiously.
The figure slowly lowered their hood, revealing a young woman with sharp, angular features and piercing green eyes. "My name is Elia," she said, her voice calm but guarded. "And if you value your life, you'll stop pointing that knife at me."
Kairon hesitated but didn't lower his weapon. "What are you doing out here?"
Elia smirked, her eyes glinting in the dim light filtering through the trees. "I could ask you the same thing. But something tells me we're both running from something."
Kairon studied her for a moment. There was something dangerous about her, but also something familiar—like she, too, carried a burden she hadn't asked for.
"I'm... leaving my village," Kairon said carefully.
Elia raised an eyebrow. "Running from home. Smart. But the question is, what are you running to?"
Kairon didn't have an answer to that. Not yet.