Back in the capital of Isikor, Neel stared into the flickering flames of his hearth, lost in thought. Zodd's words echoed in his mind, the king's obsession with destroying the prophecy looming over him.
For years, Neel had warned Zodd about straying from the path of the ancients, about the dangers of defying fate. But Zodd's hunger for power had clouded his judgment.Now, the chosen one had been born, and Zodd was more dangerous than ever.
Neel knew that the boy, Aric, would not be safe for long. Zodd's men were relentless, and it was only a matter of time before they found Elara and her son.
The seer felt a deep sense of responsibility for what was coming. He had foreseen it, but he had not been able to stop it.He rose slowly, his joints aching from years of disuse, and shuffled over to a dusty bookshelf. His fingers traced the spines of ancient tomes, texts filled with the knowledge of the old gods. He pulled one free and flipped through its pages, searching for a passage he hadn't looked at in decades.
There, in faded ink, was the key."The celestial wolf will mark the one who bears the seed of change, and he shall be guided by the winds and trees, the rivers and stones. In his hands, nature will bend, and the balance of Isikor will be restored."Neel closed the book with a sigh. The prophecy was clear. Aric was the one destined to bring balance, to undo the damage Zodd had done.
But the boy was too young, too inexperienced. He needed time to grow into his power, time that Zodd would not give him.Neel had a choice to make. He could stand by and watch as Zodd hunted down the boy, or he could intervene, using the last of his strength to tip the scales in Aric's favor.His decision made, Neel gathered what little he had left: an ancient staff, a worn cloak, and a few vials of potions. He would leave the castle that night, under the cover of darkness.
The boy needed him, and Neel had one final role to play in the prophecy.As he stepped out into the cold night air, he whispered a prayer to the old gods, hoping they would hear him one last time.