Ethan Valory never expected his life to change in an instant.
It had been just an ordinary day—school, the typical arguments with his parents, and a dinner that passed by in a blur of half-hearted conversation. The rain had started just as he left his house, a light drizzle turning into a torrential downpour. He was driving too fast, trying to outrun his frustrations. That's when it happened.
The flash of headlights. The screeching of tires. The sickening sound of metal twisting and shattering. Time slowed as the world seemed to collapse in on itself. He tried to swerve, but it was too late. The crash was brutal.
Ethan's vision blurred as pain washed over him, but it wasn't the twisted wreckage of his car that filled his fading sight. Instead, something impossibly bright shone in the distance. A swirling portal of light, its radiance unnatural and hypnotic. It pulsed with energy, a strange force pulling him toward it.
As his consciousness faded, one last thought crossed his mind: *This isn't how it's supposed to end...*
---
Ethan awoke to a world of chaos. The scent of damp earth and smoke filled his nostrils, and the sound of clashing steel echoed in the distance. His eyes snapped open. He wasn't in his car anymore. The familiar urban landscape of his hometown had vanished. Instead, he found himself lying in the middle of a forest clearing, the sky above him a deep shade of crimson as twilight fell over the strange new land.
"What the hell?" Ethan muttered, sitting up with a groan. His body ached, but not from the crash. The pain he'd felt moments before was gone. In its place was a strange, light-headed feeling, as though he'd just woken from a long dream. Yet everything around him felt too real to be a dream.
He pushed himself to his feet, taking in his surroundings. Tall, ancient trees towered above him, their branches twisted and gnarled like something out of a fantasy novel. The ground beneath his feet was uneven, covered in moss and unfamiliar plants. And in the distance, past the tree line, the faint glow of campfires flickered through the approaching dusk.
"Where... am I?" Ethan whispered to himself.
Before he could make sense of the scene, a sharp rustling came from the trees behind him. His heart jumped into his throat as he spun around. Out of the shadows stepped a man, cloaked in dark robes, his face hidden beneath a deep hood.
"Ah," the man said, his voice low and smooth. "The newcomer awakens."
Ethan tensed. "Who are you? Where am I?"
The man raised a hand, as if to calm him. "You're in Valantria, young one. A place far from the world you once knew. I imagine this is all quite confusing for you."
"Confusing?" Ethan's voice rose in disbelief. "I was just in a car crash, and now I'm... here? Wherever *here* is!"
The cloaked man's lips curled into a small smile. "Your arrival was foretold, though the circumstances are... unusual. You were brought here by forces beyond your understanding, Ethan Valory."
Ethan froze. "How do you know my name?"
The man stepped closer, his hooded figure casting an eerie shadow in the fading light. "I know much about you, Ethan. You've been marked by destiny. Valantria has called you for a reason."
"Destiny?" Ethan's voice was thick with skepticism. "I don't believe in any of that. I just want to go home."
"I'm afraid there is no going back," the man said, his tone now serious. "At least, not until you've fulfilled your purpose here. You were brought to Valantria for a reason, and that reason is tied to the fate of this world."
Ethan stared at him, struggling to process everything. His mind raced, grasping for some logical explanation, but none came. The crash. The portal. This strange land. And now this man, speaking of destiny and fate.
Before he could respond, the sound of distant war drums began to echo through the forest. The man's head snapped up, his body tensing.
"We don't have time," he said urgently, grabbing Ethan by the arm. "They're coming."
"Who's coming?" Ethan demanded, trying to pull away, but the man's grip was like iron.
"The Dark Sovereign's agents," the man replied, his voice grim. "They've sensed your arrival. We need to move—now."
Ethan's mind was spinning, but something about the man's urgency stirred a deep sense of fear in his chest. Whoever—or whatever—was coming, it wasn't good.
"Okay," Ethan said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Let's go."
The man released his grip and nodded. "Follow me. Stay close."
With that, the two of them took off through the forest, the man moving with a speed and agility that seemed impossible for someone of his age. Ethan struggled to keep up, his legs burning as they navigated the uneven terrain. The sound of the war drums grew louder, accompanied by the faint clattering of armor and the low, guttural growls of something inhuman.
"Who are these agents?" Ethan called out, breathless as they ran.
"They are servants of the Dark Sovereign," the man replied over his shoulder. "Creatures twisted by dark magic, bound to do their master's bidding. And they will stop at nothing to capture you."
"Why me?" Ethan asked, frustration and fear mixing in his voice. "I don't even belong here!"
"You carry within you a power they crave," the man said cryptically. "A power that could change the course of this world's fate—for better or for worse."
Ethan didn't have time to ask what that meant, as they suddenly burst into a clearing. Ahead of them, a stone structure loomed, half-hidden by the thick foliage. It was ancient, its walls covered in vines and moss, but it radiated an unmistakable aura of magic.
The man sprinted toward the entrance, gesturing for Ethan to follow. "Inside! Hurry!"
Ethan didn't need to be told twice. As they approached the entrance, a loud roar echoed from behind them, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps crashing through the forest. Ethan glanced over his shoulder, his blood running cold at the sight of hulking, armored figures emerging from the trees. Their eyes glowed a sickly green, and their bodies seemed to ripple with dark energy.
"Go!" the man urged, shoving Ethan through the door just as the creatures reached the edge of the clearing.
Ethan stumbled into the stone chamber, breathing heavily as the man slammed the door shut behind them. The noise of the creatures outside was muffled, but Ethan could still hear their guttural growls and the scraping of claws against stone.
"That was too close," Ethan panted, his heart racing.
The man nodded, leaning against the door as he caught his breath. "They won't stop. We're safe for now, but they'll keep hunting you."
Ethan looked around the chamber, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The walls were covered in strange symbols and carvings, and a faint blue glow emanated from the floor. The air was thick with the scent of ancient magic, a sensation that sent a shiver down his spine.
"What is this place?" Ethan asked, his voice low.
"A sanctuary," the man replied, pushing back his hood to reveal a face lined with age and wisdom. His silver hair gleamed in the faint light, and his eyes were sharp and intense. "One of the few remaining places untouched by the Dark Sovereign's influence."
Ethan took a step back, finally getting a good look at the man. "Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly. "My name is Magnus Toren. I am... a guide of sorts, for those like you."
"Like me?" Ethan repeated, frowning. "I don't have any powers. I'm just a normal guy."
Magnus shook his head. "You are far from ordinary, Ethan. You may not realize it yet, but there is great power within you—power that has drawn the attention of the Dark Sovereign. That is why you were brought here, to Valantria. This world needs you."
Ethan shook his head, disbelief washing over him again. "This can't be happening. I didn't ask for any of this. I just want to go home."
Magnus's expression softened. "I understand. But whether you wanted it or not, the fate of Valantria is now tied to you. And if you do not embrace your destiny, this world will fall to darkness."
Ethan stared at the floor, his mind racing. None of this made any sense, but the gravity in Magnus's voice was undeniable. The creatures hunting him, the ancient magic that pulsed through the air, the strange pull he felt toward this place—it all felt real. Too real to ignore.
"What do I have to do?" Ethan asked finally, his voice barely audible.
Magnus stepped forward, placing a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "First, we must awaken the magic within you. Only then will you be able to stand against the Dark Sovereign and his forces."
Ethan swallowed hard. "And if