The night was cold, the stars barely visible through the thick canopy of trees overhead. The mages had gathered around a large fire they had built in the center of their makeshift camp, their dark robes blending with the shadows cast by the flickering flames. The crackling of the fire was the only sound that broke the eerie silence of the night, save for the occasional muttering of the mages as they chanted, laying down what Kael could only assume were protective enchantments.
Kael and Mia sat huddled together, a large cloth wrapped around their small forms. It was Kael's idea to keep Mia close—he needed to feel her near him, to protect her in any way he could. Mia clung to him, her face buried in his side, her body trembling against him. Despite the warmth of the fire, Kael could feel the cold creeping into his bones, but it was nothing compared to the freezing terror that had settled in his heart.
He glared at the mages, their strange words filling the air like an incantation he couldn't understand. He knew nothing of mages beyond the stories—tales of wise old men and powerful spellcasters who could bend the world to their will. But these mages weren't the wise, benevolent figures of legend. They were cold, ruthless, and had taken everything from him and Mia.
As Kael continued to brood, Austin settled down next to them. His scarred face caught the light of the fire, casting shadows across his features, making him appear even more menacing than before. His milky eyes stared ahead, and despite his blindness, Kael had the unsettling feeling that Austin saw more than anyone in the camp.
Kael's newfound resolve urged him to speak. He had to know why they were still alive—why, after everything, these mages hadn't killed him and Mia.
Taking a deep breath, Kael asked, his voice trembling but determined, "Why haven't you killed us yet?"
Mia flinched at the question, her grip on Kael tightening. Austin turned his head slightly, a smirk playing at the corners of his scarred lips. He chuckled lowly, the sound rough and humorless.
"You're quite something," Austin said, his voice gravelly but oddly calm. "Most would still be weeping over their parents, unable to form a coherent thought. But here you are, asking questions already. Impressive."
Kael clenched his fists, forcing himself to meet Austin's gaze. His mind flashed back to the moment his parents had died, the explosion of blood, the helplessness he had felt. But now, there was something else—a burning need for answers, for understanding, even if it hurt him more.
Austin shifted slightly, still amused. "To answer your question, we had our orders. The Kingdom wanted you two alive. After all, the bloodline of Eldenwood has been found."
Kael furrowed his brow. "Eldenwood?" He had heard the name before, but only as the name of his village. He didn't understand what Austin was talking about. "What does Eldenwood have to do with us?"
Austin raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Kael's ignorance. "You mean you don't know? Your mother never told you?"
Kael shook his head, his confusion growing. All he knew was that his last name was the same as his father's—nothing more. He hadn't even known his mother's family name.
Austin chuckled again, this time with a hint of pity. "Lira never told you, did she? Well, boy, Eldenwood isn't just the name of your village. It's the name of your mother's lineage—a line that traces back to one of the greatest mages to ever walk this earth."
Kael's heart pounded in his chest. His mother? A great lineage?
Austin's voice lowered as he continued, his words carrying weight. "Your ancestor, Eldenwood, was a mage of immense power. His first name has long been forgotten, but his deeds are carved into the history of magic. He tamed dragons, moved mountains, shaped the world with his will. The blood of that man runs through your veins. And through your sister's."
Kael's mind reeled at the revelation. His mother… he had always thought she was just a simple farmer's wife, a loving but ordinary woman. But now, as he remembered her, he realized there had always been something more to her. Her skill with menial tasks, the way she always seemed to do things effortlessly—it all began to make sense. She had always been more than she let on.
Austin leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Your mother's father, Kaedric, wasn't much. But it was the ancestor—Eldenwood himself—who left a mark on your bloodline. That's why we were ordered to find you. The Kingdom has been searching for a descendant of Eldenwood for centuries."
Kael's breath caught in his throat. He had heard enough to understand. His family had been killed because of this lineage—because of something they couldn't control.
"Why did you have to kill them?" Kael asked, his voice breaking as his eyes filled with tears. "Why my parents?"
Austin sighed, as if the question was tedious. "Your mother was too old to learn the skills we need. The bloodline is carried more strongly in females, you see. The Y chromosome in males leans toward warrior talent, while the magic flows more freely through the women."
Kael tried to follow, but Austin's words began to lose him as the mage rambled on about bloodlines, magic, and something called epigenetics. Kael's focus drifted away from the conversation and back to Mia, who was still clinging to him, her body trembling in fear. She looked so small, so fragile, and it tore Kael apart to see her like this.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay calm for her sake. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her everything would be alright, but the truth was, he didn't know if they'd survive the night. He didn't know what these mages had planned for them, and that terrified him more than anything.
Austin glanced at Mia and smirked. "Lucky for us, the prophecy mentioned both a son and a daughter. Two for the price of one, it seems."
Kael's stomach churned with rage, but he forced himself to remain still. Fear coursed through him, but he wouldn't let these mages see it—not if he could help it.
As Kael stared into the fire, the light flickering in his eyes, he vowed to himself that he would protect Mia. He would find a way to get them both out of this nightmare. Even if it took everything he had, he would save her.
And then, when the time came, he would make these people pay for everything they had done.