Suddenly, a massive creature lunged from the trees—a beast, its fur matted and wild, eyes gleaming with hunger. It was unlike anything Elian had ever seen, towering over him, its claws glinting in the dappled sunlight.
Without thinking, Elian dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's swipe. His heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet and ran, the beast hot on his heels. He could hear its heavy breathing, the sound of its claws tearing through the earth behind him.
But Elian knew these woods. He had spent years mapping them, exploring every hidden path and secret trail. As the beast closed in, he veered off the main path, diving through a thicket of trees that led to a narrow stream. The beast hesitated at the edge, unwilling to follow him through the water.
Breathing heavily, Elian continued his journey, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. The cave was close now, just beyond the next ridge.
Finally, he found himself at the mouth of a small, hidden cave, just as the map had indicated. Taking a deep breath, he pushed aside the vines covering the entrance and stepped inside.
The darkness was overwhelming, the cave silent as he moved deeper into the shadows. His footsteps echoed as he navigated the uneven ground. Suddenly, a faint glow caught his eye—a blue shimmer in the dim light. Elian's heart pounded as he approached it. In the center of the small chamber, half-buried in the rocky floor, was a fragment of something—glass-like, yet pulsating faintly as if alive. It shimmered like a piece of sky frozen in time.
He reached out and carefully lifted the shard, feeling its cool surface. As he held it up to the dim light, strange patterns shimmered across its surface, reflecting an eerie yet beautiful glow. But what truly shocked him was the faint voice that echoed in his mind.
"Well, well," the voice sneered. "It's about time someone found me."
Elian nearly dropped the shard in surprise, his heart racing. "W-who are you?"
"I'm the Great Sky but Now The Shattered Sky, kid," the voice replied. "Or at least a part of it. And now, it seems, I'm stuck with you."
Elian stammered, unsure of what to say. But before he could think of a response, the shard's glow grew dim, and the voice faded away, leaving him in silence. He tucked the shard into his satchel, a sense of determination welling up within him. Whatever this shard was, it had to be connected to his father's mysterious past.
Back in Valenhelm, Elian had returned home, clutching the shard tightly. That evening, as he sat in his room, he took out the shard once more, feeling its faint warmth. And to his astonishment, when he held it up to an old, faded letter from his father, words he hadn't seen before began to appear, faint and almost glowing.
"Elian," the letter read. "If you're reading this, then my time has passed. I have left you the Shard of Sky.I wish I have spend more time with you or at least told you where Im going but sorry son I have a very big responsibility and I have to go.Keep this shard safe, and above all, never let them know you have it."
Elian's eyes widened. "Them…?" he whispered, glancing around as if someone might overhear."This was his last letter and he didn't even mention anything about mother " He said,
As he read on, the letter spoke of a forgotten history—a war among gods, a conflict that had torn the very sky itself. The shard in his possession was one of many fragments left after the war, each containing power that most could only dream of.
"My son," the letter began, *"I am sorry I could not tell you everything. My work with the empire's secret force led me to uncover something long forgotten—the shattered sky. Long ago, a great calamity split the sky, and with it, pieces of powerful magic scattered across the world. I believed I could control them, but I was wrong. Each fragment is imbued with a power that could change the course of history—if they fall into the wrong hands, it could spell doom for us all."
Elian's breath caught in his throat. This was the answer he had sought. His father had been involved in something larger, something dangerous.
"Follow the fragments, Elian. They hold the key to understanding what happened and to finding me again. The world is changing, and you must be ready."
The letter faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Elian stunned, clutching the fragment tightly. He could feel a surge of energy within it, a sense of purpose.
Elian's breath caught in his throat. This was the answer he had sought. His father had been involved in something larger, something dangerous.
"Follow the fragments, Elian. They hold the key to understanding what happened and to finding me again. The world is changing, and you must be ready."
The letter faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Elian stunned, clutching the fragment tightly. He could feel a surge of energy within it, a sense of purpose.
As the night deepened , Elian lay awake, staring up at the ceiling, his thoughts spinning with everything he'd learned and the mysteries that lay ahead. He felt the weight of the shard in his satchel, its presence both comforting and unsettling. For the first time in years, he felt as though his father was right there with him, guiding him toward something far bigger than he could comprehend.
He take out that fragment from his bag, quickly."What are you and what has happened to my father?" He asked,
The shard was silent for a moment, as if considering the question. *"Your Father is no more in this world". The Shard said,
Elian got insanely shocked like his world just got upside down and he begins to cry but he quickly stops "I Know this already or otherwise he would have come to see me" He said.
The Fragment said, "You Father died in order to protect the fragments from getting in bad hands ,and he have trusted you with this job".
Elian got deep in thoughts.A knock at his door startled him, and he quickly hid the shard.
It was Liana, carrying a small basket. "I brought you some food," she said with a gentle smile. "You look like you haven't eaten all day."
Elian smiled, accepting the basket. "Thanks, Liana. You're a lifesaver."
Liana lingered in the doorway, hesitating. "Elian, you can talk to me, you know? About whatever you're dealing with. I know you, and I can see something's on your mind."
Elian hesitated, glancing at the satchel on his bed where the shard was hidden. "It's... complicated," he replied, unsure how much he should reveal. "There's something important I'm trying to figure out, something to do with my father."
She stepped closer, her eyes warm and earnest. "Whatever it is, I'll be here. You're not alone in this."
Her words gave him a comfort he hadn't realized he needed, and he nodded, giving her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Liana.
He said, "There is some work that my father has trusted me with but he is no longer alive so should I even do that work?".
She said, "Well,I dont know clearly about Uncle but I have heard that he was quite a nice person...So if he had given you some work that means he have trusted you and you should do this work becuase it will be the memory that connects you with your father".
After Liana left, he was in deep thoughts and he suddenly falls asleep....In his dream he first time saw his mother ,She was also going away with his father.
TO BE CONTINUED...