Elian and Isla were standing at the edge of a vast, fog-covered valley. The map they'd acquired from the old man pointed straight into this wilderness, supposedly to where the next fragment of a magical book lay hidden. They'd been traveling for hours, and the silence between them was only occasionally interrupted by Isla's loud sighs of impatience.
"So, are you sure this is the place?" Isla asked, crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow.
Elian unfolded the map, squinting at the intricate drawings. "Well, it says here, 'The Valley of Rairuma is home to the guardian of the fragment.' This… has to be it, right?"
She gave him a doubtful look. "I don't trust your navigation skills."
Elian make a funny face and said, "Well, You don't have any other option".
With a shrug, Isla looked down into the misty valley. "Fine. If we're wrong, you owe me dinner for the next three days."
Elian chuckled. "Deal. But I'll be right."
Together, they carefully made their way into the valley. As they went deeper, a chilling breeze seemed to wrap around them, whispering ominous warnings. Despite his confident words earlier, Elian felt the hairs on his neck prickling. Something powerful was nearby.
Suddenly, the fog parted, and in front of them stood a massive, armored beast. It looked like a lion but stood on two legs, towering over them with shimmering, stone-like scales covering its body. Its eyes glowed a bright golden hue, filled with wisdom—and a hint of curiosity.
"Well, that's definitely the guardian," Isla said, gripping her weapon, her voice low but unwavering.
The creature spoke, its voice booming and resonating through the valley. "I am Kael-Tyrion, Keeper of the Forgotten Powers. If you seek the fragment, prove your worth. Only the pure-hearted and strong of will shall claim it."
Isla smirked. "Bring it on, big guy."
Without warning, she lunged forward, her weapon sparking with energy as she aimed for Kael-Tyrion's leg. But the beast barely flinched, sweeping its massive paw and sending her skidding back. She groaned, annoyed but undeterred. "Alright, maybe this guy's tougher than I thought."
Elian jumped in, summoning his energy into his hands and unleashing a series of quick attacks. But the guardian easily blocked them, its eyes never leaving Elian's face, as though studying him.
"Is this all the strength you possess?" Kael-Tyrion asked, his voice echoing with disappointment.
Elian gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the throbbing ache from Kael-Tyrion's powerful strikes. But in the middle of his efforts, memories of his father surfaced—his father's encouraging words, the moments of training together, the times he'd fallen only to rise stronger.
"Remember, Elian," his father's voice echoed in his mind, "true strength comes not from power alone but from purpose."
Despite his best efforts, Elian found himself overwhelmed. Every strike he threw was countered with twice the force, his sword barely grazing the beast's thick armor. Kael-Tyrion's movements were swift and brutal, each attack stronger than the last, pushing Elian to the edge of his limits.
Why am I even fighting? Elian thought, panting as he struggled to stay on his feet, his sword heavy in his hand. What reason do I have to fulfill my father's wish? This isn't even my burden… He took care of the fragment, not me.
Distracted, he barely saw the massive blade coming for him, and with a brutal slash, Kael-Tyrion's sword struck his chest, sending him flying backward. Elian's vision blurred as he felt warmth trickling down his torso; he looked down to see blood soaking his shirt, spreading fast. His body ached, each breath coming with a sharp, stinging pain, and he could feel himself slipping away.
As he fell, Isla ran forward, desperately launching herself at Kael-Tyrion. "Get away from him!" she shouted, her voice trembling but defiant. She fought with everything she had, her sword flashing with swift, precise strikes, but Kael-Tyrion's strength was unyielding. With a single swing, the beast sent her crashing to the ground, bruised and exhausted.
Elian, on the verge of unconsciousness, watched Isla's form hit the ground. Darkness crept in at the edges of his vision, and he thought for a moment that it was the end. But suddenly, he found himself in a strange, white room—empty, silent, and cold.
In front of him stood a child: a younger version of himself, eyes wet with tears. The child whimpered, "Where is Mommy and Daddy? I want to see them."
Elian, confused and weak, asked, "Am I… dead? What is this place?"
The child's voice was trembling as he looked up at Elian. "I want to meet Mommy. Please… help me."
A searing pain shot through Elian's head as memories flooded back—memories of himself as a child, crying out for his parents, feeling lost, alone, and abandoned. He remembered how he'd always wanted to see them, to find them, and that wish—buried under years of doubt and loss—now reignited in his heart with a new fire.
Back in the battlefield, Isla was struggling to get back on her feet, her breathing ragged as she tried to fend off Kael-Tyrion's relentless attacks. The monster raised its sword, preparing to strike her down.
But suddenly, with a blur of movement, Elian appeared between them. His speed was otherworldly, a force unleashed by sheer will. He caught the monster's blade with his own, stopping it in midair, his eyes burning with a new resolve.
In his mind, he shouted, Whether my father's wish lives on or not, I don't care. My mission is my own! I will find my mother, no matter the cost, even if it takes me to the depths of hell!
With a shout, Elian launched himself at Kael-Tyrion, his movements so fast they left afterimages. Each strike he landed on the beast left cracks in its armor, denting and chipping away at the thick scales that once seemed impenetrable. Kael-Tyrion, sensing the shift in power, swung back with renewed aggression, but Elian anticipated his moves, dodging each attack with razor-sharp reflexes, landing blow after blow.
"You're strong," Kael-Tyrion growled, his voice low and rumbling. "But strength alone isn't enough."
With a fierce swipe, the monster caught Elian off-guard, throwing him back across the room, slamming him into a stone wall. The impact knocked the air out of him, but Elian gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand, his gaze unwavering.
Meanwhile, Isla staggered to her feet, her determination burning despite her injuries. She called out, "You're not fighting alone, Elian!" She charged, her sword at the ready, flanking Kael-Tyrion with Elian.
The two of them moved in sync, Isla striking from one side while Elian attacked from the other, their coordination flawless. Isla would feint an attack, causing the monster to turn, leaving its back open for Elian to strike. Their teamwork chipped away at the beast's defenses until Kael-Tyrion roared in pain, his armor now fractured and weakened.
Finally, in a flash of movement, Elian leaped into the air, sword raised high. With every ounce of strength and determination he had, he brought the blade down, landing a final, devastating blow on Kael-Tyrion's shoulder. The force of the strike sent a shockwave through the air, and the monster fell to one knee, breathing heavily.
"You have proven yourself, Elian," Kael-Tyrion said, his voice filled with pride. "The fragment is yours."
The stone scales on his arm glowed, and with a wave of his paw, a small, shimmering fragment appeared before them. Elian reached out, taking it carefully. The fragment seemed to pulse with a gentle warmth, as if acknowledging him as its rightful owner.
But as he held it, Kael-Tyrion's expression grew grave. "This fragment is one of many. However, if you seek the rest, know that you are not the only ones after them. A place known as Vermillion Arcana Academy holds many fragments under lock and key."
"An academy?" Isla asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's a school doing with fragments?"
Kael-Tyrion's eyes narrowed. "The academy's principal, known as Headmaster Zephyr Thornecrest, is no ordinary man. He recruits powerful students and teachers, convincing them to gather fragments, which he hoards for his own dark purposes."
Elian frowned. "What… dark purposes?"
"Thornecrest believes the fragments hold the key to ultimate power. But his loyalty to his students and teachers is an illusion. The moment they've gathered all fragments, he plans to kill them, claiming the fragments for himself."
The revelation hung heavily in the air. Isla exchanged a look with Elian, her expression serious but also… intrigued.
"So, he's basically a collector, waiting for the right moment to betray his own team?" Isla scoffed. "Sounds like a classic villain."
Elian nodded, his resolve hardening. "If that's true, then we'll need to be careful. We can't let him get his hands on all the fragments."
Kael-Tyrion nodded solemnly. "If you wish to challenge Thornecrest, I suggest you infiltrate Vermillion Arcana Academy. Be wary, for the headmaster is both cunning and ruthless. But I sense great potential in you, Elian. Do not underestimate him."
Elian and Isla bowed respectfully to Kael-Tyrion before heading out of the valley. As they walked, Isla couldn't help but break the tension.
"So… Elian, you really think you're ready to go back to school?" she teased, elbowing him. "Didn't take you for the study type."
Elian chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Oh, please. I'm not the one who practically threw herself at a giant, scaly guardian just to show off."
"Excuse me?" Isla laughed, feigning shock. "I was warming him up for you! And besides, someone needed to make sure you didn't embarrass us."
They continued bickering as they walked, with Isla making dramatic re-enactments of Elian's "glorious failure" to summon his powers initially. He laughed, countering by mimicking her fierce but failed attacks. But deep down, both of them felt the gravity of what lay ahead.
TO BE CONTINUED.....