The morning sun crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the clearing. Kael sat by the remains of the campfire, staring at the Heartstone blade as it rested on his knees. Its green glow had dimmed after the battle, but the faint warmth in its hilt reminded him that its power never truly slept.
Sienna was busy packing their supplies, her movements sharp and efficient. She hadn't spoken much since the fight, though her occasional glances at Kael betrayed a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Kael broke the silence first. "Why didn't you tell me the Heartstone would attract… those things?"
Sienna didn't look up from her task. "Would it have changed anything? You still would've needed to carry it."
Kael frowned, tightening his grip on the blade. "Maybe, but I should've known what I was getting into."
Sienna sighed and straightened, crossing her arms. "Listen, farm boy, the moment you picked up that blade, you became a target. Shadewalkers, mercenaries, maybe even entire kingdoms will come for you now. But sitting here and complaining about it won't change that."
Her words stung, but Kael knew she was right. He had chosen to wield the Heartstone, and with it came a responsibility he couldn't ignore.
---
As they set off into the forest, the tension between them lingered. The path was narrow and winding, with gnarled roots threatening to trip them at every step. Sienna led the way, her dagger strapped to her belt and her eyes scanning the trees for signs of danger.
Kael followed in silence, the weight of the blade strapped to his back pressing down on him. His mind replayed the battle from the night before—the unnatural speed of the Shadewalkers, their glowing eyes, and the terrifying strength of their leader.
"How do you deal with it?" he asked suddenly.
Sienna glanced back at him. "Deal with what?"
"The fear," Kael said, his voice quieter. "Knowing that something could attack you at any moment. That you might not survive the next fight."
Sienna's expression softened, though only slightly. "You don't 'deal with it,'" she said. "You use it. Fear keeps you alive. It makes you cautious, keeps you alert. But if you let it control you, you're as good as dead."
Kael nodded, though he wasn't sure he fully understood. He had spent most of his life avoiding conflict, and now he was walking straight into it.
---
By midday, they reached the edge of the forest, where the trees gave way to a rolling plain. In the distance, Kael could see the jagged peaks of the Blackreach Mountains, their snow-capped summits shrouded in mist.
"Is that… where Ghorak is?" Kael asked, his stomach twisting at the sight.
Sienna nodded. "Somewhere deep within those mountains. But we're not going there yet. You're not ready."
Kael frowned. "Then where are we going?"
"To the Runestone Keep," Sienna said. "It's an ancient fortress built by the Titan Order. If there's anywhere that can teach you to control the Heartstone's power, it's there."
Kael hesitated. "And what if they don't want to help me?"
Sienna smirked. "They'll help. They owe me a favor."
Kael didn't press further, though he couldn't help but wonder what kind of favor Sienna was talking about.
---
The journey across the plains was uneventful but exhausting. The sun beat down mercilessly, and Kael's pack felt heavier with every step. By the time they reached a rocky outcrop for the night's camp, his legs felt like lead.
As Sienna prepared their meal, Kael sat apart, the Heartstone blade resting in his lap once again. He had taken to examining it whenever they stopped, hoping to uncover some secret that would make wielding it easier.
"What are you looking for?" Sienna asked, handing him a bowl of stew.
Kael shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I'm trying to figure out what makes this blade so special. Why it chose me."
Sienna sat beside him, her own bowl in hand. "The blade didn't choose you, Kael. You chose it. When you took it from your father's forge, you made a decision—to fight, to protect, to be something more than what the world expected of you."
Kael stared into his stew, her words sinking in. "But I don't feel like I made a choice. It felt… inevitable, like I didn't have another option."
Sienna chuckled softly. "That's how it feels for everyone who picks up a weapon for the first time. The important thing is what you do with that choice."
---
Later that night, as the stars glittered overhead, Kael found himself unable to sleep. He sat by the fire, turning the Heartstone blade over in his hands.
The green glow seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, and for the first time, Kael felt a sense of calm. He closed his eyes and focused on the blade's energy, letting it flow through him like a river.
Images flickered in his mind—fragments of memories, dreams, and something else. He saw his father's forge, the blazing fire casting shadows on the walls. He saw the Shadewalkers, their glowing eyes filled with malice. And he saw the Blackreach Mountains, their jagged peaks looming like a dark sentinel.
But then, he saw something new—a figure cloaked in darkness, its eyes burning like twin suns. The vision sent a chill down Kael's spine, and he opened his eyes with a gasp.
"What's wrong?" Sienna asked, her voice sharp with concern.
Kael shook his head, struggling to find the words. "I… I saw something. Someone. In the mountains."
Sienna's expression hardened. "Ghorak."
Kael nodded, his hands trembling. "He knows we're coming."
Sienna placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Good. Let him know. Let him fear what's coming for him."
Kael swallowed hard, unsure if he shared her confidence. The road ahead was dark and uncertain, but for the first time, he felt a flicker of determination.
The Heartstone blade pulsed in his hands, and Kael knew one thing for certain—there was no turning back now.