Over the next few days, Calen's life felt different. He wasn't sure if it was the words of the woman in the woods, or just the weight of the world pressing down on him, but he couldn't ignore the changes happening inside him. His body felt more alive, like a spark had been lit within him. It wasn't a feeling he could control, but it was there, growing stronger each day.
His routine remained the same, helping his father with the farm and assisting his mother in her healing work. But now, as he worked, he couldn't stop thinking about the woman's words: You have a role to play.
One afternoon, as he was mending a fence near the edge of the village, a group of strangers approached. There were three of them, moving with purpose but also with caution, their eyes scanning the surroundings as though they expected danger to appear at any moment.
The leader, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, exuded authority despite his ragged appearance. His deep-set eyes and weathered face spoke of countless battles. His tunic was torn at the edges, and a long sword hung at his side, its hilt worn but well-maintained. Beside him was another man, shorter and wiry, dressed in leather armor that blended with the earth tones of the forest. His movements were sharp and deliberate, like a scout accustomed to navigating dangerous terrain.
The last of the group was a young woman, barely older than Calen, with short, auburn hair that framed her sharp features. She carried a bow across her back and a quiver of arrows at her hip. Her clothes were practical, but the faint embroidery on her tunic hinted at a life that once held more than hardship. Despite the dirt and exhaustion on her face, her green eyes glinted with determination.
The scarred man stepped forward, his voice rough but steady. "We need shelter," he said. "We're being hunted."
Calen's heart skipped a beat. "Hunted?"
The man nodded. "By soldiers. From the empire."
Calen felt a chill run down his spine. The empire? Thalewood had always been far from the reach of the empire, but that didn't mean they were safe. In recent years, rumors had spread of the empire's growing power, its desire to conquer the lands beyond its borders. And now, it seemed, the war was creeping closer to Thalewood.
Without thinking, Calen nodded. "You can stay here, for now. I'll tell my parents."
The travelers exchanged glances, relief flickering across their tired faces. "Thank you," the scarred man said.
Calen led them to his home. His mother and father greeted the strangers with suspicion but welcomed them nonetheless, as they always did for those in need. The group settled in the small cottage, sharing their stories of escape and survival.
The scarred man introduced himself as Ronan, a former soldier who had turned against the empire after seeing its atrocities firsthand. The scout, Finn, was a smuggler who had been aiding those fleeing the empire's grasp before his network was discovered. The young woman, Kira, revealed that she had once lived in a prosperous town that was burned to the ground during the empire's expansion, leaving her to fend for herself.
As the evening wore on, Calen couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of something larger. These strangers—these survivors—were part of something bigger than him, bigger than Thalewood. And somehow, he knew that their arrival wasn't a coincidence. The woman's words echoed in his mind: Things are about to change.
He wasn't sure how, but Calen knew his role was just beginning. And as the firelight flickered in the hearth, he realized something: The village, his village, was no longer just a quiet haven. The world outside had found them, and it was only a matter of time before everything would be different.