Kael's POV
The sunlight filtered through the cracks in the wooden shutters, the faint earth drawing me from the deep and unyielding sleep I had fallen into. My body was heavy; it must be an after-effect of whatever happened last night.
That stone... I guess I should call it Wardstone, as that's what it was called when I had the images in my head. The surge of power that came from the wardstone was unreal. I thought clenching my tiny hands as I was thinking about the events that had happened.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of my head, I finally noticed Ana's concerned face, which was about me; her soft brown eyes scanned over my body as if checking if I was hurt. I met her gaze with a small sleepy smile, trying to hide my inner thoughts. The way the ward stone had pulsed with energy it felt as if I had touched something far beyond my understanding. It still was foggy, I couldn't remember how it all happened, but I knew it wasn't just a random event. Something had awakened in me as well.
"You're awake," Ana said, her voice trembling slightly as she had finally finished giving me a look over. Brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You scared me... you've been sleeping for hours."
I could see the fatigue in her eyes, the weight of the previous events had taken a toll on her. "Are you feeling better?"
Before I had time to process, the door burst open, and my mother stepped into the room; her face softened as soon as she saw that I was okay, and then her face quickly turned firm as she spoke." Ana, I think it's time we discuss what happened here."
Ana's eyes darted to Mira, then back at me, uncertainty clouding her expression.
"I-" Ana began but was interrupted by Mira's calm but forceful voice.
"No, Ana. We need to understand this, it's important."
In the village
The Village outside was busy trying to rebuild; the sounds of hammering and the noise of people speaking in low tones filled the air. The damage was severe but not irreparable. Many of the houses were damaged, but the square, the heart of the village, was mostly intact, which was thanks to the efforts of Mira's protective barriers.
Inside the atmosphere was tense. Elias, Mira, Ana, and I sat in the corner of the room, the weight of the previous night's battle still hanging over us. Serin, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, was leaning against a wall, with her arms crossed, with her watchful eyes as if waiting on something.
"We survived," Elias said, his voice was low and firm as he glanced at all of us. "But we still don't know why those creatures attacked the village. Was it because of the artifacts that we had destroyed?" Elias asked as if he was asking himself. "Nevertheless we don't know what this means for the future of the village."
Mira sighed deeply. "We need to focus on what caused the reactivation of the ward stone. It didn't happen on its own. Something or someone triggered it. The energy was far too strong to be a random event."
Serin pushed herself off the wall, her eyes meeting Mira's. "I agree, it wasn't random. I felt it too, and I know about these Wardstones."
At the mention of wardatones, I felt a knot form in my stomach. Last night was a blur of strange sensation, pulsing energy and light but something about it felt oddly familiar. I had seen these glowing runes in my mind before they appeared in the chapel. They were calling me.
Elias turned to Serin, surprised by the news, as Wardstones are not uncommon. They are often dormant, and little to no one knows how to reactivate them. "You've dealt with ward stones before?"
Serin nodded slowly, her face serious. "I'm a Seeker, remember? I've encountered ancient magic like this before. Ward stones have long been used as a method of protection, a way to keep threats at bay." She glanced at me for a moment. "And sometimes they are used to keep something...in."
Mira's expression darkened. "What do you mean by 'keep something in' ?"
Serin paused, clearly weighing her next words carefully. "Some ward stones were designed not only to keep things out but for suppression of things as well; ancient forces that, if released, could cause untold destruction. Something may be buried beneath this village for all we know, but whatever caused the wardstone to react might be linked to it."
Kael's POV
I just sat quietly, feeling the weight of Serin's words, but I had a feeling that she was feeling the full story. The energy from the ward stone felt alive as if it were a sentient being. It was calling me, guiding me and when I reached out to follow in my mind, the connection was undeniable.
Mira's eyes turned to look at me, A sharpness in her gaze that made me shiver slightly.
"And Kael... he was involved?"
I froze at the mention of my name.
"His presence triggered the stone," Serin said softly, her gaze flickered towards me. "I can't say for sure, but this was no coincidence. There seems to be a strong connection between him and the wardstone."
Ana stepped forward, not able to read the room she said. "Kael is just a child! He didn't-"
"Does he seem like a normal child to you?" Mira interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "I felt the energy surge last night. It was powerful and it was coming from him."
Ana looked at me with a sad expression. She meant well, but the reality of the situation was becoming undeniable.
"What exactly are you saying?" Elias asked, finally coming out of his daze cautious for his son's safety. "That Kael's has something to do with these ancient forces?"
Serin's eyes hardened. "Possibly. But before we jump to other possibilities we need to have more information. The fact remains that Kael's presence triggered the wardstone, and that's no ordinary thing to do."
A New Arrival
As the conversation grew more tense, the door was suddenly opened, and a tall figure stepped in. He was cloaked in dark leather armor, with a silver sigil of the Seekers being displayed on his chest. His features were sharp, with cold, calculating blue eyes that seemed to be taking everything all at once.
"Apologies for the intrusion," he said in a deep yet low voice. "I am Dain Althar, A Seeker."
Elias stood up immediately, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Looking at.the new uninvited guest. "What's a Seeker doing here?"
"I followed the surge of magic which filled this area with more Aether than it had before," Dain replied, scanning the room before his gaze stopped on me. "Wardstones are not simple artifacts that can be reactivated with ease, so one activating out of nowhere wouldn't go unnoticed. That's why I've come to offer my assistance and to investigate how it was activated." His eyes grew colder as he stopped speaking.
Serin stiffened at his words, and I could see her eyes narrowed as she regarded him. "You felt it as well?"
Dain nodded. "Indeed. And I know exactly what this means."
Elias crossed his arms, wary about the words coming from this 'Dain's' mouth. "What does it mean, then?"
Dain's eyes turned cold as he spoke. "It means that the balance of the world has been disrupted. And it's only a matter of time before those who seek destruction will come to its calling."
Later That Night
As the village began to fall into a quiet, uneasy calm, I lay in my crib, staring blankly at the ceiling. My mind raced with the weight of the information I had gotten about this world.
The wardstone.
The Seekers
The connection between me and the stone.
I couldn't help but feel that something was brewing beneath the surface. And what scared me was, I had no idea what it was and when it was coming.
But I will find out.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway outside, and I knew it was Dain. He was like a lingering shadow, watching me in the dark.
But for now, I would stay quiet. I would learn what I can from him. But one thing was clear: those thing creatures and that figure leading all these creatures are not finished with this village or with me. And I was no longer just a child caught in the middle of it all.