The warmth of the fire crackled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the walls of the small hut. Maeve had insisted Seth and Eldric rest after their harrowing tale, and now, with full bellies and the comforting scent of herbal tea filling the air, a sense of fragile peace settled over them.
Lyra, who had been unusually quiet during their meal, sat opposite Seth, her dark eyes studying him with an intensity that made him shift uncomfortably. He could feel her empathic abilities probing his emotions, sensing the turmoil within him."You carry a great sadness," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.Seth looked down at his hands, tracing the lines on his palms. "I've lost everything," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "My home, my family...""But you have found something too," Lyra countered, her gaze unwavering. "Something powerful."Seth met her eyes, surprised by her perception. "You saw it," he said, "the light."Lyra nodded. "I felt it. A surge of energy, like a wave crashing against the shore. It was... extraordinary."Eldric, who had been listening intently, leaned forward. "What does it mean, Lyra? Why did his hands glow?"Lyra hesitated, her brow furrowed in thought. "I don't know for sure," she admitted. "But I sense it's connected to the old magic, the magic of the Seven."Seth's heart pounded in his chest. The Seven. The gods who had created their world. Could he really be connected to them in some way?"Maeve knows more," Lyra said, her voice low. "She has the Sight. She can see things others cannot."Maeve, who had been busy preparing a poultice for Eldric's twisted ankle, looked up, a knowing smile on her lips. "Lyra is right," she said. "There's much you need to know, Seth. But first, you must rest. Tomorrow, we will talk."Seth lay awake long into the night, his mind racing with questions. Who was he? What was this power that had awakened within him? And what did it mean for his future?The next morning, Maeve called Seth and Eldric to her side. She sat on a woven mat, her back straight, her eyes closed. A sense of ancient wisdom emanated from her."Seth," she began, her voice calm and steady, "the light you unleashed... it is a rare and powerful magic. It is the magic of Setharion, the seventh god."Seth's breath caught in his throat. Setharion. The name echoed in his mind, awakening a deep, primal memory."Setharion was different from the other gods," Maeve continued. "He chose to walk among mortals, to experience their lives and share their burdens. He was a god of balance, of compassion, of change.""But Setharion vanished long ago," Eldric interjected. "What does this have to do with Seth?"Maeve's eyes flickered open, and a glimmer of something ancient and powerful shone in their depths. "Setharion did not vanish," she said. "He lives on... in his descendants."Seth stared at her, his mind reeling. "You mean... I'm a descendant of a god?"Maeve nodded. "You carry his blood, his power, his legacy. And now, his magic has awakened within you."A wave of emotions washed over Seth: awe, disbelief, fear, and a strange sense of responsibility. He was the heir of Setharion. What did that mean for him? What was he supposed to do?Before he could ask, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air, shattering the peaceful morning. Maeve's face hardened, and she sprang to her feet."The Kik!" she cried. "They've found us!"