The wind was cold against Kael's skin as he walked through the plains. The divine being's words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the task ahead. It had been several hours since the intervention, and despite the calm that had returned to the land, Kael's heart still thudded with the weight of the revelation. The gods had not forsaken him—they were merely biding their time, waiting for him to make his next move. But what did they mean by his betrayal? Who was it that had cast him aside?
"Kael…" Liora's voice broke through his thoughts. She had been walking beside him in silence, her presence a grounding force amid the turmoil swirling in Kael's mind. "Are you all right?"
He turned to her, meeting her steady gaze. Despite everything, Liora had remained by his side, unwavering, a silent ally in his battle against the gods. He could see the concern in her eyes, but he knew she wasn't asking just for the sake of politeness—she wanted to know what was happening inside him, what the divine intervention had truly done to him.
"I'm fine," Kael replied, his voice firm, though his thoughts were anything but. "It's just…"
Liora stopped walking, placing a hand on his arm to stop him. "I know," she said quietly. "The gods rarely give answers without strings attached. But what they said about your betrayal—do you have any idea who they were referring to?"
Kael shook his head, frustration welling up inside him. He had been betrayed before—cast down from his throne, his kingdom torn apart by forces beyond his control. But now, the gods were telling him that there was something deeper, something hidden beneath the surface, a truth that had yet to be revealed.
"I don't know," Kael admitted, his voice laced with bitterness. "But I intend to find out. They want me to discover it, and I will. Whatever the cost."
Liora nodded, her expression resolute. "I'll be by your side, Kael. You're not alone in this."
The words were simple, but they meant more than Kael could express. In a world that had torn him apart, in a time when even the gods sought to control his fate, Liora's unwavering loyalty was a beacon of hope. He had never asked for her help, but she had given it freely, and that alone made him believe that, perhaps, he wasn't as lost as he felt.
"Thank you," Kael said, his voice softer than before.
They continued their journey, the silence between them a comfortable one. The plains stretched on endlessly, but Kael could feel the weight of destiny pushing him forward, urging him toward the answers he sought. His eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of what awaited him.
As they walked, Kael's thoughts turned inward once again. The gods had shown themselves to be both powerful and manipulative. They spoke of his betrayal in cryptic terms, but he knew they weren't telling him the whole truth. It was as if they were baiting him to uncover the truth on his own, testing him once more.
He had already lost so much—his kingdom, his allies, his very identity. But now, Kael had a singular purpose: to uncover the identity of the one who had betrayed him. The journey had only just begun, and the road ahead would be long and fraught with challenges. But Kael had made up his mind. He would rise again, and he would find the truth.
As the days passed, they came upon a small village nestled at the edge of the plains. The sight of it was a welcome one, a sign that they were not alone in this vast world. The villagers appeared peaceful, going about their daily routines without a care in the world. But Kael's instincts told him that this was no ordinary settlement. The air was thick with the subtle presence of magic, as if the village itself was hiding something beneath its calm exterior.
"Let's stop here for the night," Kael suggested. "We could use some rest and information. I have a feeling we'll need both."
Liora glanced at him, her brow furrowing slightly. "Something's not right, isn't it?"
Kael didn't respond immediately. He could sense it too—the tension in the air, the uneasy stillness that seemed to cling to the village. It was as though the entire place was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
They approached the village cautiously, the villagers eyeing them with curious gazes as they passed. The buildings were quaint, constructed from stone and timber, their roofs covered with moss and creeping vines. The streets were narrow, winding between the buildings like veins of the earth itself. It was a place that seemed to be stuck in time, but Kael could sense that the peaceful exterior masked something darker.
As they made their way toward the village center, a voice called out from the shadows of an alleyway.
"You there!" the voice demanded, sharp and commanding.
Kael turned to see a man stepping forward from the shadows. He was tall, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. His face was gaunt, as though years of hardship had worn him down, but there was a glimmer of recognition in his gaze as he looked at Kael.
"You're him, aren't you?" the man said, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear. "The Fallen Sovereign."
Kael's hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his sword, but he didn't draw it. Instead, he met the man's gaze, waiting for him to explain himself.
"I'm sorry," the man continued, stepping forward cautiously. "I didn't mean to startle you. But you… you're the one who was betrayed, aren't you?"
Kael's heart skipped a beat. The man's words hit him like a thunderclap. "What do you know about the betrayal?" Kael demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
The man hesitated, glancing around as if expecting someone to jump out at him from the shadows. He took a deep breath before speaking again.
"I know more than you think. There are those here who remember your kingdom, Kael. Those who knew the truth about what happened. And there are those who have been waiting for you to return. The gods… they're not the only ones who have been watching you."
Kael's mind raced. The mention of people waiting for his return, the gods' constant manipulation—it all seemed to be coming together in ways that he couldn't yet fully understand. He had no time to waste. If there were people here who knew the truth of his betrayal, Kael would not leave without answers.
"Lead me to them," Kael ordered.
The man nodded and turned, motioning for them to follow.