Days passed, and Kael continued his journey. The forest eventually gave way to small human settlements, their inhabitants wary of strangers. He had no name, no identity—just a lone wanderer with nothing but his strength and determination.
It wasn't long before Kael found a village on the outskirts of a great mountain range. The people here were unlike any he had encountered before. They lived in constant fear of bandits and marauders, but there was a resilience to them, a toughness Kael admired. He could feel it—these people were survivors.
He entered the village under the cover of night, seeking shelter in the nearest tavern. The inside was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of meat and ale. Kael took a seat at a table, his gaze sweeping over the room. His senses, still attuned to the celestial realm, could feel the undercurrents of tension. This was a place on the edge of collapse, where every man, woman, and child was just trying to survive.
It wasn't long before he caught the eye of a striking woman across the room. She had a presence that was impossible to ignore, with fiery red hair and an air of mystery that intrigued Kael. She wasn't like the others—her gaze was sharp, calculating, and she seemed to be sizing him up just as he was her.
Her name was Elara, a rogue mage with ties to the celestial realm. The moment she spoke, Kael knew there was something more to her than met the eye.
"I've seen your kind before," she said, her voice low and smooth. "You're no ordinary man."
Kael leaned back in his chair, studying her. "And what kind would that be?"
Elara smirked, her eyes gleaming. "The kind that's been cast down for a reason. The kind that's dangerous."
Her words hit a nerve, but Kael kept his expression neutral. She had to know something about what happened to him—about the betrayal. The more he learned, the more he realized that Elara was no mere rogue. She had knowledge of the divine, of the celestial politics that Kael had once been a part of. But he couldn't trust her, not yet.
"I'm here because I know where to find something that can help you," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "A relic. One that can restore your power."