The sun was setting, casting a soft golden hue across the village of Mornvale. It was the kind of evening where the world seemed peaceful, the kind of evening Kael always cherished, though he knew it would soon fade away into night. The village, hidden deep within the mountain range, was a quiet, humble place, untouched by the troubles of the outside world. It was the only place Kael had ever known — a simple life, filled with routine, and the presence of his father, the only family he had left.
But tonight was different. Kael's father, the man who had raised him, trained him, and kept him safe from the world beyond the village, was dying. His breathing was shallow, and his once-strong body now lay frail and weak in the dimly lit room. Kael sat by his father's bedside, his heart heavy with the knowledge that time was slipping away, just as the last hours of daylight were fading.
"Father, you need to rest," Kael said gently, his voice strained with worry. He had always admired his father's strength, but now, seeing him this way, it was impossible to ignore the signs of age and illness.
His father, named Alaric, let out a soft cough before looking at Kael with a weak but intense gaze. "Kael… you need to listen to me," he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "The time has come."
Kael's brow furrowed. He had been expecting this moment, knowing his father's health had been deteriorating for weeks now. But hearing his father's voice — so urgent, so filled with something unspoken — sent a chill down his spine.
"I've kept you safe all these years," Alaric continued, his voice growing weaker but no less serious. "I've hidden you, protected you… and now you need to understand why."
Kael leaned forward, gripping his father's hand, trying to will him to stay conscious a little longer. "What do you mean, father? What do I need to know?"
A pained look crossed Alaric's face, and he struggled to sit up a little more, his eyes locked on his son's. "You're not… just anyone, Kael. You are… you have a gift. A gift that I've hidden from you for your safety."
Kael felt a mix of confusion and disbelief. "A gift? What are you talking about?"
Alaric's breath hitched as he gathered his strength. His eyes closed for a brief moment, then opened again, this time filled with an intense urgency. "You have the ability to control beasts… the deadly creatures that roam the land. Creatures that others can't tame, can't even approach without being killed. You… can control them."
The words hit Kael like a thunderclap. His mind raced, trying to process what his father had just said. Control beasts? He'd heard the stories, of course. Beasts were the stuff of legends — terrifying creatures with powers far beyond anything human beings could comprehend. They were said to be untamable, unpredictable, and ruthless, and they roamed the wilderness, taking what they wanted and destroying everything in their path.
"I… I don't understand, father," Kael stammered, feeling a lump form in his throat. "How can I… How can I control them? I've never seen a beast in my life."
Alaric's gaze softened, and he tried to smile, though it was a weak and painful gesture. "I know… I've kept you away from them all these years, kept you hidden, because there are those who would use your gift for evil. They would exploit you, make you a weapon for their own gain. But I didn't want that for you. I wanted to protect you."
Kael felt a wave of frustration surge through him. "But why didn't you tell me sooner? Why keep me in the dark all this time?"
Alaric closed his eyes and took a slow, labored breath, his body clearly growing weaker. "It was for your own safety, Kael. If you had known about your power too soon, they would have found you. Those who seek to control the beasts, who have been hunting for someone like you… they would have taken you, twisted your gift, and used it against the world."
Kael's thoughts were a whirlwind. The idea that he could control such dangerous creatures was beyond his comprehension. But his father's words made sense. There were stories of people who sought to tame beasts, to harness their power for themselves. Alaric had always been protective of him, sheltering him from the world, but this… this was something he had never prepared for.
Suddenly, a violent cough shook his father's body, and Kael's heart skipped a beat. "Father?" he called out, his voice trembling with fear. "Father, please… stay with me."
Alaric's eyes fluttered open one last time, his face pale and drawn, but his gaze still sharp. "There's more, Kael," he whispered, his voice now weaker than ever. "The time has come… You must leave this place. The world… the beasts… they are all connected. And the one who destroyed this village… the creature you must face… it is no ordinary beast."
Kael's chest tightened as his father's words sank in. "What do you mean? What creature? What happened to the village?"
Alaric's hand gripped Kael's weakly, and he forced out one final breath. "The beast that destroyed everything… it is a creature of the old world. And you are the key… to its destruction."
Kael's mind raced as the final words hung in the air. The old world? What did that even mean? And why was he the key?
Before he could ask more, his father's grip slackened, and his body went still. Kael's heart broke as he realized his father was gone. The man who had kept him safe, who had been his only family, was now nothing more than a memory.
Kael sat in silence for a long moment, feeling the weight of the loss crush him. But in the midst of his grief, one thought kept repeating in his mind: The beast. The monster that had destroyed everything.
A sudden sound from outside the window broke through the silence — a low, guttural growl, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps. Kael's heart raced as he slowly stood up, his hands trembling.
He walked cautiously to the window and peered outside. The sky had darkened, but he could make out a large, dark shape moving in the distance — something enormous, something powerful. His pulse quickened as the creature moved closer, its form becoming clearer in the moonlight.
It was a beast. No, more than that. It was the beast.
Kael's breath caught in his throat as the creature stopped just outside the village. Its eyes glowed a fierce red, and its massive body seemed to radiate an aura of pure menace. It was the same creature that had destroyed his village, the one his father had warned him about.
The time for hiding was over.
Kael turned away from the window, his mind racing. His father's last words echoed in his mind: You are the key… to its destruction.
Was he really capable of controlling this creature? Was his power strong enough to stop the monster that had taken everything from him?
He didn't know. But one thing was certain: he wasn't going to run. Not anymore.
With a determined look in his eyes, Kael turned toward the door, his hand resting on the hilt of a sword his father had left for him. He would face the beast. He would find the answers. And he would make sure no one else had to suffer like he had.
As he stepped outside into the cold night, the creature's growl rumbled through the air, and Kael knew the journey ahead would be the most dangerous of his life.
But he was ready. He had to be.
The beast waited.
And so did the truth.