Kael stepped into the cold night air, his breath visible in the frigid atmosphere. The moon hung high, casting an eerie glow across the village, now silent in the wake of his father's death. The world around him felt different, as if everything had changed in the span of a single breath. His father's revelation, the dying words that had shattered his reality, echoed in his mind like a drumbeat — a constant reminder that the life he had known was gone. The man he had trusted most had kept secrets from him, secrets that had the power to reshape everything.
The beast outside was waiting, its growls vibrating in the ground beneath Kael's feet. He turned his head to glance at the darkened village, the homes now shrouded in the shadow of the night, but the fear that had once clung to the walls of Mornvale no longer had a hold on him. His father's words were a call to action. The time for hiding was over.
Kael didn't hesitate as he moved away from the house, his feet crunching the snow beneath him. The village was small, nestled between steep cliffs and dense forests, a place that had always felt safe but now seemed so fragile in the face of such destruction. The villagers had always spoken of the beasts, of the dangers lurking outside, but they had never seen one up close. They lived in peace, unaware that such creatures even existed in the wilds beyond the mountains.
Now, Kael's eyes scanned the dark shadows of the forest that surrounded Mornvale. He had never ventured far into the woods, always staying within the village's boundaries. His father had been protective, warning him of the dangers that lay beyond the familiar paths. But tonight, everything had changed. He wasn't a child anymore. The world outside wasn't just a distant idea — it was a reality he would have to face.
The growl came again, louder this time, shaking the very ground beneath his feet. The beast was closer, its monstrous form drawing nearer. Kael's heart raced, his pulse quickening with every step. He reached into his coat and pulled out the sword his father had left him — a gleaming weapon forged with care, its blade sharp and capable of cutting through anything. But as Kael held the sword in his hand, he felt a strange emptiness. Was this really enough to fight the beast that had destroyed his village? Was his sword powerful enough to take on a creature that could level an entire village?
No. He realized that a mere weapon wouldn't be enough. His father's words echoed in his mind, urging him to understand the true power he possessed. He had the ability to control the beasts, to bend them to his will. But how? He had never practiced this power. He had never even known it existed.
The wind howled through the trees, sending shivers down Kael's spine. He couldn't waste any more time. He had to act. But how? How was he supposed to master this power his father had spoken of? The only answer that came to him was the one his father had hinted at — the key to controlling the beast was in understanding his gift. But what did that mean? How did one even begin to control something so wild, so dangerous?
As Kael moved through the village, his mind raced with questions, his feet carrying him toward the edge of the woods. The shadows seemed to whisper around him, the trees towering high and imposing, their twisted branches reaching for the sky like skeletal arms. The creature was near. He could feel its presence, a heavy, suffocating force in the air. His heart pounded in his chest as he pushed forward, determined to find answers.
The wind picked up, whipping through the trees with an unnatural force. It wasn't the usual cold gusts that swept through Mornvale in the winter. This felt different — almost like a warning. Kael's steps faltered as a strange sensation washed over him, as if something was watching him, following his every move. He couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone in the woods.
A rustling sound broke the silence, and Kael's instincts kicked in. He drew the sword from its sheath, his grip tight as he scanned the darkness around him. The shadows shifted, and for a moment, Kael thought he saw a figure moving between the trees. His breath caught in his throat. Was it the beast?
Suddenly, a figure stepped into the clearing ahead of him, blocking his path. Kael tensed, ready to fight, but the person before him wasn't a beast. It was a man — tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in dark, weathered clothes. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but his eyes gleamed in the moonlight, sharp and calculating.
"Who are you?" Kael demanded, his sword raised in defense.
The man didn't move, his gaze locked on Kael with an intensity that made him feel like a target. "I could ask you the same thing," the man replied, his voice low and gravelly. "But you're not here for idle conversation, are you?"
Kael didn't answer. He couldn't afford to waste time. The beast was still out there, and every moment he spent talking was one more moment it had to attack. "Move aside," Kael said firmly, trying to push past the stranger. "I don't have time for games."
The man's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, blocking Kael's path. "You're going to need more than that sword to face what's out there," he said, his voice carrying a certain weight, as if he knew something Kael didn't. "You've come looking for answers, but you won't find them out here. Not yet."
Kael's grip on his sword tightened. "I'm not looking for answers. I'm looking for revenge."
The man smirked, a dark glimmer in his eyes. "Revenge? You think you can take on the beast alone? You're not ready. No one is."
Kael's chest tightened. "I don't care. I will make it ready."
The man studied him for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. "You're stubborn, I'll give you that. But you don't know what you're dealing with. You don't know the forces at play here."
Kael's heart raced as he realized the man wasn't just talking about the beast. There was something deeper at work, something far more dangerous than the creature he was chasing. "What do you know about the beast?" Kael demanded. "What are you hiding?"
The man's eyes flickered, as if he were debating whether to reveal more. Finally, he sighed, lowering his gaze. "The beast you're hunting is no ordinary creature. It's a monster born from ancient magic, a force that even the strongest of men have failed to control. It was summoned by someone — someone who wants to use it to tear down everything in its path."
Kael's mind raced. The man's words made sense, but they also raised more questions. Why had his father never told him this? What was the true nature of the creature he was about to face?
The man stepped back, a smirk playing on his lips. "If you're serious about facing the beast, you'll need more than just your sword and your desire for vengeance. You'll need training, knowledge, and allies. And you'll need to find the one who summoned it."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "And who are you to tell me what I need?"
The man didn't answer. Instead, he turned and began to walk away, his cloak billowing behind him. "You'll see me again. When the time comes. But until then, don't do something you'll regret."
Kael stood frozen in the clearing, the man's words swirling in his mind. Who was this stranger? What did he know about the beast? And what did he mean by "the one who summoned it"?
The wind howled again, and Kael felt a shiver run down his spine. The beast was still out there, waiting. He couldn't afford to waste any more time. But now, he had more questions than ever.
And with each passing second, the answers seemed farther out of reach.
The shadows in the forest deepened, and Kael's journey had only just begun