It had been a peaceful few weeks since they had completed their farm. Wheat and vegetables were growing strong, the animals roamed freely in the nearby fields, and their new house, illuminated by torchlight at night, felt like a proper home. Choco spent his days chasing butterflies and barking at the sheep, bringing a sense of playfulness to their days. Life felt normal, calm—almost too calm for Azad.
One evening, as they sat by the fire outside, Azad gazed up at the stars, feeling a sense of unease creeping in. The quietness was unsettling, and something within him stirred.
"I don't know what I should be doing, Ellie," Azad said, breaking the silence. He stared into the flames, watching them dance and flicker. "Is it really okay for me to rest like this? I heard from the villagers that I was summoned to protect this world… from the Ender Dragon."
The mention of the Ender Dragon hit like a storm. Ellie, who had been quietly sharpening her sword, froze. Her expression darkened, and her hands gripped the blade tightly. Azad could see the sudden shift in her demeanor—something was wrong.
"How am I supposed to know what you should do?" Ellie snapped, her voice sharp and biting. She slammed the sword down beside her and stood up, her back turned to him.
Azad blinked, puzzled. "Why are you getting angry? What did I say?"
Ellie's shoulders were tense, and she didn't answer at first. Choco, sensing the tension, whimpered and trotted over to Ellie, brushing against her leg and attempting to calm her down. She gave a soft pat to Choco but remained silent, her face contorted in frustration.
"Ellie," Azad said, standing up and walking closer to her, "what's going on? Why does the Ender Dragon bother you so much?"
When she didn't respond, Azad gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Ellie. You've always been the strong one. You've helped me so much—now let me help you. Please… talk to me."
Ellie closed her eyes, exhaling a long breath. She turned around slowly, her face pained. "You really want to know? Fine. You want to hear the truth?" Her voice was quieter now, tinged with bitterness. "The Ender Dragon... killed my entire family. And I am the granddaughter of Rizvi, the last summoned hero."
Azad took a step back, shocked. "Wait, what? There was a hero before me? And you're the hero's granddaughter?"
Ellie nodded, her eyes still fixed on the flickering fire. "Yes. My grandfather, Rizvi, was the summoned hero who defeated the Ender Dragon a hundred years ago."
Azad's mind raced. "But... if he defeated the dragon, why am I here? I thought I was supposed to be the one to stop it."
Ellie nodded, her eyes distant as she stared into the fire. "It all began 100 years ago when Rizvi, my grandfather, was summoned to this world to defeat the Ender Dragon. And he did… but not by killing it. He sealed it away, knowing that slaying it was impossible."
Azad's brow furrowed. "Then why do you hate it so much? Your grandfather won, right?"
Ellie let out a bitter laugh. "Won? He sealed the dragon, yes, but at a cost. After the battle, he settled in a village, hoping to live peacefully. But that peace… it was shattered by greed."
Azad, leaning in closer, could sense the depth of her pain. "What happened?"
Ellie's voice trembled as she recounted the story. "The villagers... they wanted my grandfather's power. They feared him, but they also wanted to control him. When my father was born, they took him hostage, demanding Rizvi give up his strength for the sake of their selfish ambitions."
Azad's fists clenched as anger began to well up. "What did your grandfather do?"
"He was too kind," Ellie whispered. "Even after their betrayal, he couldn't bring himself to harm them. He agreed to give up his powers, all to save my father's life. But he knew they would kill him anyway. So, when he held my father for the last time, he used the last of his strength to cast a teleportation spell, sending my father to a trusted friend. The spell... it cost him his life."
Azad's heart sank. "That's horrible, Ellie. I'm so sorry. But what happened after that? How did your father survive?"
Ellie wiped her eyes, her voice steady but full of grief. "My father was raised by my grandfather's friend, far away from the village that betrayed them. But tragedy followed us. When I turned 17, on my birthday, the monsters came. They surrounded our house. My parents... they sacrificed themselves so I could escape."
Azad's eyes softened as he looked at her, his heart aching for the loss she had endured. "Why did the monsters attack?"
Ellie swallowed, her voice breaking slightly. "Because of me. My mana awakened that night. It was so powerful, so overwhelming, that it attracted them. I... I was the reason they died."
Tears welled up in Ellie's eyes, and she turned her face away, struggling to hold back the overwhelming emotions. Choco, sensing her distress, immediately trotted over, nudging her with his wet nose. Ellie knelt down, letting Choco lick her teary face as she scratched him gently behind the ears.
"Thanks, Choco," she whispered, managing a small smile through her tears. "You always know how to make me feel better."
Azad watched the scene with a heavy heart, then knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Ellie… it wasn't your fault."
She shook her head, her voice trembling with guilt. "But if I hadn't awakened my powers—"
"No," Azad interrupted firmly. "Your parents chose to protect you because they loved you. It wasn't your fault. You were just a child, Ellie. You shouldn't have had to carry that burden alone."
Ellie's lips quivered as more tears fell, her anger and guilt slowly giving way to sorrow. "But ever since then... I've been running. Running from the villagers, running from the monsters, running from the expectations of being Rizvi's descendant. I've been alone for so long…"
Azad stood up, pulling her to her feet. "You're not alone anymore, Ellie. We're in this together. We'll stop running. We'll fight. We'll figure out your powers and learn to control them."
Ellie looked into his eyes, uncertainty and hope swirling together. "But how? What can we do?"
"We'll start by finding your grandfather's old ally," Azad said, determination rising in his voice. "Maybe there's something he left behind, knowledge or artifacts that can help us. You have so much more strength in you than you realize, Ellie. We just need to unlock it."
Ellie took a deep breath, wiping her face and straightening her posture. A flicker of resolve replaced the despair in her eyes. "You really think we can do this?"
"I know we can," Azad replied, his voice full of certainty. "We're stronger together, and we'll face whatever comes, side by side."
As the last of the evening light faded, leaving the warmth of the fire to illuminate the night, Ellie nodded, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time. "For my family… and for my grandfather's legacy."
Choco barked excitedly, wagging his tail as he circled around them, sensing the shift in the mood.
"And for Choco," Azad added with a grin, reaching down to scratch the dog's head. "He's our good luck charm."
Ellie smiled softly, feeling a sense of hope and purpose stir within her. "Let's do this, Azad."
The wind outside howled, and a crackling sound in the distance reminded them that danger still lurked in the shadows. But for the first time in years, Ellie felt ready to face it—not alone, but with allies she could trust.