Kael is as an introverted boy stuck in the mundane life of village named Greystone. His obsession with books about magic sets him apart from the practical-minded villagers.
One day, while wandering the fields, Kael's uncle discovered a strange wooden box hidden beneath the grass. Inside, he found an unusual map, its markings foreign and intricate. Curious, he took the map home, thinking it was an intriguing artifact, and placed it among his collection of old books. Over the years, the map was forgotten, tucked away on the shelf as time passed, its significance slipping into obscurity.
On a stormy evening, the sound of raindrops against the glass was interrupted by a thump from the far corner of the attic. Kael's heart skipped a beat. He looked up, listening.
"Probably just a rat," he muttered, trying to reassure himself. "It's nothing."
But then it came again. Thump. Louder this time.
Kael set his book down and stood. "Okay, that's not a rat," he said aloud, though the words felt weak even to him. His feet moved before his mind could process, and he grabbed the flickering lantern from his bedside.
As he moved closer to the corner, his thoughts raced. What if it's something else? Something… magical? But the rational part of him dismissed the thought immediately. Magic wasn't real. Not in Greystone.
He pulled back the dusty blankets, and there it was—a small wooden box covered in strange, swirling runes.
Kael's breath caught in his throat. "What the…?" His hand trembled as he reached for the latch. He almost hesitated, but something inside him, something deep and primal, urged him to open it. His fingers traced the runes—alive they seemed, shifting under his touch.
Inside, the map lay unfolded. The ink seemed to shimmer.
Kael's voice dropped to a whisper, almost as if he were afraid to speak too loudly. "It's real…"
The words on the map materialized before his eyes: Find what was forgotten, and the world will remember.
"Who… who put this here?" Kael asked aloud, his heart thudding loudly in his chest. "What is this?" His voice was a mix of awe and fear.
He was alone, but Kael could feel the weight of centuries in the room. "This can't just be a coincidence… Magic hasn't been real for hundreds of years. Has it?"
He swallowed hard, eyes scanning the shifting ink. "I have to find out. I have to go."
The map glowed faintly in his hands, urging him onward. There was no turning back now.