Kael sat by the forge as embers danced in the cool night air, casting fleeting shadows against the walls of his workshop. His calloused hands moved methodically, hammering molten metal into shape. The rhythmic clang of steel on steel was the only sound accompanying his thoughts.
For years, the forge had been his sanctuary. But tonight, something felt... off. The pendant around his neck, a simple relic inherited from his father, grew uncomfortably warm. He tugged at it, confused, as the forge's flames flickered unnaturally, taking on a blue hue.
"What in the Void is going on?" Kael muttered, stepping back.
The pendant glowed brighter, pulsating in rhythm with his heartbeat. The air grew heavy, charged with energy that made his skin tingle. Suddenly, a tremor shook the ground, sending tools clattering to the floor. The forge erupted in a blinding light, forcing Kael to shield his eyes.
When the light subsided, he found himself staring at a floating, crystalline shard, hovering above the anvil. It hummed softly, resonating with a strange, otherworldly energy.
"Kael..." a voice whispered, faint and melodic, as though carried by the wind.
Kael froze, his heart pounding. "Who's there?"
The shard pulsed, and the voice spoke again. "You have been chosen, Kael Valen, as the next bearer of the Boundless Soul. Step forward and claim your destiny."
Boundless Soul? Kael frowned. He had heard tales of ancient powers, whispered by travelers and old scholars in the tavern. But those were stories, not something that could manifest in his forge.
"I... I don't understand," Kael stammered, his instincts screaming to flee.
"The time for understanding will come," the voice said. "For now, accept this gift, and prepare for the trials ahead."
Compelled by an unseen force, Kael reached out, his fingers brushing the shard's surface. The moment they made contact, a surge of energy coursed through him, lighting up every nerve in his body. He fell to his knees, gasping as images flooded his mind—visions of distant worlds, battles fought by warriors wielding immense power, and a shadowy figure engulfed in flames.
When the visions ended, Kael found himself back in the forge, the shard gone. But something inside him had changed. He could feel it—a spark, a warmth that wasn't there before. He clenched his fists, marveling at the faint glow emanating from his veins.
"What... what have I become?" he whispered.
Before he could process what had happened, the workshop door burst open. Dain, the local mercenary and occasional drinking companion, stormed in, his face pale.
"Kael! You need to come with me—now!"
Kael stood, still shaken. "Dain, what's going on?"
"No time to explain," Dain said, grabbing Kael's arm. "There's something happening in the square. People are saying it's an attack."
As they ran through the cobblestone streets, Kael noticed the chaos around him. Townsfolk were fleeing in every direction, their screams piercing the night. Strange creatures, shadowy and wolf-like, prowled through the streets, their glowing red eyes searching for prey.
"What are those things?" Kael asked, gripping a hammer he had snatched from the forge.
"Never seen them before," Dain replied, unsheathing his blade. "But they're not natural. Stay close."
The two fought their way through the square, Kael swinging his hammer with surprising precision. Each strike seemed to carry more force than usual, the blows sending the creatures scattering like leaves.
"Kael, since when could you fight like that?" Dain asked, panting as he sliced through another beast.
"I don't know!" Kael shouted, his glowing veins intensifying with each swing. "Something happened at the forge. I think it's connected to these things."
Dain didn't press further. They finally reached the town's center, where a figure cloaked in black stood amidst the carnage. The man radiated an aura of menace, his crimson eyes locking onto Kael.
"So, the Boundless Soul has found its new host," the man said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Pity. I expected someone... stronger."
Kael raised his hammer, his grip tightening. "Who are you? And what do you want with me?"
The man chuckled. "I am Malrik, and I've come to reclaim what's mine."
Before Kael could react, Malrik raised his hand, and a torrent of black flames shot toward him. Instinctively, Kael raised his hammer, the weapon glowing as it absorbed the flames. The energy flowed into him, amplifying the strange power coursing through his body.
"You're more resilient than I thought," Malrik mused, stepping forward. "But raw potential is meaningless without control."
Kael charged, swinging his hammer with all his might. Malrik deflected the blow with a flick of his wrist, sending Kael sprawling.
"Kael!" Dain shouted, leaping to defend his friend.
Malrik barely acknowledged Dain, swatting him aside with a wave of dark energy. "This isn't your fight, mortal."
Kael struggled to his feet, anger and fear swirling within him. The warmth inside him grew, a fire begging to be unleashed. He closed his eyes, focusing on the energy, and the hammer in his hand transformed, its head glowing with a radiant blue light.
Malrik's eyes narrowed. "So, you've begun to awaken. Interesting."
Kael swung the transformed hammer, releasing a wave of energy that struck Malrik square in the chest. The sorcerer staggered, his smirk replaced by a scowl.
"You'll regret that," Malrik growled. "But I'll let you live—for now. Enjoy your fleeting triumph, boy. The Eclipsed Order will come for you."
With that, Malrik vanished in a swirl of shadows, leaving Kael gasping for air.
---
### **The Road Ahead**
The town was in shambles, its people shaken but alive. Kael and Dain returned to the forge, where Kael tried to make sense of what had happened.
"That man—Malrik—he said I have something called the Boundless Soul," Kael said, pacing.
Dain nodded. "I've heard the name before. Old legends talk about a power that could shape reality itself. If it's true, Kael, you've just stepped into a world far bigger than this town."
Kael clenched his fists. He had always dreamed of leaving the forge, of doing something meaningful with his life. But this? This was beyond anything he could have imagined.
"I don't know why this happened to me," Kael said, his voice steady. "But if the Eclipsed Order is coming, I won't let them destroy everything I care about."
Dain placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then we fight. Together."
Kael nodded, staring into the embers of the forge. He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear: his journey was just beginning.