The village of Eldenridge was a place forgotten by time, nestled between rolling hills and dense forests. The people lived simple lives, their days spent tilling fields and tending to livestock. Eryon, an orphan raised by the village elder, always dreamed of a life beyond the horizon. Little did he know, his wish for change would come true in the most devastating way.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. Eryon sat on the roof of the elder's cottage, gazing at the distant mountains. He often imagined what lay beyond them—vast cities, grand castles, and adventures waiting to be had. Below, the village bustled with the sounds of evening chores. Lanterns flickered to life, casting a warm glow over cobblestone streets.
"Eryon! Get down here before you fall and break your neck!" The elder's voice cut through his daydreams. Smiling, he slid down the roof and landed gracefully in front of the elder, a wiry woman with sharp eyes and a cane she wielded more like a weapon than a walking aid.
"I wasn't going to fall," he said, brushing off his tunic.
"Hmph. And I wasn't going to scold you," she retorted, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Come, dinner's ready."
As they sat down to eat, the elder's mood grew somber. She watched Eryon with a gaze that seemed to pierce through him. "You've been restless lately," she said.
"I just… I feel like there's more out there for me. Like I'm meant for something bigger."
The elder sighed. "Sometimes, bigger isn't better. Sometimes, it's just heavier." Before Eryon could respond, a low rumble shook the ground. The dishes rattled on the table, and a strange, oppressive energy filled the air.
"What was that?" Eryon asked, standing abruptly.
The elder's face paled. "Stay here." She grabbed her cane and hobbled outside, but Eryon wasn't one to follow orders. He rushed after her, only to stop dead in his tracks when he saw the sky.
A deafening roar split the air as the heavens fractured. Streaks of violet and black light erupted from the horizon, tearing through the atmosphere like cracks in glass. The ground trembled violently, and villagers screamed as they stumbled out of their homes. In the distance, a massive pillar of dark energy shot into the sky, its swirling mass of shadow and light devouring the stars.
Eryon felt a strange pull deep within him, a connection he couldn't explain. His chest tightened, and he clutched at his shirt as an unbearable heat coursed through his veins. Around him, the world descended into chaos. Buildings crumbled, and fires erupted, casting the village in an eerie, apocalyptic glow.
"Eryon!" The elder's voice broke through his haze. She grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong. "You must leave! They will come for you."
"What? Who?" he stammered, his heart pounding.
"No time to explain. Go to the forest and don't look back."
Before he could protest, a wave of energy rippled through the village, toppling buildings and throwing people to the ground. Eryon blacked out, the elder's words echoing in his mind.
When he woke, the once-thriving village was in ruins. Fires burned unchecked, their smoke blotting out the stars. The air was thick with ash and the metallic scent of blood. Eryon pushed himself to his feet, his head throbbing. Around him, the remains of Eldenridge lay silent.
"Elder?" he called out, his voice hoarse. There was no response. Stumbling through the rubble, he searched desperately for any sign of life. The elder's cottage was a smoldering heap of wood and ash. His chest tightened as he sifted through the debris, finding only her cane, charred and broken.
A faint cry reached his ears. "Help…"
Eryon followed the sound, his heart racing. He found a young girl trapped under a collapsed roof beam. Her small frame trembled as she struggled to free herself. Summoning strength he didn't know he had, Eryon lifted the beam and pulled her to safety.
"Thank you," she whispered, tears streaming down her soot-streaked face. "My name's Tia."
Before Eryon could respond, a chilling wind swept through the village. He turned to see shadowy figures emerging from the smoke. Their forms were humanoid but unnatural, their movements jerky and inhuman. Their eyes glowed with an eerie light, and they wielded weapons forged from the same violet-black energy that had shattered the sky.
Instinctively, Eryon shielded Tia with his body. One of the figures raised a blade and lunged. Eryon braced for the impact, but a surge of energy erupted from his body, sending the creature flying. Tia gasped, and Eryon stared at his hands, now glowing faintly with shifting colors.
The figures hesitated, as if sensing the power emanating from him. Then, without warning, they retreated into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.
"What… what was that?" Tia whispered, clinging to Eryon.
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice shaking. "But we can't stay here."
Taking Tia's hand, he led her into the forest, the elder's warning ringing in his ears. Someone or something was hunting him, and he needed answers.
The forest was dense and silent, the trees towering like ancient sentinels. Eryon and Tia moved cautiously, their footsteps muffled by the moss-covered ground. As they walked, Eryon tried to make sense of what had happened. The elder's cryptic warning, the strange energy coursing through him, the shadowy figures… none of it made sense.
By dawn, they reached a small clearing and paused to rest. Tia leaned against a tree, her small frame trembling with exhaustion. Eryon sat beside her, his mind racing. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was connected to the catastrophe that had befallen Eldenridge.
"Why were those things after you?" Tia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know," Eryon said, running a hand through his hair. "But I'm going to find out."
Tia looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope. "Promise you won't leave me?"
Eryon placed a hand on her shoulder. "I promise."
As they rested, Eryon's thoughts turned to the elder. She had known something, but whatever it was, she had taken it to her grave. He clenched his fists, anger and grief boiling within him. He vowed to uncover the truth, not just for himself, but for Eldenridge and the people he had lost.
Far away, in a grand council chamber filled with the rulers of the Twelve Empires, the events of the Voidfall were being discussed with hushed urgency. Little did Eryon know, his journey was only beginning, and the fate of the entire world rested on his shoulders.