Dawn was breaking over Selenopolis, bathing the alabaster towers in golden light. Caelum, already awake, watched the city come to life from the balcony of his quarters. The young knight of Myralis breathed deeply, trying to calm his racing heart. Today marked the beginning of his true training for the tournament of nations.
"Ready for an eventful day, kid?" Rowan's gruff voice pulled him from his contemplation.
Caelum turned, a slight smile on his lips. "As ready as I can be, I suppose."
Rowan nodded, his face marked by years betraying a hint of worry. "Don't forget, Caelum. Here, every gesture, every word can have consequences. Observe, learn, but always keep your secrets."
The young man nodded, feeling the weight of his responsibility on his shoulders. He represented Myralis, a nation forgotten by all. Each of his actions would be scrutinized, judged.
The training arenas of Selenopolis were buzzing with activity when Caelum entered. Knights from all nations were engaged in duels of breathtaking intensity. The air crackled with magical energy, the clash of blades mingling with whispered incantations.
Caelum quickly spotted Kaela Solarius, the representative of Solara. Her flaming hair danced around her as she chained attacks against an invisible opponent, her body enveloped in a shimmering aura of heat.
"Impressive, isn't it?" A calm voice rose beside him. Caelum turned to discover Dorian Ventaris, the knight of Aquila. His piercing eyes seemed to read Caelum like an open book.
"Yes, indeed," replied Caelum, on guard.
Dorian smiled, a gesture that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm eager to see what Myralis can show us. After all, a nation fallen into oblivion must have some well-kept secrets, mustn't it?"
Before Caelum could respond, an icy voice interrupted them. "Don't waste your time with him, Ventaris. Myralis's secrets are nothing but dust and ashes."
Raven Noctalis, the representative of Noctis, stood there, his ink-black gaze fixed on Caelum. An aura of darkness seemed to surround him, making the young knight shiver.
"Don't be so quick to judge, Noctalis," Dorian retorted. "Sometimes, the greatest treasures hide in ruins."
Caelum felt the tension rise between the two men. He was about to intervene when a gong sounded, signaling the start of official training.
Lady Aria Moonwhisper appeared in the center of the arena, her presence immediately imposing silence. "Knights of the Six Nations," her voice resonated, clear and powerful. "Today begins your true preparation. You will be tested, pushed to your limits. But remember, the tournament is not just a test of strength. It is a demonstration of wisdom, honor, and sacrifice."
Her gaze lingered on Caelum as she spoke these last words, making him feel strangely exposed.
The training that followed was brutal. Caelum found himself facing opponents from all nations, each using techniques he had never seen before. He parried Kaela's fire blades, dodged Raven's living shadows, and attempted to pierce Dorian's wind defenses.
With each exchange, each blow received, Caelum felt something awakening within him. An ancient force, dormant for centuries, that began to manifest in flashes of silvery light around his blade.
As the sun reached its zenith, Lady Aria announced a break. Caelum, panting and covered in sweat, headed towards a fountain to refresh himself. That's when he heard them.
Two Lunaris officers, thinking they weren't being overheard, were whispering animatedly.
"... disturbances at the borders. It's not normal."
"Patrols have been doubled, but these shadows... they appear and disappear as if by magic."
Caelum listened intently, intrigued, but the two men quickly moved away, leaving him with more questions than answers.
The afternoon was devoted to strategy and diplomacy exercises. Caelum found himself navigating a maze of simulated alliances and betrayals, each decision weighing heavily on the balance of power between nations.
It was during one of these exercises that he caught Princess Velyria's gaze. She was observing him from a terrace overlooking the arena, her face impassive but her eyes shining with undisguised curiosity. Their eyes met briefly, and Caelum felt his heart skip a beat. There was something in those eyes, a mixture of ancient wisdom and unspoken secret that deeply troubled him.
As evening fell, exhausted but with his mind buzzing, Caelum rejoined Rowan in their quarters. The old knight was waiting for him, sitting by the window, his gaze lost in the distance.
"How was your first day?" Rowan asked, without turning around.
Caelum sat down heavily, feeling every muscle in his body protest. "Intense. I feel like I've learned more today than in years at Eryndor."
Rowan nodded slowly. "Real learning often begins when you're pushed out of your comfort zone." He finally turned to Caelum, his face grave. "Did you notice anything... unusual?"
The young man hesitated, then recounted the conversation he had overheard between the officers. Rowan listened attentively, his brow furrowing with concern.
"Shadows at the borders..." he murmured, more to himself than to Caelum. "It reminds me of... no, never mind."
"What does it remind you of, Rowan?" Caelum insisted, intrigued by his mentor's reaction.
Rowan shook his head, as if to chase away a bad memory. "Difficult choices I had to make long ago. Choices that cost me more than you can imagine." He fixed Caelum with an intense gaze. "Remember, Caelum. In this world, nothing is ever what it seems. Beware of shadows, but don't forget that sometimes, the greatest threat hides in plain sight."
With these enigmatic words, Rowan stood up and left the room, leaving Caelum alone with his questions.
That night, sleep was long in coming for the young knight. His mind whirled, filled with images of the day: the silver flashes around his blade, Velyria's penetrating gaze, Rowan's mysterious words.
When he finally fell asleep, his dreams were troubled. He saw himself walking down a dark corridor, shadows dancing on the walls. At the end of the corridor, a light shone faintly. As he approached, he recognized the Seal of Abnegation, pulsing with a silver and golden glow.
Suddenly, silhouettes of knights emerged from the shadows, their armor tarnished and their cloaks in tatters. They reached out skeletal hands towards the Seal, their voices mere hoarse whispers:
"The Seal... it must be broken..."
"The balance must be restored..."
"Beware of the seventh..."
Caelum woke with a start, his heart pounding. The light of dawn barely filtered through the curtains. He remained motionless for a moment, trying to untangle reality from dream.
One thing was certain: something bigger was brewing. Something that went beyond the simple framework of the tournament of nations. And somehow, Caelum knew he would be at the heart of this coming storm.
As Selenopolis awakened to a new day, the young knight of Myralis rose, determined. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them. For Myralis, for himself, and for a future he was only beginning to glimpse.