Kael lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wide awake. The soft glow of a lantern illuminated the room, but no amount of warmth or comfort seemed to lull him to sleep. Beside the bed, Ellia sat, her green eyes watching him with a mix of affection and mild frustration.
"What can I do to make you fall asleep?" she asked, leaning on her knees.
Kael shrugged, his small frame barely making a dent in the bed. "I don't know. Maybe I can sleep later?"
Ellia let out a defeated sigh and leaned back in her chair. She was about to concede and let him stay awake when a thought struck her. Sitting upright, she snapped her fingers. "Wait! I have some books. I can read you a story to help you fall asleep."
Kael turned his head, curiosity flickering in his green eyes. "Books? What's a book?"
Ellia chuckled, shaking her head. "You'll see. Just wait here." She left the room, the sound of her footsteps fading as she went to retrieve her treasures.
In the dim storage room, she scanned a pile of dusty books. Most were worn and unremarkable, their covers faded with time. But among them, one seemed to shimmer faintly, its cover glowing yellow through the thin layer of dust. Ellia brushed it off, revealing the title: **The Story of the Great Paladin**. Beside it, she found another book titled **The Story of the Great Knight**.
Carrying both, she returned to Kael, setting them down on the bed with a dramatic thud.
"Alright, Kael," she said with a playful smile. "Which one do you want to hear?"
Kael frowned, looking at the books. "Aren't they the same?"
Ellia raised an eyebrow. "No, silly. Look at the symbols at the bottom of the covers. They're different."
Kael tilted his head. "Symbols? What do they mean?"
"Symbols?" Ellia scoffed before realizing. "Oh, right. You can't read yet. Never mind. I'll explain. The one with the yellow cover is the story of the great paladin."
"Paladin?" Kael repeated, intrigued.
Ellia nodded. "Paladins are brave warriors who protect people. They charge into battle first, taking the hits so their friends don't have to."
Kael's eyes lit up. "Wow! I want to be a paladin! That's so cool!"
Ellia grinned. "It is. Being so selfless is a wonderful thing."
Kael tilted his head again. "Selfless? What does that mean?"
She chuckled softly, deciding to move on. "And this," she picked up the second book, "is the story of the great knight."
Kael looked at her curiously. "Oh. Okay."
Ellia leaned forward, teasing. "Aren't you going to ask me what a knight is?"
Kael puffed up his chest confidently. "I already know! Knights fight with swords and charge in after the paladin!"
Ellia blinked, impressed. "That's right! But how did you know the knight goes in second?"
Kael shrugged. "Because I always thought knights went first, but if the paladin charges in first, then the knight has to be second."
Ellia laughed, ruffling his hair. "You're quite smart, aren't you?"
Kael grinned. "So, can we read about the paladin?"
"Of course," Ellia said, picking up the yellow-covered book. "If you want to be like him, this story will be perfect for you."
She opened the book, the faint glow of its pages illuminating her face. Clearing her throat, she began, her voice soft and melodic.
"Long ago, when the Nyxen roamed the lands and threatened to swallow all light and hope, there lived a man named Alaric, the Radiant Shield..."
As she read, Kael's eyes grew wide with wonder, his imagination painting vivid images of a noble paladin standing tall against the shadows. And as Ellia's voice wove the tale of Alaric's bravery and sacrifice, Kael found himself drifting into a dreamscape where he, too, stood as a protector of light.
Ellia paused in her reading, noticing Kael's rapt attention. His green eyes were fixed on her, filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity.
"Ellia?" Kael's voice broke the silence, his tone filled with genuine curiosity.
"Hmm?" Ellia looked down at him, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
"What's a Nyxen?" Kael asked, his brow furrowing slightly. "You said they roamed the lands. What are they?"
Ellia paused, her finger resting on the page as she considered how to explain it to him.
"A Nyxen," she began, her voice taking on a serious tone, "is a demon. A creature born from the shadows, and they used to roam the earth freely, terrorizing villages and cities. People would flee in fear whenever the Nyxen came. But that was before the heroes, the ones who fought against them."
Kael's eyes widened, absorbing her words. "But... why don't they roam the land anymore?"
"Because the heroes sealed them away, pushed them into the darkness," Ellia explained softly. "Now, Nyxen only come out at night, when the sun's light fades, and they're more terrifying than ever. Their eyes glow like fire, and their shapes are twisted and monstrous. Some say they can take on the form of people, tricking others into thinking they're safe, only to reveal their true nature in the dead of night."
Kael shuddered, imagining the horrors she described. "That sounds scary... Why are they so evil?"
"The Nyxen are creatures of darkness," Ellia continued, her voice gentle yet firm. "They feed on fear and suffering. They were once the embodiment of all that is evil and destructive. But heroes like Alaric, the paladin, fought against them. And even now, we still see the remnants of their power, lurking in the night, waiting for their chance to strike."
Kael's small fists clenched as he listened, his youthful determination shining through. "I'll be strong, like the heroes, so I can protect everyone from the Nyxen."
Ellia smiled warmly, brushing his hair back. "You will, Kael. You've got the heart of a hero. But for now, let's finish the story of Alaric. You need your rest."
Kael nodded eagerly, his eyes still wide with wonder, as Ellia resumed reading. The tale of Alaric's bravery continued to fill the room with a sense of quiet heroism, and soon enough, Kael found himself drifting into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in the warmth of Ellia's voice and the promise of heroic dreams.
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