The rain poured heavily over the city. The night sky was blanketed with swirling dark clouds, occasionally lit by flashes of lightning that split the heavens. The streets were wet and empty, with only the rhythmic sound of rain hitting the cobblestones filling the silence. But amidst the stillness, an old man ran, his breath ragged as he clutched a small crystal tightly in his hand.
The crystal glowed faintly, its blue light pulsing like a beating heart. It seemed alive, defying the darkness around it. Yet it wasn't just its glow that made it extraordinary—it radiated a strange energy, an energy that felt like fire, burning the air around him.
"They must not find it… They must never have it…" the old man muttered, his eyes darting around nervously.
Behind him, from the shadows of narrow alleys, came the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps. Not the footsteps of a man. They were like thunderous blows, shaking the ground, accompanied by a guttural growl that sent chills through the air.
"Keeper… you cannot run." A deep, menacing voice echoed from the darkness.
The old man stopped, his breath hitching. He turned around, eyes wide with fear, now staring at the figure emerging from the shadows. It was a creature—massive, with eyes glowing red like smoldering embers. Its skin was black as smoke, and its sharp claws tore at the air menacingly.
"The crystal belongs to us," the creature said, its voice a discordant mixture of two tones.
The old man shook his head. "No. The crystal will not fall into your hands… or anyone else's."
The creature stepped forward, the red light from its body polluting the air around it. "You cannot protect the Eternal Flame. You are but a frail human. Surrender it, or I will rip it from your corpse."
The old man didn't answer. Instead, he raised the crystal high above his head, his lips moving as he recited an ancient incantation. The wind around him began to swirl violently, and the crystal's glow intensified, growing blindingly bright.
The creature growled, stepping forward with claws poised to strike. But before it could attack, the crystal exploded into a burst of golden-blue light that radiated in all directions.
In an instant, the night turned to day. The rain stopped, the world seemed to still. And from the explosion, a portal ripped open in the air.
---
In Another World
Arlen woke up in his bed, his breathing heavy. He had the dream again. The same dream, over and over, like a broken record that wouldn't stop. A ruined city, an old man, and a blue light erupting into the sky.
He looked down at his hand, which felt hot. But that wasn't possible—his room was cold, and there was nothing there.
Before he could gather his thoughts, the walls of his room began to tremble. The bookshelf in the corner toppled over, and from a crack in the wall, the same blue light from his dream began to seep through.
"That light… it can't be," he whispered.
The crack grew larger, spreading like wild roots. And then, without warning, everything collapsed.
The blue light erupted, pulling Arlen into its core. He screamed, but his voice was swallowed by the void. The world around him disappeared, replaced by a glowing white emptiness.
When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his room.
---
Arlen stood in the middle of an endless grassland. A gentle breeze swept across the field, carrying the scent of fresh earth and dew-covered leaves. But this wasn't the wind he knew. The air here felt different—heavier, more alive.
He turned around, his eyes scanning the breathtaking scenery. The sky above was a deep shade of purple, adorned with two suns glowing in the horizon. Mountains loomed in the distance, their snow-covered peaks glistening like diamonds. Around him, green grass swayed as though welcoming his presence.
"Where… am I?" Arlen muttered, his voice barely audible over the wind.
He tried to piece together what had happened. The blue light, the collapse of his room, and the sensation of being pulled into nothingness. This wasn't a dream. It was real. But how could it be?
As he struggled to make sense of his situation, a deep, resonant voice echoed from behind him.
"So… you're the one it chose."
Arlen spun around quickly. Standing behind him was a tall man clad in a black robe with golden patterns that shimmered under the twin suns. The man's face was hidden beneath a hood, but his piercing yellow eyes glowed, locking onto Arlen with an intensity that froze him in place.
"I… I don't understand. Who are you? And where am I?" Arlen asked, his voice trembling as he tried to calm his racing heart.
The man didn't answer right away. He stepped forward, and with each step, the grass beneath his feet withered and turned black. "You don't belong here. I can feel it. Your blood… your aura… everything about you is wrong."
"What are you talking about? I don't even know why I'm here!" Arlen shouted, fear and confusion mixing into his voice.
The man stopped, just a few steps away from Arlen. From his fingertips, a spark of blue light appeared, floating like a small flame in the air. "You're carrying something. Something you're not even aware of."
Arlen frowned. "What are you talking about? I'm not carrying anything!"
The man chuckled coldly. "Oh, you are, whether you realize it or not." He raised his hand, and the spark of light grew into a swirling blue flame. "The shard has chosen you. But you have no idea what you're holding, do you? That power isn't just salvation—it's destruction."
Arlen took a step back, his instincts screaming at him to run. But before he could move, the man flicked his hand, and the blue flame shot toward Arlen with incredible speed.
Arlen raised his arms to shield himself, but instead of being burned, something strange happened. The flame stopped just before it touched him, then was absorbed into his body.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" Arlen shouted, feeling a strange warmth coursing through him. His heart pounded, and from his hands, the same blue light began to emerge, pulsing like a living fire.
The man in the robe narrowed his glowing eyes. "Interesting. Very interesting. You don't even know how to wield it, yet the flame already responds to you."
Arlen stared at his hands, now glowing with the same blue fire. "What is this…? What did you do to me!?"
The man smirked. "I did nothing. The Eternal Flame is yours now. But… I wonder how long you'll last before it consumes your soul."
Before Arlen could respond, the man vanished, leaving him alone in the middle of the grassland.
But he didn't have time to breathe. In the distance, a rumbling sound grew louder. The ground beneath his feet began to tremble. When he turned to look, his blood ran cold.
A massive shadow was racing toward him. A creature with jet-black skin, glowing red eyes, and claws that gleamed under the twin suns.
The creature let out a deafening roar, and only one thought crossed Arlen's mind: run.