Arlen ran as fast as he could. Panic coursed through his body, his breath ragged and shallow. The tall grass whipped against his legs as he sprinted aimlessly, driven only by a primal instinct to escape the creature chasing him.
Behind him, the rumbling grew louder. It wasn't just the sound of footsteps, but a guttural roar that sent chills down his spine. He glanced back, and the creature was gaining on him—towering like a small building, with massive claws glinting under the strange twin suns, and eyes glowing red like torches in the darkness.
"What is all of this?! What kind of world is this?!" Arlen shouted, but the wind and the rumbling drowned out his voice.
The purple sky above him began to shift. Dark clouds gathered slowly, and crimson lightning crackled in the distance, as though the world itself was angry. The ground beneath his feet trembled, threatening to throw him off balance.
"I can't keep this up for long!" he gasped, his breath coming in short bursts.
But before he could think further, the creature leapt into the air. In a single bound, it closed the distance and landed directly in front of him. The impact of its landing cracked the ground, sending small tremors rippling outward.
Arlen skidded to a halt, nearly falling backward. Now, he could see the creature clearly. It was massive, its body a mass of black, swirling smoke that seemed alive, and its claws shone with an eerie glow under the flashes of lightning in the sky. Its head was adorned with curved horns, making it look like the king of all monsters.
The creature lowered its head and fixed its glowing red eyes on Arlen. Then, in a deep, rumbling voice, it spoke. "Keeper… Shatter the crystal… or I will tear you apart."
Arlen swallowed hard, his entire body trembling. "What are you talking about?! I don't even know what you mean!"
The creature growled, raising one massive claw. "You don't need to know, human. All you need to know is… you are weak, and unworthy of carrying the flame."
Before Arlen could process the words, the creature swung its claw at him. The force of the swing sent a gust of wind that knocked Arlen backward several meters. He hit the ground hard, his back slamming against a large rock.
Arlen groaned as pain shot through his body. "This is insane… I don't even know what's happening… and now I'm going to die here?" he thought, fear tightening its grip on him.
The creature slowly approached, savoring the fear etched on Arlen's face. "You are nothing. Surrender the Eternal Flame, and I will grant you a swift death."
Arlen tried to stand, but his body felt heavy. The pain in his back pinned him to the ground, as though the earth itself conspired to hold him down. He looked at the creature, now only a few steps away.
"I don't know what you want. I don't know why I'm here. But I know one thing…" Arlen gritted his teeth, his voice trembling but defiant. "…I won't give up that easily!"
Suddenly, a blue light flickered in his hand. It was the same light as before—the small, pulsing flame that seemed alive.
The creature froze, its glowing eyes narrowing. "So, the flame truly has chosen you… But you don't even know how to wield it. It will only burn you."
Arlen stared at his hand, now glowing with the faint blue light. The glow grew stronger, radiating waves of heat that seemed to burn the air around it. The pain in his body began to fade, replaced by a strange, powerful warmth.
"What is this…? What's happening to me?" he whispered.
The creature growled again, stepping forward with renewed fury. "I will tear you apart before the flame grows stronger!"
The creature leapt once more, its claws raised high, ready to strike Arlen down. But just as the claws were about to hit him, Arlen's body moved on its own. He raised his hand instinctively, and from it, a massive burst of blue flame erupted, slamming into the creature's chest.
The creature let out a deafening roar as it was thrown backward, crashing into the ground with enough force to crack the earth around it. Dust and debris filled the air as the creature's massive body lay momentarily still.
Arlen gasped, his eyes wide in disbelief. He looked at his hands, now glowing with the pulsating blue flame. "I… I did that?"
The creature slowly rolled over, its body scorched in several places, but it refused to stay down. It staggered back to its feet, its movements slower but no less menacing. "You… just got lucky… That won't happen again."
Before the creature could attack again, another sound broke through the air. Footsteps—light but purposeful—approached from the distance.
"So, you've already found the new Keeper, have you?"
Arlen turned toward the voice. A woman stood atop a small hill, wearing light armor that glinted in the strange sunlight. A large sword was strapped to her back, and her sharp eyes locked onto the creature with unwavering confidence.
"If you want to fight the Keeper, you'll have to go through me first," the woman said, her voice cold but brimming with determination.
The creature growled, but hesitation flickered in its glowing red eyes. "The knight… You again…"
The woman smirked, drawing her sword. "That's right. Me again. Now, why don't you try, and let's see if I let you walk away this time."
Arlen could only stare, stunned. "Who is she…? And what in the world is going on here?"
---
Arlen remained frozen, his body trembling between fear and awe. The woman now stood between him and the massive creature that seemed like the king of all darkness. The large sword in her hand glinted with an otherworldly glow, while the wind carried an unbearable tension across the field.
The creature let out a low growl, its voice heavy like rolling thunder. "That knight... Do you really think your little sword can stop me? I am a herald of darkness. I am an unstoppable force."
The woman smirked faintly. "Nonsense. You're just an overconfident beast. And if you think I'll let you lay a hand on this boy, you're gravely mistaken."
Arlen swallowed hard, feeling small in the presence of two beings far larger than his comprehension. "Boy?! Hey, I'm not a kid!" he shouted, though his voice wavered nervously.
The woman glanced back at him, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Shut up and stay put. If you move, you'll die."
Arlen snapped his mouth shut immediately. He knew she wasn't joking.
The creature growled louder, its voice growing deeper. "You don't understand what you're dealing with. That flame belongs to us. The Keeper is merely a tool… And tools can be broken."
Without warning, the creature lunged at the woman, its massive claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. But the woman didn't flinch. In one swift motion, she raised her sword, deflecting the creature's claws with a loud metallic clang that echoed across the field.
The impact was so powerful that the ground beneath them cracked. The woman was forced back a few steps, but she remained standing. Her sword shone brighter, almost as though it was absorbing the energy from the collision.
"If that's all you've got, you won't last long," the woman said coldly.
The creature growled again, this time with greater fury. It attacked once more, its claws striking in rapid succession. But the woman moved like a shadow, dodging each blow with fluid grace. Her sword spun in her hands, cutting through the air with incredible speed.
Arlen could only watch, his eyes wide in disbelief. "She's… she's fighting that monster on her own? How is that even possible?"
However, the fight wasn't entirely one-sided. While the woman had the upper hand in skill and agility, the creature possessed raw, overwhelming power. Each time its claws struck the ground, the earth cracked beneath it, creating small craters. Each leap sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
The battle stirred up a thick cloud of dust, obscuring Arlen's view of what was happening. But through the haze, he heard the woman's voice. "You need to learn how to use what's inside you, Keeper. If you don't, you won't survive here."
Arlen furrowed his brow. "Use what? I don't even know what's happening!"
"The flame," the woman replied, her voice firm even as she fought. "The flame chose you. You need to control it, or it will consume you. It's that simple."
"I don't know how!" Arlen shouted, frustration bubbling to the surface.
The woman didn't respond. Instead, she leapt into the air, swinging her sword with all her might. The blade glowed brightly, striking the creature squarely on its shoulder. The creature let out an ear-splitting roar, its massive body thrown backward several meters.
But it wasn't enough to take it down. The creature rose again, though its movements were slower this time. From the wound on its shoulder, black smoke seeped out like boiling blood.
"You… will pay for that," the creature growled, its voice dripping with hatred.
Before it could attack again, the woman turned her gaze to Arlen. "Listen to me, rookie. You can't keep running. That flame is inside you now, and only you can wield it. Focus. Feel its warmth. Let it flow through you."
Arlen shook his head, panic still gripping him. "I don't know what you're talking about! I don't even know what it is!"
The woman sighed, then faced the creature again. "Then don't die. That's lesson one."
The creature lunged once more, its growls more feral than before. The woman met its charge with her sword, but Arlen could see she was beginning to tire. This fight wouldn't last much longer.
Arlen looked down at his hands, which had previously burst into blue flames. "Focus… Feel its warmth…" he muttered, repeating the woman's words to himself.
He closed his eyes, trying to push away his fear. He remembered the strange warmth he had felt earlier—when the flame had first appeared. It wasn't just heat; it was something deeper. Something alive.
And then, he felt it again. A small spark in his chest, like a tiny ember slowly growing. He clenched his eyes tighter, willing the spark to come forward.
His right hand began to glow. A soft blue light emerged, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Arlen opened his eyes, watching as the flame grew in his hand. That same warmth spread through his body, but this time, he didn't feel afraid. He felt strong.
The woman caught the light out of the corner of her eye and gave a small smile. "Finally. Now use it."
The creature also noticed the light, turning its attention to Arlen. "So… you've finally shown yourself, Keeper."
Arlen stared back at the creature, his eyes filled with determination, though his body still trembled. "I don't know what I'm doing… But I'm not running anymore."
The creature growled, then leapt toward him. This time, Arlen didn't back down. He raised his hand, and from the blue flame, a burst of energy erupted, slamming into the creature with incredible force.
The creature was sent flying, its massive body crashing into the ground with a deafening impact. This time, it didn't rise immediately.
Arlen panted heavily, shocked by what he had just done. The woman approached him, sheathing her sword. "Good job for a beginner. But don't get too cocky. This is just the beginning."
Arlen looked at her, still dazed. "Who are you? And what's really going on here?"
The woman stared back at him, her gaze sharp but steady. "My name's Kiera. And you, Keeper, have just stepped into a war you never asked for."