Kael's training was interrupted one morning by the sound of footsteps outside the shrine. Grabbing a makeshift weapon—a sturdy branch he had been using for practice—he moved silently toward the entrance.
To his surprise, a young woman stood there, her emerald-green cloak covered in dust. She had a sharp gaze, and her hand rested on the hilt of a dagger at her side.
"Who are you, and why are you here?" Kael demanded, stepping into view.
The woman spun around, startled but quickly recovering her composure. "I should be asking you the same thing. This shrine is supposed to be abandoned."
"It was," Kael replied curtly. "Until I claimed it."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Claimed it? Bold of you. Do you even know what this place is?"
Kael hesitated, sensing she might know more than he did. "I know enough. Now answer my question—who are you?"
The woman smirked. "I'm Eira, a wanderer. And if you're training here, then you must have faced the guardian."
Kael frowned. "You mean the wolf? Yes, I defeated it."
Eira's expression shifted to one of surprise and intrigue. "Impressive. Most who try don't make it out alive. Maybe you're worth talking to after all."
Kael lowered his makeshift weapon slightly. "What do you want?"
Eira glanced past him into the shrine. "Information. I've been tracking a group of mercenaries who've been raiding villages nearby. Rumor has it they're searching for ancient relics—this shrine included."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "And what's your interest in these mercenaries?"
Eira's gaze hardened. "They destroyed my home. I intend to make them pay."
Kael and Eira's conversation was interrupted by the sound of distant shouting. They turned to see smoke rising from the direction of the village.
"Elaris," Kael said, his voice filled with urgency. "It's under attack."
Eira unsheathed her dagger, her expression grim. "Looks like the mercenaries found their next target."
Kael clenched his fists, the energy of his training surging within him. "Then let's go. They'll regret crossing paths with us."
Eira smirked. "I like your spirit, stranger. Let's see if you can back it up."
As Kael and Eira raced toward the village, Kael couldn't help but feel that his journey was truly beginning. The trials ahead would be brutal, but with allies like Eira and the power of the shrine's teachings, he knew he was ready to face whatever came next.