The forest was alive with the sounds of morning—birds chirping, leaves rustling in the breeze, the distant trickle of a stream. But to Kai, it all felt distant, muted, as if he were walking through a dream. His mind was still reeling from the vision of the Weaver, her words echoing in his thoughts like a haunting melody.
The Thread of Eternity. The fate of the multiverse. The Threadbearer.
He didn't know what any of it meant, but one thing was clear: his life had changed forever. The village was gone, and with it, the only life he had ever known. Now, he and Mira were alone in a world that felt both familiar and alien, their path uncertain.
Mira walked alongside him, her steps steady but her expression troubled. She hadn't said much since he told her about the talisman, and Kai knew she was working through everything in her own head. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be all right, but the words felt hollow even in his own mind. How could he promise her safety when he didn't even know what they were up against?
Kai," Mira blurted suddenly, breaking the silence. "Do you think… do you think Mom and Dad knew about the talisman?
The question threw Kai off balance. He hadn't thought of his parents in years-not since the fever had taken them both, leaving him and Mira to fend for themselves. He recalled his mother fastening the cord around his neck, her hands shaking as she gave him the talisman. She had told him it was a family heirloom, to remember her by. But now, he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it.
"I don't know," he admitted. "But if they did, they never told me."
Mira nodded, her eyes falling to the ground. "Do you think they'd be proud of us?" For… trying to figure this out?"
Kai's chest tightened at the question. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Yeah," he said softly. "I think they would.
Mira smiled faintly, but it didn't reach her eyes. Kai knew she was still scared, still grieving. He was too. But they couldn't afford to stop, not now. They had to keep moving.
The forest began to thin out as they walked, the trees giving way to rolling hills and open fields. In the distance, Kai could see the faint outline of mountains, their peaks shrouded in mist. He didn't know where they were going, but something told him to head toward the mountains—a pull in his chest, faint but insistent, like the tug of a thread.
Do you think there are other villages out here?" Mira asked, her voice tinged with hope.
"Probably," Kai said, though he wasn't sure. The low world was vast, and much of it was uncharted. But if there were other villages, they would need to be careful. Strangers weren't always welcome, especially in times of trouble.
As they crested a hill, Kai spotted something in the distance—a thin column of smoke rising into the sky. His heart leapt. Smoke meant fire, and fire meant people.
"There," he said. "Let's check it out."
Mira hesitated, wary. "What if it's not safe?"
"We don't have a choice," Kai said. "We need food, water, and information. And we can't keep wandering aimlessly."
Mira nodded reluctantly, and they set off toward the smoke, their pace quickening as they drew closer. The pull in Kai's chest grew stronger, the talisman humming faintly against his skin. He didn't know what it meant, but he trusted it—for now.
The village was small, even smaller than Emberfall, with a handful of wooden huts clustered around a central fire pit. The people were simple folk, their clothes patched and worn, their faces lined with hardship. But they seemed friendly enough, greeting Kai and Mira with cautious smiles and curious glances.
"Travelers?" an old man asked as they approached. He was sitting by the fire, a pipe in one hand and a walking stick in the other. His eyes were sharp, despite his age, and they lingered on the talisman around Kai's neck.
"Yes," Kai said, choosing his words carefully. "We're… looking for shelter. And information."
The old man nodded, as if he had expected this. "You've come from the west, haven't you? From Emberfall?"
Kai's heart skipped a beat. "How did you know?"
The old man gestured to the horizon, where the sky was still tinged with the unnatural black and gold of the previous night. "We saw the light. And we felt the tremors. Something terrible happened there, didn't it?"
Kai looked at Mira, uncertain how much he should tell. However, the look on the old man's face was benevolent, and Kai somehow felt that this man could be trusted.
"Yes," he finally said. "Our village was destroyed. By… by creatures. Shadowy beings with glowing eyes."
The old man's face grew dark, and he puffed on his pipe for a long time before speaking. "The Shadow Wraiths," he said in a low voice. "They've been seen before, though not in centuries. They come from the higher realms, drawn by chaos and destruction."
Kai's stomach churned at the words. "Do you know why they attacked us? What they want?
The old man shook his head. "No one knows for sure. But there are stories—legends of an ancient artifact, a tool of immense power that can shape the very fabric of reality. Some say the Wraiths seek it. Others say they fear it.
He had an instinctive urge to reach out and touch the talisman, his fingers grazing its surface. The old man's eyes followed the movement, and for a moment, Kai thought he saw a flicker of recognition there.
"You have it, don't you?" the old man said, barely above a whisper.
But no argument was required now. "Yes," he admitted. "But I do not know what it is. Nor how to use it."
The old man leaned forward. His expression grave. "So you will have to learn," he said. "And the sooner, the better. For the Wraiths won't stop, won't leave. And if they find you.
He didn't finish the sentence, but he had to say nothing else. Kai understood. The stakes were much higher than he had thought. The talisman wasn't just a tool; it was a target. And if he didn't figure how to use it, he and Mira were as good as dead.
That night, while sitting by the fire, Kai and Mira spoke in a barely audible whisper, their voices not heard above the crackling flames.
What are we going to do now?" Mira said fearfully, staring wide-eyed with a question written on her face.
Kai took a breath and thought to himself. "We keep walking," he declared. "Find someone who teaches us about that thing. Keep one step ahead of the Wraiths."
Mira nodded, yet still looked unsettled. "You think it can be done? Really?
Kai reached out and took her hand, his grip firm. "We don't have a choice," he said. "We have to try."
(-_-)