I
First, Tyr heard the screams. They pierced the night, echoing through the ruined streets, louder than the crackling of fire devouring wood. Sparks from the infernos danced skyward, illuminating the chaos below. Buildings collapsed, stone walls folding under the relentless heat, crumbling into ash and rubble. Smoke thickened the air, turning the streets into a suffocating haze, reducing visibility to shadows and silhouettes.The sounds of panicked cries and desperate footsteps blended into a horrifying cacophony—children wailing, mothers calling for their loved ones. And then came the clash of metal through the oppressive smoke. The unmistakable sound of steel striking steel, followed by the sickening wetness of metal piercing flesh. Blades scraped against stone, the sharp ringing reverberating through the streets like a cruel melody of destruction.Tyr's mind reeled as the nightmare unfolded before him, his body frozen to the ash-covered cobblestone below. He couldn't move. He couldn't even look away. His eyes were locked on the carnage, forced to witness every agonizing moment.Figures clad in radiant white armor moved like predators through the streets, dragging townsfolk by their arms and legs, their cries drowned beneath the chaos. The knights' polished armor gleamed cruelly in the firelight, a stark contrast to the terror etched on the faces of their victims. Trails of ash kicked up in their wake as they pulled screaming men, women, and children toward the town square.Tyr's heart stopped when he saw her. A face he recognized even through the chaos. Black hair. Wide, terrified eyes. She looked older than he remembered, but there was no mistaking her. Fern.He tried to move, to call out, but his body betrayed him. His legs wouldn't obey, his voice caught in his throat. He could only watch, helpless, as the knights dragged her closer to the towering pyre in the center of town.The fire raged, consuming bodies that had already been thrown into its infernal maw. The stench of burning flesh hit Tyr like a physical blow, forcing him to gag. He tried to scream, his desperation clawing its way out of his throat, but no sound came."Fern!" he finally choked, his voice raw and broken, his cries lost amidst the screams and crackling flames.The knights reached the fire, their grip unyielding as they dragged Fern closer and closer to the blazing inferno. Tyr's desperation surged, his screams tearing from him with such force that his vocal cords burned."NO! STOP!" he screamed, the sound ripping through him, but it was as though the world was deaf to his agony.The knights didn't falter. They lifted Fern like she weighed nothing, her struggles weak against their armored grasp. Tyr's eyes widened, terror consuming him as they hoisted her over the flames."NOOOOO!" Tyr roared, forcing his frozen body to move, his muscles trembling under the weight of his desperation. But his legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground.The knights cast Fern into the fire.Her scream was so piercing, so raw, it silenced the chaos around them. The cries of the dying, the clanging of metal, the crackling flames—all of it was swallowed by that single, harrowing sound.Tyr's vision blurred with tears as his rage boiled over. Despair and fury swirled within him, a storm too powerful to contain. His body shook violently, his fists pounding the ash-covered ground as he screamed into the night, his voice echoing in defiance of the horror before him.IIThe violent rumble of the building jarred Agnar from his sleep. His eyes snapped open, and concern immediately etched itself across his face. He leapt from his bed, his instincts screaming that something was wrong. Throwing on his boots in haste, he barreled toward the door, shoving it open with such force that the wood cracked audibly as it slammed against the wall. Dust fell from the rafters above, and what few trinkets Agnar had displayed were scattered across the floor in disarray.He hurried into the living area, his eyes widening at the chaotic scene before him. A whirlwind of radiant blue soul energy swirled through the room like a raging storm, slashing through the air and leaving cracks spiderwebbing across the walls. The sheer pressure of the energy was suffocating, forcing Agnar to shield his face with his arm as he pushed forward.And then he saw the source.Tyr's small frame convulsed violently on the floor, his limbs jerking as though caught in some unseen battle. Blue light poured from his eyes, illuminating his anguished face. His mouth hung open in a silent scream, though no sound escaped."Tyr!" Agnar yelled, his voice straining to carry over the deafening roar of energy tearing through the room. "Wake up, kid! You're going to destroy this place!"But Tyr didn't respond. His energy lashed out in sharp, blade-like arcs, slicing into Agnar as he approached. Thin lines of blood appeared on Agnar's skin, trailing down his arms and face. He winced but pressed on, every step a struggle against the overwhelming force.Agnar gritted his teeth, his mind racing. This kid's soul energy is terrifying. If I don't stop him now, he'll kill us all… Damn it. Looks like I have no choice.Steeling himself, Agnar stopped in his tracks and spread his arms wide, his voice booming over the chaos. "Soul Convergence: Feast of Victory!"A yellow light erupted from his hands as he clapped them together. Slowly, he pulled them apart, revealing thousands of radiant golden strands. Each thread snaked through the air, latching onto the turbulent blue energy engulfing the room. The golden strands began devouring Tyr's energy, strand by strand, until the storm began to subside.When the last wisp of blue light vanished, the room fell eerily silent.Agnar dropped to his knees with a thud, his body trembling from exhaustion. His graying hair now seemed more faded, his once-strong frame visibly weakened. He muttered under his breath, "I hate using that technique…"Tyr's body stilled, his convulsions ceasing. But then, with a jolt, he awoke. This time, a scream tore from his throat—a real, agonized scream. He gasped for air, panic etched into every fiber of his being.Agnar forced himself to his feet, wincing as his aching body protested. He rushed to Tyr, gripping the boy by the shoulders. "Kid, calm down! Tell me what happened!"Tyr's wild eyes locked onto Agnar, and his breathing began to slow. But then his gaze fell to the blood streaking Agnar's arms, and his face twisted with guilt. "What… what happened? Are you hurt?"Agnar shook his head. "It's nothing. You were releasing your soul energy uncontrollably. I had to stop it. Don't worry about me."Tyr's lips quivered. "I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… I…" His voice broke as his hands trembled. "There was so much fire… so much destruction."Agnar's brow furrowed. "A nightmare?"Tyr shook his head violently. "It wasn't just a dream. It was real! I saw Fern!" His voice cracked, and tears welled in his eyes. "They… they dragged her through the streets. Knights in white armor. They threw her into a fire." He choked on his words, his chest heaving.Agnar's expression darkened as Hagar's words from the previous night echoed in his mind. "Tell me everything you saw."Tyr recounted the nightmare in vivid detail, his voice trembling with every word. When he finished, he sat in silence, visibly shaken.Agnar scratched his chin, piecing the puzzle together. "Knights in white armor… citizens of Ferndale…" He looked at Tyr thoughtfully. "I don't think this was just a dream. You said Fern looked older. I think what you saw was the future."Tyr's eyes widened. "The future? But… but why? Why did I see that?"Agnar didn't answer immediately, his thoughts racing. Is this what that being meant by 'preparing the boy'? Did they know this would happen? If this is the future, we have no time to waste. We need to start training immediately.Tyr broke the silence, his voice small but resolute. "I don't want that to be the future."Agnar placed a steadying hand on Tyr's shoulder, meeting his gaze. "Then we better start training."Tyr nodded, his resolve hardening. But as his eyes wandered around the room, taking in the destruction left in the wake of his energy, he asked, "This place… it's trashed. Did I do this?"Agnar hesitated, scratching the back of his head he nodded "About Hagar… he left last night." He watched Tyr closely, expecting an emotional reaction. But the boy simply nodded."I know," Tyr said softly. "He said goodbye last night."Agnar's brow furrowed in confusion. "How did you know?" Then it clicked. "Oh, you clever little rascal. You were awake the whole time."Tyr offered a faint smile. "I only woke up when he said goodbye. I figured if he knew, he wouldn't leave."Agnar chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, you're probably right."The moment of levity passed, and Agnar's tone grew serious. "There's something we need to talk about before training begins."Tyr's heart sank, a knot of anxiety forming in his stomach. "What is it?"Agnar took a deep breath, making sure to meet the boy's eyes. "This is going to be hard to hear, but… when I was in your soul scape, I saw your memories. Tyr… you died. You died in Pelias, in Raina's arms. I don't know how you came back, but you're here now. You've been resurrected as a Soulbound. But you can never go back to Pelias."Tyr's world shattered. His chest tightened, and his hands flew to his head as if trying to block out the words. "No… no, no, no," he mumbled, his voice rising with panic. His heart pounded so violently it felt like it might burst."Raina…" he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Raina…"Overcome with emotion, Tyr bolted for the door, his legs carrying him on pure instinct. "Raina! RAINA!" he screamed, his voice hoarse as he disappeared into the night."Tyr! Come back!" Agnar shouted after him, but it was no use. The boy was gone.Agnar slumped against the doorframe, his shoulders heavy with guilt. Did I do the right thing? he wondered, his heart sinking as he stared into the early morning light.