Alden stood at the highest tower of the Sanctuary, gazing at the night sky. The stars above him shimmered like scattered jewels, silent witnesses to the trials he had endured. The Gate of Eternity had tested his fear, his will, and finally, his heart. He had emerged victorious.
And yet, victory felt hollow.
His body ached, his mind still reeling from the vision the Keeper had shown him—the dark future where he ruled, but at the cost of his own soul. Even now, the memory of his own hollow gaze haunted him.
Would that truly have been his fate if he had chosen power above all else?
A cold wind swept across the tower, stirring his cloak. Alden clenched his fists, grounding himself. He had made his choice. He had chosen himself over blind power.
But the war was far from over.
Behind him, heavy footsteps approached. He turned to see his father emerging from the darkness, his eyes unreadable. The firelight from the torches flickered across his strong features, making the lines on his face seem deeper.
"You're troubled," his father said. It wasn't a question.
Alden hesitated before speaking. "The Keeper showed me what I could become… and it terrified me."
His father studied him for a long moment. "What did you see?"
Alden swallowed. "Myself… but different. Cold. Powerful. Alone. I ruled, but I had lost everything that mattered." His fingers curled at his sides. "If that's what it means to take the Arcane Throne, then I don't want it."
His father nodded slowly. "Power reveals the truth of a person. Some are consumed by it. Others wield it wisely. The Keeper did not show you an inevitable future, Alden. It showed you a possibility."
Alden exhaled. "But what if I become like that? What if, no matter how hard I try, I can't stop it?"
His father stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Alden's shoulder. "That is the test you will face for the rest of your life. Power is neither good nor evil. It is what you choose to do with it that defines you."
Alden met his father's gaze, searching for certainty. He found it there, unwavering.
He took a slow breath and nodded. "Then I will never forget who I am."
His father gave a small, approving nod. "Good."
But before either of them could speak further, a horn blast echoed through the Sanctuary.
Alden stiffened.
His father's face darkened. "The Watchmen."
Alden turned toward the edge of the tower, scanning the horizon. In the distance, torches flickered along the outer walls. Shadows moved beyond the gate, forming dark silhouettes against the torchlight.
Intruders.
His father wasted no time. "Come."
Alden followed as they descended the tower and entered the main hall of the Sanctuary. The great chamber was already alive with movement—guards donning armor, battle mages preparing spells, scouts reporting to their commanders.
At the center of the chaos stood Master Valen, the Sanctuary's chief protector. His silver armor gleamed under the torchlight, and his sharp eyes locked onto them as they approached.
"Alden," Valen greeted with a nod, then turned to his father. "Lord Runehart, we have a situation."
"What happened?" his father asked.
"One of our scouts intercepted a messenger from the Hollow's army." Valen's jaw tightened. "They march at dawn."
Alden felt his stomach drop.
"How many?" his father asked, his voice calm but firm.
Valen's gaze darkened. "More than we anticipated. Five battalions. The Hollow is not wasting time."
Alden's blood ran cold. Five battalions? That was an army.
His father was silent for a long moment before he spoke. "And their destination?"
Valen hesitated, then exhaled. "The Sanctuary."
A hush fell over the chamber. The Sanctuary had stood for centuries, hidden from the world, protected by wards and powerful magic. If the Hollow had found it…
"We don't have the numbers to hold against a full-scale attack," Valen said grimly.
Alden's mind raced. If the Hollow's forces reached them by dawn, that meant they had mere hours to prepare.
His father turned to him. "Alden. You must leave."
Alden's heart lurched. "What? No—I can fight!"
His father's gaze was steel. "You are the heir to the Arcane Throne. If you fall here, the world loses its last hope. This battle is not your destiny."
Alden's fists clenched. "I won't run."
"You must," his father insisted. "We will hold them off. But you—your path leads elsewhere. You must find the Celestial Key."
Alden blinked. "The Celestial Key?"
Valen spoke now, his voice grave. "It is an artifact of immense power. The last piece of the puzzle. Without it, the Arcane Throne remains incomplete."
Alden's breath caught. "Then… the Throne isn't whole?"
His father nodded. "The Celestial Key is hidden beyond the Veil of Shadows. Only by claiming it can you unlock the Throne's true power."
Alden shook his head, frustration boiling in his chest. "But if I leave, you'll be fighting alone! I can help!"
His father grasped his shoulders. "Alden. Trust me."
Alden gritted his teeth. Every part of him screamed to stay, to fight. To stand beside his father, beside the Sanctuary.
But deep down, he knew the truth.
If the Hollow truly sought to destroy him, then this was no longer just a battle. It was a hunt.
And he was the prey.
He closed his eyes for a moment before forcing himself to nod. "Where do I go?"
His father released a slow breath. "There is an old friend who can guide you. He lives beyond the Ashen Mountains. Seek him out."
Alden swallowed hard. There was no time for doubt.
Valen stepped forward, pressing a small silver medallion into Alden's hand. "This will lead you through the Veil. Guard it well."
Alden looked at the medallion. It was cool against his skin, etched with strange symbols.
He took a deep breath. "I won't fail."
His father's expression softened. "I know."
Then, the moment was gone.
Valen turned to the assembled warriors. "Sound the call to arms! Fortify the gates! We hold the line until dawn!"
The room erupted into motion.
Alden cast one last glance at his father before turning away, his heart pounding.
He had faced trials, fought nightmares, endured visions of his own darkness.
But now…
The real journey had begun.
By the time Alden reached the edge of the Sanctuary, the first light of dawn was creeping over the horizon.
He turned back once, watching as the fortress stood proud against the coming storm. He could already hear the distant war horns of the Hollow's army, their march steady, relentless.
His father would fight. The Sanctuary would stand.
And Alden would survive.
With one last breath, he turned and vanished into the mist, his path set.
The Celestial Key awaited.
And with it—the fate of the world.