The rhythmic clang of hammer on steel echoed through the small forge, a steady heartbeat in the quiet village of Emberfall. Kael Draven wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, his muscles aching from hours of work. The sword he was crafting was nearly complete, its blade gleaming in the flickering light of the forge's fire. He held it up, inspecting the edge for imperfections. It was good work—solid, dependable, and unremarkable. Just like him.
Kael sighed and set the sword aside. He had always dreamed of creating something extraordinary, something that would make the world take notice. But in Emberfall, a village tucked away in the shadow of the Frostspire Mountains, extraordinary was in short supply. Most days, he repaired plows and sharpened knives, his dreams of greatness buried under the weight of practicality.
The door to the forge creaked open, letting in a gust of cold evening air. Kael turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered man step inside, his armor battered and his cloak torn. A knight, though not like any Kael had seen before. The man's face was pale, his breathing labored, and he clutched his side where a dark stain spread across his tunic.
"Can I help you?" Kael asked, setting down his tools.
The knight staggered forward, his eyes locking onto Kael's. "You… you're the blacksmith?" he rasped.
"I am," Kael replied, stepping closer. "Are you hurt?"
The knight didn't answer. Instead, he reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, glowing object. It was a shard of metal, no larger than a coin, but it pulsed with a faint, otherworldly light. Kael's breath caught in his throat. He had never seen anything like it.
"Take it," the knight said, thrusting the shard into Kael's hands. "You must keep it safe. They're coming."
"Who's coming?" Kael asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The knight's grip tightened on Kael's arm. "The shadows. They seek the shard. You must not let them have it." His eyes bore into Kael's, desperate and pleading. "The Crown… it must be restored."
Before Kael could ask what he meant, the knight's grip slackened, and he collapsed to the floor. Kael knelt beside him, pressing a hand to the man's neck, but there was no pulse. He was gone.
Kael stared at the shard in his hand, its light flickering like a dying ember. What had the knight meant? What Crown? And why had he given the shard to him, a simple blacksmith?
A sudden chill swept through the forge, extinguishing the fire in the hearth. Kael looked up, his heart pounding. The air seemed to thicken, and shadows began to creep across the walls, twisting and writhing like living things. A low, guttural growl echoed from outside, sending a shiver down Kael's spine.
He didn't have time to think. Grabbing the shard and the unfinished sword, he bolted for the back door. As he stepped into the cold night air, he heard the sound of splintering wood behind him. He turned just in time to see the forge's door burst open, revealing a hulking, shadowy figure with glowing red eyes.
Kael ran, his boots crunching on the frost-covered ground. The village was eerily silent, the usual sounds of life replaced by an oppressive stillness. He didn't know where he was going, only that he had to get away. The shard in his hand grew warmer, its light intensifying as if responding to his fear.
As he reached the edge of the village, a voice called out to him. "This way!"
Kael turned to see a woman standing in the shadows of a nearby tree. She was tall and slender, with sharp features and piercing green eyes. In her hand, she held a staff that glowed with the same strange light as the shard.
"Who are you?" Kael demanded, his voice trembling.
"No time for introductions," the woman said, grabbing his arm and pulling him into the trees. "If you want to live, follow me."
Behind them, the shadowy creature let out a deafening roar, and Kael knew he had no choice. He followed the woman into the forest, the shard's light guiding their way. As they ran, questions raced through his mind. Who was she? What was the shard? And why had his quiet, ordinary life suddenly been turned upside down?