Kai sat on his bed, staring at the strange amulet in his palm. The blacksmith's workshop had been chaotic after the explosion, with Master Rhen yelling about ruined metal and wasted time, but Kai had barely heard him. The amulet had called to him—no, it had resonated with him. Even now, he felt a faint warmth pulsing through the metal, as if it had a heartbeat of its own.
He turned it over carefully. The surface was covered in ancient engravings, symbols he didn't recognize, yet they seemed oddly familiar. The metal itself was unlike anything he had seen before—not iron, not silver, not gold. It shimmered in the dim candlelight, shifting between hues of deep blue and fiery red.
A sudden knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts. He quickly stuffed the amulet under his pillow.
"Kai, you in there?"
It was Lian, his childhood friend. She pushed open the door before he could respond, her sharp eyes scanning the room. "What are you hiding?" she asked, arms crossed.
"Nothing," Kai said too quickly.
Lian raised an eyebrow and plopped down on his bed, narrowly missing the amulet. "You disappeared after the accident. Master Rhen's still fuming."
Kai sighed. "I needed some air. Almost lost my hand back there."
Lian studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, if you get kicked out, at least you won't have to deal with Rhen's temper. Anyway, you up for a walk? The festival's starting soon."
Kai hesitated. The festival was the biggest event in Lumina, celebrating the city's founding with food, music, and performances. Normally, he'd be excited, but something about the amulet unsettled him. Still, sitting alone in his room wouldn't help.
"Alright, let's go."
The streets of Lumina were alive with color and sound. Lanterns lined the alleys, casting a golden glow over the cobblestone roads. The scent of roasted meat and spiced tea filled the air. Performers spun in elaborate dances while merchants called out their wares.
Kai tried to focus on the festivities, but his mind kept drifting back to the amulet. He felt a strange pressure in his chest, a pull—like something was guiding him.
Then, he heard it.
A whisper.
Faint, yet clear, as if someone were speaking directly into his mind.
"Seek the forge of the ancients…"
Kai froze. The world around him dimmed, the festival's noise fading into a distant hum. His heartbeat quickened. He spun around, searching for the source, but saw only the crowd.
"Hey!" Lian snapped her fingers in front of his face. "You okay? You look like you saw a ghost."
Kai forced a smile. "Just… thought I heard something."
Before Lian could question him, a sudden gust of wind swept through the street, sending lanterns swinging wildly. The air crackled with energy, and in the distance, a cloaked figure stood watching Kai.
Their eyes—glowing with an eerie silver light—met his for just a moment before they turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Kai's grip tightened. He didn't know what he had stumbled into, but one thing was clear:
His life would never be the same again.