Elionna woke with a start, her body drenched in sweat. Her heart pounded in her chest as if she had just sprinted a great distance. Her breath was erratic, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if what she had just experienced had been a dream—or something much more. The sword... the voice... It felt so real, so tangible. But what did it mean? Why had she been chosen? Was she meant to wield that weapon?
She stood up from her bed, her feet hitting the cold wooden floor. The dream still lingered, like a memory she couldn't escape. It was as if the stars themselves had spoken to her, urging her to take up that sword, to do something greater than what her village had ever known. But what was it? What was she supposed to do with this strange gift—or curse?
As she stepped outside, the early morning mist still clung to the valley's edges. She walked along the familiar dirt path toward the river, the place she often went to clear her thoughts. But today, the air felt different. The usual chirping of birds seemed muted, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the trees—a man clad in silver armor that gleamed like starlight, his features hidden beneath a hood. Elionna froze, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks on her. Who was this man?
Before she could speak, the figure addressed her in a voice that resonated with an otherworldly power. "Elionna, the last of the Starborn. You have been chosen."
The air around her shimmered, and she felt a chill run down her spine. "Chosen? What do you mean?" Her voice was shaky, a mix of disbelief and awe.
The figure lowered his hood, revealing sharp, glowing eyes that seemed to pierce through her very soul. "I am Azrael, a guardian of the Celestial Forge. I have come to bring you the truth. The stars are not mere lights in the sky. They are part of you, Elionna. You are the last Starborn, the one destined to wield the Celestial Sword."
Elionna took a step back, her mind racing. "Starborn? Celestial Sword? I don't understand. What are you talking about?"
Azrael's expression softened, though his gaze remained intense. "The Dark Star has returned. You are the key to stopping its reign of destruction. Your power, your lineage, has been hidden from you for too long, but it's time to face your destiny. The Celestial Forge awaits."
The words hit her like a tidal wave. Her mind swirled with confusion and fear. "I'm just a simple girl. I can't stop anything."
Azrael's eyes glimmered with understanding. "It's not a choice, Elionna. You were born for this."