The wind howled fiercely over the black tower that loomed in the heart of the Kingdom of Eldoria. Dark clouds hung heavy, as if holding their breath before a great storm. Inside the tower, a man in a purple robe stood before a stone table, his fingers dancing over an ancient scroll that glowed faintly.
"Tonight, the prophecy will come true.. those who have been choosen by the fate.. is a destiny..," he whispered, his voice rasping like dry leaves crushed underfoot as he uses a spell, then dissapears.
Far away, in a small village in the northern valley, a eight-year-old boy awoke with a pounding heart. His golden eyes gleamed under the moonlight, and on his hand, a star-shaped mark slowly emerged, searing his skin with an unseen heat.
The boy gasped, clutching his hand as the star-shaped mark burned into his skin. A surge of energy pulsed through him, foreign yet strangely familiar, like a melody forgotten in time. He gritted his teeth, stifling a cry as waves of pain coursed through his veins.
"Rael?" A soft knock came at the wooden door. His sister, Lyria.
Rael took a deep breath, willing the pain away as the mark settled into his flesh, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. "I'm fine," he called out, his voice strained.
Lyria hesitated before stepping inside. Her silver hair, a rarity in their village, shimmered under the moonlight streaming through the window. "I heard something. Are you sure—" She stopped, eyes widening as she noticed the glow on his hand.
Rael quickly pulled his sleeve down, but it was too late. Lyria rushed to him, grabbing his wrist with trembling fingers. "The Mark of Elarion..." she whispered.
Rael swallowed hard. "You know what this is?"
She nodded. "Mother used to tell stories about it. It's a mark of destiny… of power. The last one to bear it was the Starborn King."
Rael's heart pounded. "But that's just a myth."
Lyria met his gaze, her silver eyes filled with uncertainty. "Then why do you bear his mark?"
The weight of her words settled over him like a shroud.
A sharp gust of wind rattled the window shutters. A feeling of unease crept over Rael, prickling at the back of his neck. "We need to go," he said suddenly. "Something… something is coming."
Lyria frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Then they heard it.
A distant howl, not of the wind, but something else—something unnatural.
The shadows outside shifted, and a figure emerged from the darkness. Cloaked in black, with eyes like burning coals, it moved with inhuman grace. More figures followed, their bodies obscured by the night, their presence like an abyss pulling all warmth from the air.
Rael's stomach twisted. He didnt knew how he knew, but he did.
they are coming...
"Sister.. they.. are coming, arent they?.."
Suddenly, their father opens the door
"Kids, what happened here, why do i hear some crying-
Their father's eyes widened when he sees a star-shaped mark on Rael's hand.
"Victoria, come here!"
Their father yells as their mother comes to the room.
"what do u need, jaden-
Victoria immediately fell silent when she see the mark.
"That... no way.. jaden.."
"Yes, victoria.. They.. they are coming.."
Jaden turns to Rael and Lyria
"Kids.. go to the basement and hide in the large chest in the corner.. and do not get out before i call you.."
Jaden says while crouching down. his hand on Rael's shoulder.
"B-but, dad?! what about you and mom??!"
Lyria says as she holds Victoria's hand.
"Dont worry honey, mom and dad is just going to talk with someone here, So don't come out before we call, okay?"
Victoria said gently, patting Lyria's head as Lyria lets go Victoria's hand.
"And you, Lyria.. Take good care of your little brother, Rael okay? don't worry, we're not leaving."
Jaden said. Lyria and Rael just nod their head, then go to the basement. little did they know that Jaden and Victoria had a 50% chance they won't survive.
With Rael and Lyria in the basement...
"sister.. What are mom and dad doing outside?"
"i don't know, Rael.. lets just do what they tell us to do..."
Lyria answers, sitting beside Rael.
"oh.. alright.." Rael said, bowing his head..
with Jaden and Victoria..
There is a loud bang on the door. they become more and more louder. then.. the door was broken down, and revealed a group of royal guards.
"You two.. tell me, where is that person?"
The man from one of the guards say coldly. placing his hand on his sword.
"N-no, that person is not here! trust me, We've kicked him out!" Jaden yelled panickly.
"Do you think im stupid?" the guard answered coldly, staring at Jaden and Victoria with a sharp glare, sends a chill down Jaden and Victoria's spine. as he began to slowly take out his sword
"If you don't tell me.. you two will suffer the consequences yourself.. Ill count from 1 to 3.." he places his hand on his sword.
"1...."
"2..."
"No please! don't kill us! i have a kids-
".....Who cares if you had a kids?"
"3..."
The guard said, before taking out his sword, and immediately killed Victoria and Jaden right away. their blood splattered on the floor. After they died, the guard left with his group. leaving the body there...
A few hours later... because Lyria was curious, she and Rael finally came out of the basement..
"Mom, dad?-
She immediately froze when she saw the bodies of her parents, which were on the floor with sword wounds.
"MOM! DAD!"
Lyria rushes to their body. She fell onto her knees... she places her hand on Victoria's bloody hand.
"Mom..."
Lyria looked at Jaden..
"Dad..."
Lyria clenched her fist, tears began forming on her eyes.
"sister? why is mom and dad lying on the floor, and why r u crying?"
Lyria turns to Rael., then approaches Rael until she is infront of him
"Rael.. we have to leave..."
She say while shaking Rael on his shoulder.. her lips trembling
"h-huh? but, sis-
"THERE IS NO BUTS!"
Lyria yells as she took a Coat and a mask, then makes rael wears it, herself too. after that, she took a torch, and lights it as she grabs Rael's wrist. she opens the door then began to walk into the forest...
the forest were dark.. the sound of their footsteps could be heard on the grass...They continued walking in the dark and scary forest.. they heard the sound of an owl..
until...
"THERE THEY ARE!"
Someone yells behind Lyria and Rael. Lyria cuss under her breath as she runs while dragging Rael.
"Stay with me, Rael!"
Lyria yells while running with Rael.
Suddenly.. they found a dead end, and below was a chasm...
"Hah! You guys can't go anywhere now!"
The man said, taking out his sword
"give that kid or ill kill you!"
"Tsk! never!"
Lyria answers with a yell.. she turns into Rael
"Rael.. From now on, forgive me, you have to stay alive." Without warning, Lyria pushed Rael into the abyss below.
"SISTERRRR!!!!!" Rael screams as Lyria pushes him.
After Lyria pushes Rael, the guard immediately cut Lyria's head into two.. she fell into her knees.. blood flowing.. as she died right after that. The man who killed her took her body and threw it into a river with a strong current.
To be continued....
The words total: 1246 words 😬