'Rhys'
I sat on a wooden bench atop the hill, gazing down at my small home village nestled between rolling green fields and winding dirt paths. From here, I could see the rooftops of the houses, the gentle trails of chimney smoke rising into the clear blue sky. The sun shone brightly, bathing everything in a warm golden light. Not a single cloud marred the sky.
The path leading up to the hill was lined with a vibrant field of wildflowers, their petals swaying gently in the breeze. Bright reds, soft blues, and golden yellows painted the landscape in a breathtaking array of colors. Behind us, the dense forest hummed with life—the rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the occasional snap of a twig as some small creature moved through the undergrowth.
Beside me, my little brother sat, his legs dangling off the edge of the bench. He kicked his feet absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"Rhys, do you think we'll be friends forever?" he asked, his voice small but filled with a childlike sincerity.
I turned to look at him, a gentle smile forming on my lips. His bright brown hair caught the sunlight, creating a soft halo around his head. His grey-green eyes sparkled with warmth, reflecting the endless sky above us.
"Yes," I said without hesitation. "We will be friends forever."
I reached out and ruffled his hair, earning a small, contented laugh from him. In that moment, everything felt perfect. Peaceful. Eternal. My vision blured.
I woke up.
The first thing I noticed was the warmth beneath me—a thick, soft fur that shielded me from the cold, uneven ground. The air smelled of smoke and roasted meat. Slowly, my vision adjusted to the dim light.
I was inside a small cave, its stone walls rough and uneven, faintly illuminated by the flickering glow of a campfire. Outside, the world was shrouded in darkness, the distant howls of creatures echoing through the night. The only true source of warmth and safety was here, by the fire.
Next to me sat Celestia. She was crouched near the flames, casually eating a piece of roasted meat. The firelight danced across her face, casting soft shadows on her armor. Despite everything that had happened, she looked calm—almost relaxed.
"You're finally awake," she said, her voice steady and composed. "Are you hungry?"
I slowly lifted my head, my mind still clouded. Was it all a dream? The forest, the monster, the strange voice—had any of it been real? Sweat clung to my skin, my breath uneven.
Celestia leaned toward me, her slender fingers brushing against my forehead. Her touch was cool, careful. "You're burning up," she murmured, concern flickering in her sapphire-blue eyes.
"I-I'm alright," I quickly replied. "Just… tired. And hungry."
She nodded and handed me a piece of meat. It was dry and a little overcooked, but to me, it tasted like the best thing I had ever eaten. I hadn't realized how empty my stomach was until now. With every bite, my exhaustion felt a little less overwhelming.
As I ate, Celestia watched me in silence. After a while, she spoke.
"Can I ask you a few questions?"
I glanced up at her, chewing the last of my meal. "Yeah," I answered between bites.
She didn't hesitate. "Do you remember how you lost your memories?"
I swallowed, the taste of roasted meat lingering in my mouth. "No," I admitted. "I just woke up in that forest… out of nowhere."
She listened intently as I explained everything—about the strange melodic voice, the sea, the three shattered fragments in my vision, and the torn piece of fabric I had found. The emblem stitched into it had felt important somehow, though I couldn't explain why.
Celestia reached out. "Can I see the emblem?"
I nodded and handed it to her.
The moment her eyes fell on the fabric, her expression changed. Her pupils widened, a flicker of something—shock? Fear?—glimmered in her gaze. Her grip on the fabric tightened.
"Tha-That's the emblem of…" Her voice faltered. She swallowed hard before whispering, "An old legend."
I frowned. "An old legend?"
She exhaled slowly, as if steadying herself. "Almost 500 years ago, there was a secret organization of Hunters," she began, her voice quieter now. "But they weren't like the mindless creatures that roam today. They were… different. Intelligent. Strategic. Powerful. And they were the ones who ignited the war between the four great races."
Her words sent a chill down my spine.
"A secret organization?" I repeated. "What does that have to do with me?"
Celestia hesitated before continuing. "The war between the four great races—the humans, elves, dwarves, and vampires—wasn't just a conflict over land or power. It was orchestrated. Manipulated. And the organization behind it used humans as their pawns."
I tried to process her words. "You mean… they convinced humans to attack the elves?"
"Not just convinced. Controlled them." Her expression darkened. "Hundreds of years ago, Sentria was under human rule. But because the elven population far outnumbered them, the humans slowly lost control of the land. The organization fueled their resentment, feeding them lies, twisting their fears. They led the humans to believe they could reclaim Sentria if they acted first."
The name Sentria sent an eerie sense of familiarity through me. I knew it, somehow. But from where?
Celestia continued, her voice quiet yet firm. "The war was brutal. The humans invaded Sentria, but the elves fought back. They refused to surrender their home. And when the dwarves sided with the elves, the war only grew bloodier. In the end, neither side won. Both suffered catastrophic losses."
She paused, taking a sip from her water flask. The fire crackled between us, the only sound in the silence that followed.
I clenched my hands into fists. If the emblem I carried truly belonged to that secret organization… what did that mean for me?
And why did I feel like I was a part of something far bigger than I could comprehend?
Celestia let out a small yawn, stretching her arms above her head before rubbing her tired eyes. The firelight flickered across her face, casting warm shadows on her delicate features.
"Let's get some sleep," she murmured, her voice laced with exhaustion. "Tomorrow will be a hard day. I'll tell you more then."
She was already lying down on the fur before I could respond, pulling part of her cloak over herself for warmth.
I hesitated. "What about the Hunters?"
She exhaled softly, eyes half-lidded. "Most Hunters fear fire," she assured me. "Besides, in these mountains, they're rare. Almost nonexistent." She turned onto her side, curling up slightly. "The fire will probably last through the night. Goodnight, Rhys."
Probably? I stared at her, waiting for some kind of reassurance, but she was already settling in.
Was she insane? What was that probably supposed to mean? I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. I was too exhausted to argue. I should be thankful, that she takes care of a weird stranger like me.
Reluctantly, I lay down on my own fur, the warmth of the fire washing over me. My body ached, my mind swirled with unanswered questions, but fatigue was stronger than my worries.
Within moments, sleep took me.