The wind howled through the towering trees, whispering secrets only the forest could understand. Eleven-year-old Kael stumbled over roots and fallen branches, his heart pounding like a war drum. He had only meant to follow the glowing fireflies deeper into the woods, but now, the village was gone. His home was gone.
Night had fallen, and the air grew cold. The moonlight cast eerie shadows as Kael wrapped his arms around himself. The last thing his mother had told him before he ran off was, "Never stray too far, my love. The forest is alive in ways you do not understand."
But now, there was no mother. No father. Just darkness.
A rustling noise echoed nearby. Kael turned, his breath catching in his throat. A pair of glowing, silver eyes stared back at him from the darkness. His feet refused to move.
Then, the creature stepped forward—a massive wolf, its fur shifting like mist, neither solid nor air. Kael braced himself, but instead of attacking, the wolf tilted its head as if inspecting him. Then, in a voice that was neither male nor female, it spoke.
"You are not meant to be here… and yet, the elements have called you."
Kael's breath hitched. The elements? His father used to tell old tales about warriors who wielded the power of fire, water, air, and earth, but they were just stories… right?
Before he could speak, the wolf lifted a paw, touching Kael's forehead. A sudden surge of energy erupted through him—fire burned in his veins, water flowed through his mind, wind howled in his ears, and the ground beneath his feet trembled.
Then, everything went black.