Morning – The Village Awakens
The morning air in Redbrook Village carried the scent of damp soil and fresh bread. As the first light of dawn peeked over the horizon, villagers were already stirring—some fetching water from the well, others preparing for another day of labor.
Kael stretched as he stepped outside his small cottage. The cool breeze woke him fully, but his mind was still clouded by last night's strange dream.
That name—Eliard—still lingered in his thoughts.
But today was just another day. Or at least, it was supposed to be.
Early Morning – Life in Redbrook
Redbrook was a simple farming village, nestled between rolling hills and a dense forest that the villagers rarely entered. It was small, with barely a hundred people, all working together to survive.
The village had no walls, only wooden fences to keep out wild animals. It was peaceful, but not without dangers—bandits occasionally roamed the countryside, and there were rumors of strange creatures deep in the woods.
Despite this, life here was predictable. Men tilled the fields, women managed the homes and livestock, and children ran barefoot through the dirt roads, laughing as they played.
Magic existed in Eldoria, but Redbrook had little connection to it. The villagers spoke of mages in distant cities, of warriors who could command the wind, but here? Magic was a rare, mysterious thing.
There was an old belief in the village—that those who were born under an "ill-starred moon" were destined for hardship. Some whispered that Kael had been one of them.
After all, he had no parents. No known lineage. Just a baby found near the edge of the forest, on a night when the moon burned red.
Mid-Morning – The Blacksmith's Request
By the time the sun had fully risen, Kael made his way toward the village square, where the morning market was starting.
"Kael! Over here!"
A burly man waved from the mill—Gared, the village blacksmith. His arms were thick as tree trunks, his apron stained with soot. Kael often helped him with repairs when he wasn't doing farm work.
"You still alive after carrying those sacks yesterday?" Gared laughed, slapping Kael on the back.
"Barely," Kael said, rolling his shoulders. "What do you need?"
"Got a broken plow from old man Hagan. You up for fixing it?"
Kael nodded. He didn't mind the work. It kept his hands busy. And right now, he needed a distraction.
As he worked, he overheard conversations from the market stalls nearby.
A merchant from the next town over was selling dried herbs, talking about rising tensions in the kingdom. An elderly woman whispered about a "restless spirit" seen near the forest at night. A hunter mentioned finding strange tracks deep in the woods—too large for a wolf, too sharp for a bear.
Kael listened, but he didn't react. Weird things happened from time to time.
But after last night, he wasn't sure what counted as "weird" anymore.
Midday – A Strange Feeling
By midday, Kael had finished his work and took a break near the well, splashing water on his face.
That's when it happened.
A shadow passed over him—not from a cloud, but from something else.
For a split second, he felt it—a presence watching him.
His breath hitched. He turned sharply, scanning the village square. Nothing. Just villagers going about their day.
But the feeling didn't fade.
Something wasn't right.
Kael exhaled slowly, shaking off the unease. Maybe he was just imagining things.
Maybe.
But deep down, he knew something was changing.
To Be Continued…