Kael opened his eyes to a sky that was not his own. The clouds shimmered in shades of purple and gold, and the air carried a sweet scent he had never smelled before. He sat up, feeling the cold, damp ground beneath his hands. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was walking home after work, but now…
"Are you lost?"
The voice came from behind him, and Kael turned quickly. A girl with a sword strapped to her back was watching him, her blue eyes filled with curiosity and caution.
"I… I think so," he replied, his voice trembling.
"Well, you shouldn't be here. This place is dangerous for outsiders."
Kael looked at her, confused. "Where is 'here'?"
The girl smiled, but there was something dark in her smile.
"Welcome to Eryndor, Kael. Or whatever your name is."
He stared at her, trying to process what she had just said. Eryndor? He had never heard of such a place. Before he could ask more, she turned and started walking away, throwing a phrase over her shoulder:
"If you want to survive, you'd better come with me. Night is coming, and you won't like what shows up when the sun sets."
He hesitated for a moment, but the distant sound of a howl echoed through the trees around him. It wasn't a normal howl—it sounded like it came from something big, something he didn't want to meet. Kael ran to catch up with the girl, who was already a few steps ahead.
"Wait! Who are you? What's happening?" he asked, breathless.
She didn't slow down but answered without looking back:
"My name is Lira. And you, outsider, just fell into the middle of a war you didn't even know existed."
Kael felt a chill down his spine. War? He looked around, trying to understand. The trees were tall and strangely luminous, as if the sunlight reflected off their leaves in a way that defied logic. The air felt charged with energy, as if the world itself was alive.
"I shouldn't be here," he murmured, more to himself.
Lira suddenly stopped, turning to face him. Her blue eyes seemed to pierce through him, as if she were trying to read his thoughts.
"Yeah, well, you are. And if you want to find out why, you're going to need my help. But first, we need to get out of here. The Order of Shadows won't take long to find you."
Kael opened his mouth to ask what the Order of Shadows was, but a distant explosion silenced him. He turned toward the sound and saw a column of smoke rising in the distance, staining the sky a sinister red.
"What was that?" he asked, his voice shaking.
Lira gripped the hilt of the sword on her back as if preparing for the worst.
"That," she said, "is what happens when Eryndor's magic is corrupted. Let's go. We don't have time to waste."
She started running, and Kael followed, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't understand anything that was happening, but one thing was clear: his life would never be the same again.
As they ran, Kael noticed something strange. His hands had begun to glow faintly, as if an invisible energy was flowing through him. He looked at Lira, who didn't seem to notice, and decided to keep it to himself. Something was wrong with him—or maybe too right—and he wasn't sure if he was ready to find out what.
After several minutes of running, Lira suddenly stopped, raising a hand to silence Kael. He nearly tripped but managed to steady himself in time.
"What is it?" he whispered, looking around.
Lira didn't answer. Instead, she drew her sword, the blade shining with a silvery light. Kael felt the air grow heavier, as if something was approaching.
Then he saw it.
From the shadows of the trees, a creature emerged. It was like nothing he had ever seen before—a fusion of wolf and darkness, with red eyes that glowed like embers. The creature growled, baring razor-sharp fangs that seemed made of pure darkness.
"Stay behind me," Lira ordered, positioning herself in front of Kael.
He wanted to argue, but his legs felt rooted to the ground. The creature lunged, fast as lightning, but Lira was faster. She spun, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision, and the creature recoiled with a howl of pain.
But it wasn't alone.
More shadows began to move between the trees, and Kael realized they were surrounded. Lira looked at him, her eyes serious.
"You're going to have to fight," she said. "It doesn't matter if you don't know how. If you don't, you'll die."
Kael felt a lump in his throat but nodded. He had no choice. As the next creature leapt at him, he closed his eyes and stretched out his hands, as if something inside him knew what to do.
And then, it happened.
A wave of bright energy exploded from his hands, hitting the creature and sending it flying backward. Lira looked at him, surprised, but there was no time to comment. The other creatures were closing in, and the battle was far from over.
By the time the last creature fell, Kael was exhausted, his hands still trembling from the energy he had unleashed. Lira looked at him, a difficult-to-read expression on her face.
"You're not an ordinary outsider, are you?" she asked, sheathing her sword.
Kael didn't know how to answer. He didn't even know what had just happened.
"Come on," Lira said, extending a hand to help him up. "The night is only getting worse, and we have a lot to talk about."
Kael took her hand, still trying to process everything. He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: Eryndor wasn't going to let him leave anytime soon.
Lira led Kael out of the forest, and soon they spotted a city in the distance. The buildings were made of dark stone, with towers that rose like claws against the starry sky. The city seemed alive, with shadows moving through the streets and the distant sound of voices and laughter.
"Arkanis," Lira announced, stopping at the edge of the forest. "The City of Shadows. Don't trust anyone here. And, most importantly, don't let anyone know you're an outsider."
Kael nodded, feeling a knot form in his stomach. He didn't like the look of that city, but he had no choice.
As they entered the city, Kael was immediately struck by the chaos. The central market was crowded with people—or things that looked like people. Merchants were selling strange items: crystals that glowed in vibrant colors, potions that smoked in glass vials, and even small creatures trapped in cages. The smell of spices and roasted meat filled the air, but there was something else, something metallic and unpleasant that Kael couldn't identify.
"Stay close to me," Lira whispered, passing a group of hooded figures.
Kael obeyed, but his eyes kept moving, trying to take in everything around him. He noticed that many people wore cloaks embroidered with strange symbols—a star encircled by a serpent.
"Who are they?" he asked, leaning toward Lira.
"The followers of the Order of Shadows," she replied, her voice tense. "They're everywhere. It's best not to draw their attention."
Kael shivered. He wondered if those people knew who he was—or what he might be capable of.
Lira led Kael down a narrow alley, away from the market's commotion. There, she stopped in front of a worn wooden door and knocked three times. The door creaked open, revealing an elderly man with piercing eyes and a long green cloak.
"Lira," he said, his voice hoarse. "I expected you to show up. And I see you've brought a guest."
"He needs your help, Dran," Lira replied, stepping inside and pulling Kael with her.
Dran looked at Kael, his gaze seeming to see through him.
"So, you're the outsider," he murmured. "I knew you would come."
Kael felt a chill. "What do you mean by that?"
Dran smiled, but didn't answer. Instead, he turned and walked to the back of the room, where a table was covered with maps and ancient books.
"You're not here by accident, Kael," Dran said, running his fingers over one of the maps. "Eryndor called you. And now, you have a role to play."
Kael's journey had only just begun.