A shadowed figure sat upon a grand throne, the flickering light from distant torches casting eerie reflections on his solemn face. The figure was calm, composed, and powerful. A mysterious man, his presence commanding, was deep in thought. Before him, a disciple knelt, eyes lowered in respect, awaiting his orders. The silence between them was heavy, yet filled with an unspoken understanding.
The man finally broke the silence, his voice cool and composed, "I want his head."
The disciple blinked in surprise, his voice hesitant, "Your Majesty... are you certain?"
The man didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on something distant, something only he could see. He remained still, his eyes piercing the darkness, a quiet resolve settling in.
The disciple, understanding the gravity of the command, rose without another word and turned to leave, knowing the task would not be easy.
Meanwhile, in a humble village on the outskirts of a vast, untamed forest, a young boy named Eldric sat on a patch of grass beside his younger brother, Raphael. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden light across the scene.
"What a beautiful sun," Eldric said softly, his eyes drawn to the fading light as it bathed everything in a tranquil glow.
Raphael, content and at peace, glanced up, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, it feels good to just sit and enjoy it."
Eldric stood and stretched his arms, then turned toward a small hut nearby. "I'll be back in a bit, Raphael. Stay here and enjoy the sun."
He grabbed his axe and made his way toward the edge of the forest, where the trees stretched tall and thick. The caws of crows echoed in the air as Eldric set to work, his axe cutting through the trunks of trees. Thud. Thud. Thud.
As sweat dripped down his forehead, he paused, wiped his brow, and took a deep breath. The labor was hard, but it was something he had grown accustomed to. After stacking the cut wood onto his shoulder, he began the long walk back home, the sky slowly darkening.
Suddenly, a rustling noise broke the quiet of the woods, making Eldric stop in his tracks. His eyes darted to the bushes, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He gripped the wood tighter, ready for anything.
Out of the bushes, a figure emerged. Eldric tensed, but as the figure stepped forward, he realized it was just an old man.
"Ah!" Eldric jumped back, his wood falling to the ground. "Who are you?"
The old man looked equally surprised but gave a small, amused chuckle. "What are you doing here?"
Eldric exhaled, his pulse beginning to slow. "I'm just a woodcutter. Heading back home."
The old man studied him for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "A woodcutter? What's your name, then?"
"Eldric," the boy replied, his cautiousness fading slightly.
"Navy," the old man said simply, offering a weathered smile. He then paused before adding, "If you have some time, would you like to learn Gleam?"
Eldric furrowed his brows. "Gleam? You're a Gleamer?"
Navy nodded. "I am. And if you're willing to learn, I can teach you... but I'll need something in return."
Eldric raised an eyebrow, intrigued but wary. "What do you want?"
Navy smirked, his tone light. "Beer."
"Beer?" Eldric stared, confused. "You want beer? What does that have to do with me learning Gleam?"
Navy chuckled. "Once you become a Gleamer, you'll owe me ten beers. That's my price."
Eldric scratched his head. "I don't have money for that right now."
"Then it's a deal," Navy said with a grin, "Once you've learned, you'll bring me those ten beers."
Eldric chuckled. "Fine, I'll do it. Let's get started!"
With that, they made their way back to Eldric's home. By the time they arrived, the sky was dark, and Raphael was already asleep inside. Navy didn't waste time. He gestured for Eldric to sit, his tone serious now.
"Alright, Eldric," Navy said, "Let's begin. Do you know what Gleam is?"
Eldric shook his head. "I've heard of it. Isn't it some kind of magic?"
Navy's expression became more serious. "No, Gleam isn't magic. It's life energy the essence of all living things. The force that flows through you, through everything."
Eldric blinked in surprise. "Life energy? You mean, like... within all of us?"
"Exactly," Navy replied, his eyes gleaming with purpose. "And now, we start."
Eldric sat cross legged as instructed. Navy gestured toward him. "Meditate. Focus on your inner energy."
Eldric raised an eyebrow. "Meditate? How am I supposed to do that?"
Navy's face hardened. "You'll meditate, and you'll do it now."
Reluctantly, Eldric closed his eyes, focusing. But his thoughts drifted. Girls in bikinis, random distractions filled his mind. He snapped back to reality, his thoughts scattered. "I can't focus…"
Navy didn't budge. "Focus! You'll meditate for two hours."
Hours passed. Eldric fought to clear his mind. Slowly, he began to feel something an energy, a warmth. When he finally opened his eyes, a faint glow surrounded his body.
Navy's smile widened. "That's it, Eldric. You've unlocked your Gleam."
Eldric could feel the energy inside him, alive and pulsating. His excitement grew. "I did it! I really did it!"
Navy chuckled softly. "It's just the beginning, boy. The real training starts now."