14 years later…
Nico
I dashed through the enchanted forest, the air thick with the scent of damp moss and ancient secrets. Twisted branches clawed at my arms as if the trees themselves wished to hold me back. The ground shifted beneath my feet as if the very earth were alive..
A dark, ominous presence chased me,its power pressing in from all directions with invisible weight, like a thousand storms bearing down on my shoulders. I could hear them, drawing closer with every heartbeat. My breath came in ragged gasps. My heart pounded against my ribs. Fear danced in my chest, icy and sharp.
I stumbled over an upturned root, nearly falling, barely keeping my balance. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind as the path ahead narrowed to a dead end.
Desperation surged through me.
I closed my eyes and reached deep within, summoning every last drop of mana left in my shattered core. I called upon the ancient earth magic passed down through bloodlines long forgotten. The ground trembled as I willed a wall of stone to rise before me — a barrier strong enough to hold back even the most relentless foes. But it was useless. The earth cracked and shattered like brittle glass, and they passed through without hesitation.
In the blink of an eye, a cold, gleaming sword was pressed to my throat. I reached for my artifact but before I could activate it, my life was taken in one swift motion.
I woke with a violent gasp, drenched in sweat, my heart pounding as if the dream had been real. The words which echoed in my mind, sending a chill down my spine were the last I heard before death: "He will never forgive you."
I quickly showered, got dressed and headed down for breakfast. Elijah was already at the table, his dark messy hair falling over his forehead, his bright blue eyes focused on something real. I sat across from him, my brown hair falling loosely around my face.
One more day, he said as soon as I sat down.
"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing the tension in the hot air.
I hesitated for a heartbeat, then shrugged.
"Nothing. Just tired."
Elijah didn't press further. Instead, we shifted into easier talk — dreaming out loud about all the places we'd visit after the Bestowal. The way he spoke of distant lands, of floating markets and skybound cities, helped me forget the weight in my chest — if only for a moment.
Once breakfast was done, we got to work.
"I just want to get my artifact and be done with this shit already," Elijah muttered, brushing dust from his shirt as he stepped down from the chair he nearly fell off while cleaning the windows.
"I laughed. 'Yeah, I know exactly how that feels.'"
"He looked at me, grinning."
"Why don't we head into the city later? He suggested"
"Alright — but we have finish our work first," I replied
"Deal," he agreed.
After finishing our work, we packed up and headed toward the city.
It wasn't until we reached the city that I realized we were being followed. A strange unease settled over me, and my heart skipped a beat.
We're being followed, I whispered to Elijah.
Without hesitation, he turned down a narrow alley. We pressed ourselves against the cool, shadowy wall, listening. The street behind us was quiet — too quiet. Then, soft footsteps echoed closer, steady and unhurried.
We waited, every muscle tense, breath held.
As the figure rounded the corner, we moved fast. Elijah grabbed them while I stepped forward, ready to confront whoever had been tailing us.
But then the light fell across their face — and I froze.
It was a girl. One of the orphans from the shelter. Her wide eyes met mine, filled with surprise and something else — recognition.
"Eliza?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, heavy with disbelief.
She didn't answer right away. Her hand moved slightly toward the satchel at her side. She looked tense, ready to defend herself if needed. But the look in her eyes told me she wasn't here to fight.
"What are you doing here?" Elijah asked, his voice calm but tight.
Eliza hesitated. Then, slowly, she let her hand fall and looked at me.
"I heard something," she said quietly. "At the orphanage. A deal. They're looking for someone — they think it's you. They think you know something."
My stomach dropped.
What do they think I know? I asked.
She glanced over her shoulder, voice dropping to a whisper.
"Not here. It's not safe."
Can we really trust her?Elijah Said.She might be leading us into an ambush.
If you don't trust her, follow me then ,I Said ,flashing a grin.
That's just a end
You better know what you're doing, the men are just around the corner,Nico said,as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
Trust me,both of You place your hands on me now,as they did I activated the amulet and muttered I hope this works.Then the world went dark.
When I opened my eyes I was met with the confused faces of my friends.
Where are we?,They asked
We are in the void,Ireplied a place where space and time do not exist. I came here first when I figured out my amulet is an artifact.
Cool,said Elijah
Now can you tell us about the men,I said.
As you already know some men appeared at the orphanage this morning to look for you and said they were from the shadow guild but I don't think it's true.
Why are they looking for me?,I Asked.
I don't know but they said they have to find you before the bestowal.
The bestowal!Elijah cried, it's tomorrow.
If you are right then we are going to get out at the exact time we came in. That means we'll have to wait hours before the bestowal begins,Eliza said.how are we going to hide from the men until then.
Why don't we hide in the cathedral? said Elijah.Violence isn't allowed inside.
So we're spending the night in the cathedral then ,Eliza said
The cathedral loomed ahead, its spires piercing the darkening sky like silent sentinels. By day, it stood as a symbol of sanctuary and peace; by night, it felt hollow and watchful, as though it remembered every secret ever whispered within its walls.
Eliza pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "Do you think it's really true?" she asked softly. "That violence isn't allowed inside?"
I hesitated at the bottom of the cathedral steps, staring up at the grand wooden doors. "I don't know," I admitted. "But it's the only place we've got."
We pushed the heavy doors open with a groan that echoed through the vast nave. Candlelight flickered along the walls, left burning from evening prayers, casting long shadows that danced across stone statues of forgotten heroes.
We walked in silence down the center aisle, each footstep bouncing off marble and stained glass like a challenge.
"We'll stay in the side chapel," Eliza whispered. "It's hidden enough."
I sat on the floor of the chapel, leaning back against the cold wall, thinking about our next moves.
"I'll keep watch, just in case the men come here," I said.
"And if anything goes wrong—"
"We run," I finished, offering a faint smile. "But only if we have to."
"I'll take the first watch," I added with a warm smile.
"Okay," they both said.
"But don't do anything stupid," Elijah warned.
Thankfully, nothing happened throughout the night.
I woke the next morning to the sight of Elijah's face as he happily announced, "The bestowal is about to begin!"
"The chill from the stone floor still clung to my back as I sat up, rubbing the remnants of the nightmare from my eyes. Elijah was already on his feet, practically vibrating with energy."
I stood slowly, the weight of the night still heavy in my limbs. But his excitement was infectious. I pulled on my cloak and followed him out of the side chapel.
The cathedral looked different in the morning light—less haunted, more holy. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, spilling pools of color onto the marble floor. Figures moved silently down the nave—robed elders and bright-eyed children—all heading toward the high altar.
There, beneath the great dome, was a pool of water—older than the city. Each child would go there to pull out their artifact.. Each one was tied to a legend. Some said the artifacts chose their bearers. Others whispered that the elders decided, based on worth—or fate.
Elijah leaned close. "What do you think you'll get?"
"I don't know," I murmured, heart racing. "Maybe nothing."
Everyone gets something—even if it's a curse, said Eliza, who hadn't spoken since we left the chapel.
A hush fell over the gathered crowd as the Head Elder stepped forward, his long silver robes brushing the floor. He raised a hand, and the bells in the tower chimed once—clear and solemn.
"The time has come," he announced, his voice echoing through the cathedral. For the bestowal to begin."
One by one, the children were called forward—some nervous, some beaming with pride. They knelt before the pool, reaching in with careful hands. Each artifact, when lifted, shimmered faintly in the morning light with its runes glowing faintly.
Gasps rose as a girl named Lira received the Wind-Thread Harp, and again when Jonah was given the Blindfold of the Forgotten Seer—its cloth a black so deep it seemed to drink the light around it.
"Eliza ," the Head Elder called.
Eliza shifted beside me. Her eyes were steady, but I could feel the tension in her shoulders. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
At the pool she knelt down and reached in, drawing forth a weapon unlike any other — a double-curved bow, forged from pale darkwood and bound with silver vines that pulsed faintly with light. Two limbs arched forward and back, creating a mirrored symmetry, strung with two threads of woven starlight.
Its limbs curved outward in twin arcs both unnatural and graceful, as if sculpted by the will of ancient gods. The silver metal was impossibly smooth and etched with glowing runes that pulsed with life,
Nightsilver, the elder announced.
She'll strike twice before you even realize, someone whispered behind me.
Then came Elijah's turn. He nudged me as his name was called.
Wish me luck, he whispered, grinning wide.
Good luck, I whispered back.
He strode confidently up the aisle and stopped before the basin. The Head Elder studied him for a long moment, then plunged his hand into the ash. When he pulled it out, clutched in his fingers was a bronze ring—plain and unmarked—until it caught the sunlight and flared with a pulse of crimson.
Murmurs spread through the crowd like ripples.
The Sword of Twelve Shadows, The Head Elder announced a relic of vanished kings .Elijah's grin faltered, replaced by something quieter. He slid the sword into its sheath at his side, and the air around him shimmered for a heartbeat, as though the shadows had taken notice.
He returned to us, breathing a little shaky.
Okay, that was... intense.I was about to respond when the Head Elder called, Nico.
The cathedral held its breath as I stepped forward. Every footstep echoed like thunder. At the pool,I slowly extended both hands carefully.
Nothing. Not at first.
Then the pool began to move—rising into the air, twisting on its own. It crackled faintly, like distant thunder. A soundless pulse pushed against my chest as the ash coiled and collapsed into a shape. The elder caught it in his hands.
A sealed wooden box, bound in red string,surface scorched with a strange, jagged symbol —two curved strokes locked in a spiral —like dance, like mirrored wings caught in mid-motion.The mark pulsed faintly, feeling ancient and alive.
For you, he said solemnly.
I took it. It was warm, pulsing faintly.
When I returned, Eliza and Elijah both leaned in.
What's in it? she whispered.
I… don't know.
But the string untied itself as I spoke ,and the lid creaked open just enough to show what lay inside .A dagger of black crystal rested above the velvet, weightless. Runes of glowing green light shimmered faintly along the edge. Beside it lay its sheath, crafted from dark leather veined with threads of moonlit silver, and engraved with the same symbol on the box.
Elijah exhaled.
I've never seen it before and it looks like you're the first to get it.
Eliza tilted her head.
Looks like we got more than we bargained for.
Yeah, I said quietly, my fingers clutching the box.
"But maybe… we got exactly what we need.
.