Everything began in a foggy forest. Damp leaves rustled on the ground, and raindrops seeping from the tree trunks created a faint crackling sound as they hit the earth. A small baby was being carried in a cart, held by an adult. The baby did not cry, only watched the surroundings with wide, fearful eyes. The man beside him, sweating and with his face tense in worry, tried to steer the cart carefully along the narrow path. The fog filtered the moonlight from above, making the surroundings even more obscure with each step.
The journey continued for a short while, but a distant voice pierced through the stormy night.
"Up to here."
Aelir suddenly opened his eyes, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, burying himself into the pillow. His heart was still racing, and his chest rose and fell with deep breaths. His hands trembled as he sat up, the unease left by the dream still echoing in his mind.
He sat quietly for a while, replaying in his mind the scenes of the foggy forest and the cart. "This… can't be real," he whispered to himself, yet the dream still sent shivers down his spine. One question lingered in his mind: why did he see a baby in his dream?
Aelir took a deep breath, ran his hands over his face, and slowly got out of bed. It was time to compose himself and be ready for the rest of the day. Yet, in the corner of his mind, the feeling that the dream might have some hidden meaning still lingered.
He quickly got ready and went to find Old Gurkant. When he descended to the lower floor, he saw Gurkant entering the door with a letter in hand, and greeted him. Gurkant noticed Aelir's fearful expression and asked,
"What's wrong, Aelir? Is something troubling you?"
Aelir recounted the dream to Old Gurkant.
Hearing this, Gurkant was visibly surprised and found it difficult to make sense of it, then finally said,
"Aelir, every dream we see carries meaning; sometimes it sends us messages from the past, sometimes from the future. I hope this dream is something beneficial for you."
Aelir felt somewhat relieved after hearing this. Then he remembered the letter in Gurkant's hand and asked,
"Then, Old Gurkant, who is the letter from?"
Gurkant replied, "I haven't read it yet, but from what's written on it, I know it came from Count Espera."
Upon hearing this, Aelir's curiosity grew, and he immediately asked Gurkant to read it.
Gurkant began reading aloud the contents of the letter:
"Dear Gurkant,
I hope this letter reaches you and your young friend Aelir in peace. Unfortunately, based on official information from Espera, I felt the need to warn you about some serious events that may affect you and your location. It seems that some dark signs have emerged that could threaten the local people and security.
This information has been distributed based on official notification from the Argahan Kingdom, which increases the seriousness of the situation. I believe you and Aelir must be especially careful, considering her young and vulnerable age.
Your safety is important to me, so know that I will do everything I can to protect both you and Aelir. I hope to see you soon.
With respect,
Cedric Espera
Count of Espera"
After finishing the letter, Gurkant's concern was evident, because he knew Cedric Espera would not have sent the letter if it were not important. Still, trying not to let his worry show to Aelir, Old Gurkant began to speak.
"Cedric Espera said he was pleased to meet you and is eager to visit again soon," he said.
Aelir's face lit up with a smile.
"Anything else? What else does it say, Old Gurkant?"
Gurkant continued, "He said he saw the light within you and insisted on teaching you how to use a sword."
Tears welled up in Aelir's eyes, almost bringing her to cry; these words made him forget the nightmare he had that morning.
"Please, Old Gurkant, help me. If you are my master, I believe I can succeed," Aelir said.
Gurkant looked at the child standing before him. The same eyes he had seen in first day were still there. Turning away, with a single tear sliding down his cheek, he spoke:
"Then you better be ready, because being my friend doesn't matter — I never go easy on a student of mine. Tomorrow morning, we begin"