The fire in the courtyard crackled weakly, its glow swallowed by the darkness. Adrian rose to his feet, the scroll pulsing faintly in his grip as though it too sensed danger.
Two cloaked figures stood at the edge of the courtyard, silent, their presence pressing down like a storm about to break.
Selena's breath hitched. "Rael agents… they've found us."
One of the figures stepped forward, his cloak shifting to reveal the silver crest of the Rael family. His voice was calm, but every word dripped with scorn.
"Hand over the scroll, boy. That legacy is not yours to touch."
Adrian's jaw clenched. His heart pounded, not with fear, but with fire. "Then come and take it."
The agent sneered and lunged, his blade flashing in the moonlight. Adrian braced himself, his body moving instinctively. He parried with a sword conjured from the scroll's teachings—a weapon of pure energy that shimmered like starlight.
The clash rang out like thunder. Sparks scattered across the courtyard.
The second agent moved in, striking low, his dagger aimed for Adrian's heart. Adrian twisted aside, the scroll's glow flaring brighter in his palm. Strange symbols spiraled around his arm, and suddenly a wave of invisible force burst outward. The assassin was hurled back, smashing into a stone pillar.
Selena gasped. "That's… one of the forbidden arts!"
But Adrian had no time to listen. The first agent recovered and came again, faster, deadlier. Adrian blocked blow after blow, his arms burning with the effort. Too strong… but I can't back down now!
With a roar, he drove his fist forward, the scroll's runes blazing like firebrands. The strike landed square on the agent's chest. For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then—
BOOM!
The man was sent flying, crashing into the courtyard wall and slumping lifeless to the ground.
Adrian staggered back, his chest heaving. The scroll dimmed, its glow receding, leaving him trembling from exhaustion. He turned toward the second agent—only to see the man on one knee, wiping blood from his mouth, his eyes burning with hatred.
"This isn't over," the assassin hissed. "The Rael family will come. And when they do, not even that cursed scroll will save you."
He vanished into the shadows, leaving only silence and the faint stench of blood behind.
Adrian lowered his weapon, his hands shaking. Selena's wide eyes met his.
"You've awakened something," she whispered. "And now the whole Rael family will come hunting."
Adrian glanced down at the scroll. The faint hum beneath his skin told him one truth: this was only the beginning.
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Author's Note:
✨ Thank you all so much for helping this story reach 1.59k views! I'm truly grateful for every single one of you reading and following Adrian's journey. 🙏💖
The next chapters will reveal even more about the scroll's hidden powers and the dangers closing in on Adrian and Selena. Do you think Adrian is ready to face what's coming, or will the scroll test him harder than any enemy?
👉 Don't forget to leave a comment, rating, or a little support—it really motivates me to keep writing and bringing this story to life for you all.