WW night air shimmered faintly, carrying the scent of dew and the soft hum of insects. Deep within the abandoned forest clearing, Adrian and Selena stood opposite each other, their blades gleaming under the pale moonlight.
"Again," Adrian said, his voice calm but firm.
Selena exhaled, steadying her stance. Sweat trailed down her temple as she lunged forward, her dagger flashing in a sharp arc. Adrian deflected with ease, twisting his wrist and countering with a precise strike that barely missed her shoulder.
The clash of steel echoed, rhythmic and sharp—like a dance choreographed by fire and breath.
Selena dropped back, panting. "You're faster than before. I can barely keep up."
Adrian gave a faint smirk. "Then I'll slow down—just a little."
She glared playfully, tossing a pebble at him. "Show-off."
But the teasing didn't last. The laughter faded into silence, replaced by the low crackle of the campfire nearby. The night was beautiful… but heavy. As if the forest itself listened to their every word.
Adrian sheathed his sword and sat beside the fire. "Selena… have you ever wondered why the scroll chose me?"
Selena sat too, brushing dirt from her knees. "Maybe it didn't choose. Maybe it just found the one who needed it most."
He looked down, the fire's glow reflecting in his eyes. "My father used to say that power only brings ruin to those who chase it. Yet the Adeyemi bloodline has always been drawn to it—generation after generation."
Selena tilted her head. "You've never told me much about them."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Because there's not much left to tell."
He stared into the flames, voice low and distant.
"My family wasn't always noble. The Adeyemi crest was earned through betrayal—blood spilled for wealth and pride. When I was born, my father tried to end that cycle. But others in the family… they couldn't let go of the past. Power is like poison—it seeps into everything."
Selena's heart ached at the pain behind his words. "And they turned on you because of the scroll?"
He nodded slowly. "They called it cursed. Said it belonged to our ancestors long before the kingdom rose. But when I touched it… it reacted to me. As if it recognized my blood."
Selena frowned. "Recognized?"
Adrian opened his palm. The runes from the scroll faintly glowed beneath his skin—like veins of light pulsing with hidden life. "It whispers sometimes. When I'm close to danger. When I'm angry. It's not just a weapon, Selena—it's… alive."
A sudden gust swept through the clearing, dimming the fire. Selena's hand instinctively went to her dagger.
"Did you hear that?"
Adrian stood, scanning the shadows. The forest had gone utterly still again.
Then, from deep within the trees, came a faint murmur—a voice like a sigh carried by the wind.
"Adrian… blood of the first… awaken…"
The runes on his arm flared. His eyes widened in shock. For a heartbeat, visions flooded his mind—a crimson battlefield, a tower of black stone, and a shadowed figure wearing the Adeyemi crest, holding the same scroll he now carried.
Selena rushed to his side. "Adrian! What's happening?"
He gritted his teeth, gripping his chest as the voice echoed again, more desperate this time.
"The cycle begins anew…"
Then—silence.
The glow faded. The forest seemed to breathe again.
Adrian stumbled forward, trembling. Selena caught him before he fell, her voice trembling. "Adrian, talk to me—what did you see?"
He looked at her, his voice barely a whisper. "I think… my bloodline isn't just cursed. It's connected to something far older than the Rael family—or even the scroll itself."
Selena's eyes widened. "You mean—"
He nodded grimly. "Whatever this scroll is… it's calling to me. And the worst part is… I think it's waking up."
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✨ Author's Note:
Adrian's bloodline finally begins to reveal its secrets 🔥 What do you think the "first blood" means? Is the scroll really alive—or something far darker? Thank you all for 7 collections and 9.68k views! Your support keeps this story burning brighter each day ❤️