Night slowly descended on the Solaris Kingdom. The flames of torches hanging from the stone walls flickered in the breeze, casting a dim yellow light. Outside, the faint sounds of patrolling soldiers could be heard, occasionally echoing through the long stone corridor.
Kael lay on a simple wooden bed in the small room he had just been given. The room was cold, decorated only with a low table, a water jug, and a small window that looked out at the night sky. Through the gap, Kael could see a scattering of stars, as if looking down on him from above.
He closed his eyes, but Ardyn's words from that afternoon kept ringing in his head.
"You are no longer an ordinary village boy, Kael. You carry a sword that even the king cannot wield. You cannot escape your destiny."
Kael took a deep breath and sat up. His hand reached for the Astralis sword lying beside the bed. The sword's faint light still radiated, though only dimly, like a dying ember. He touched the hilt, and immediately the image of his village came flooding back to his mind.
Burning houses. Children's screams. The faces of his friends, the last they saw before they were consumed by flames and the fangs of a monster. Kael clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"If I had been stronger back then… maybe they would still be alive," he whispered, his voice trembling.
Tears fell unconsciously, falling to the stone floor. He bit his lip, trying to hold back his tears, but his chest was too full of guilt and loss.
Kael then lay on his side, staring up at the starry sky outside the window. In his mind, the warm, smiling faces of his friends appeared so clearly. The face of Elina, who used to accompany him so often, making him laugh and always helping him in difficult times.
"Friends… I don't know if I can do it," Kael whispered softly, almost inaudibly. "But… I promise I'll try. For you. For our village. I won't run away again."
He gripped the hilt of his Astralis sword tighter, then pulled it close to his chest, as if using it as a substitute for the embrace of his lost friends.
The night wind blew gently through the window, bringing a chill that pierced his skin. But beneath the chill, something began to grow in Kael's heart—a small, fragile, yet real resolve.
With his eyes still wet, Kael finally fell asleep. And that night, for the first time since his village was destroyed, he dreamed not of destruction… but of himself standing tall, sword raised before the light that dispelled the darkness.
Kael finally sank into a deep sleep. His breathing was steady, his Astralis sword still clutched tightly to his chest. But the tranquility of the night was short-lived.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the stone corridors of the kingdom. They grew louder and louder. Faint shouts could be heard, mixed with the tolling of the warning bell that echoed throughout Solaris.
GONG! GONG! GONG!
Kael jolted awake. His eyes fluttered open, his chest still heaving from his unsettled sleep. He was confused for a moment, until he heard the sound of troops running outside. His heart skipped a beat.
"What is going on…?" he muttered in panic.
He got out of bed and quickly walked to the small window. Through the crack, he saw a sight that made his body freeze. Solaris troops were running hurriedly in full armor, carrying spears, bows, and shields. Flames of torches lined the ramparts, swaying wildly from the soldiers' hurried movements.
Kael fell silent. "What's happening?"
Without thinking, he grabbed Astralis and exited the room. The cold night air greeted him, accompanied by the cacophony of footsteps and the shouts of commands from his officers.
In the fortress hallway, Kael stopped a young soldier who nearly ran past him. "Hey! What's happening?! Why is everyone panicking?!"
The soldier gasped, his face covered in sweat despite the cold night. "The kingdom's under attack! Monsters—they're already standing in front of the main fortress! They're trying to break into the fortified town!"
Kael was confused. "What…?!"
The soldier didn't have time to explain further. He quickly patted Kael on the shoulder and then ran back to the other troops.
Kael stood frozen for a moment. The words fortified town immediately made sense to him: a small town within the Solaris fortress that housed civilians, a smithy, food storage, and even small houses. If the walls were breached… not just the Solaris troops, but hundreds of innocent lives would be lost.
A long, drawn-out trumpet blast echoed from outside, followed by a low, hair-raising roar that sent shivers down Kael's spine. The voice wasn't human. It was the voice of a monster.
Kael gripped Astralis tighter. His hands were still trembling, his heart threatening to leap out of his chest. He stared straight ahead at the path leading to the main fortress.
"A monster... is here?" he whispered, his voice breaking between fear and anger.
In his mind, images of his destroyed village replayed. The fire, the blood, the screams... it all felt real again. But now, he wasn't a helpless village boy anymore. In his hand was a legendary sword.
Kael took a deep breath, then quickly followed the flow of troops toward the main fortress. He knew—tonight was no ordinary night. Tonight, fate was knocking at his door again.
Fort Solaris trembled with din. From the guard towers, the light of torches stretched out, illuminating pale, anxious faces. The captains' commands echoed, mingling with the pounding footsteps of the troops marching along the outer walls.
Under the shadow of the high walls, the fortified town was filled with an unusual commotion. Civilians ran to small houses, locking the doors tightly. Children were herded into large warehouses that had become makeshift shelters. Several women wept softly, comforting their frightened children.
On the other side, the blacksmith's workshop was still burning. The furnace fire blazed, casting a red glow on the faces of the smiths, who worked tirelessly. They prepared spare spears, repaired cracked swords, and distributed combat equipment to the soldiers lined up waiting. The sound of hammers striking iron mingled with the night breeze, creating an eerie harmony.
The food storage was opened wide. Workers carried sacks of grain, barrels of water, and wooden boxes containing arrows. Everything was moved near the soldiers' posts, for easy access if the battle dragged on.
On the watchtower, the guards stared straight into the darkness beyond the walls. They couldn't see clearly, only large shadows moving through the thin mist of night. But that sound… a low, heavy roar, mixed with the stamping of hundreds of creatures, made the ground tremble.
Kael stood amidst the crowd, his eyes sweeping around. The pressure of the atmosphere was suffocating. He saw a Solaris captain walking around, encouraging his soldiers.
"Hold the line! Don't let any of them penetrate these walls!" the captain shouted.
The soldiers nodded, their faces stiff, some pale. The hands gripping their shields trembled, but they remained upright.
Beyond the din, the long trumpet blast rang out again, closer this time. The entire fortified town fell silent for a moment, as if holding its breath. From a distance, a roar echoed in response, shaking the chests of everyone who heard it.
Kael felt his blood rush. His gaze couldn't tear away from the main gate of Solaris, the gate now trembling gently with each pounding from outside.
"Whatever's behind there…" Kael muttered softly, gripping Astralis tighter. "…this isn't a nightmare anymore. This is reality."
And in that instant, the first sound to shatter the silence of the night was heard: BOOM!
A loud crash struck the main gate. Stones trembled, dust flew from the walls. The screams of the Solaris soldiers echoed:
"They're trying to break in here!!"