Chapter 1 – Thunder That Shatters Destinies
The night crackled with electricity. The sky rumbled like an angry beast, each lightning strike engraving the world in fleeting light.
Ancient forests rose like cathedrals of stone and wood, breathing an air heavy with centuries-old magic. Silver rivers reflected the moon, winding like luminous serpents between rolling hills. Elven citadels crowned the mountains, silent and majestic.
In Eryndor, magic was not a tool—it was alive. It flowed through the stones, the trees, the very air itself. Humans relied on protective spells and enchanted forges to survive. Elves, elegant and immortal, lived in harmony with nature, while mighty orcs patrolled the wild plains. Legendary creatures—griffons, crystal wolves, mist dragons—slipped through shadows, unseen by the careless.
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For centuries, an ancient text spoke of four children born once every thousand years:
Three heirs of light
One heir of the Destructive Demon
The prophecy, etched in stone and whispered by sages, had nearly been forgotten. But tonight, the millennial cycle began anew.
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Atop the Manuscript Tower, Maelan, the Grand Sage of humanity, broke his meditation. His pale, almost translucent eyes fixed the horizon: a storm of unprecedented intensity approached.
Within the ancient sanctuary, the Insignia of the Destructive Demon—an artifact imprisoning a dark, millennia-old power—had lain undisturbed for centuries.
Suddenly, a black lightning bolt split the sky, striking the Insignia. A sharp crack echoed. The artifact shattered.
Maelan felt the surge of energy ripple through the mystical air. His breath caught. His hands trembled.
> "The heirs are about to be born… and the cycle begins again…" he whispered, his voice trembling between fear and awe.
A strange mist rose around the fragments, as if darkness itself shivered, aware that something had awoken.
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The Birth of Kaelen
In the Thalorien Valley, a modest house glowed in candlelight.
Kaelen entered the world, fragile and pink, yet alive. His mother, Elira, cradled him, tears of joy mingling with relief.
> "Welcome to this world, my little Kaelen…" she whispered, voice soft but shaking.
His father, Darian, placed a hand on her shoulder, gazing at their son with awe.
> "He is… perfect."
They shared a silent look, a vow to protect this child no matter what. Their hands joined over his tiny body, and for a brief moment, the world seemed suspended in a bubble of warmth and love.
Kaelen's breathing was calm, showing no sign of power. Yet when lightning struck the distant sanctuary, a faint shiver ran through his tiny fingers—a subtle echo of the storm above. Unknowingly, his destiny had just been touched.
> "We will watch over you, Kaelen. No matter what the future holds," Darian said, holding him close to his chest.
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The Birth of a Recognized Heir
Not far from the sanctuary, in a noble estate, another child opened his eyes. The air around him vibrated.
Maelan arrived, moving through the storm like a guided shadow. The moment he sensed the child's mana, he knew immediately:
> "You… I will take you under my protection. Your destiny is tied to the light."
The boy, named Eryon, radiated pure energy, soft yet intense. A subtle glow danced around him, echoing the whispers of prophecy. Even amid the tempest, his gaze remained calm, almost wise.
Maelan understood that he had found one of destiny's pillars.
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The Announcement to the King
By morning, the sky had calmed, though the earth still smelled of rain and thunder. Maelan sought audience with King Alaric, entering the grand throne hall.
He bowed deeply.
> "Your Majesty…" he began, gravely, "the prophecy is unfolding. The three heirs of light have been born… and…"
He paused, feeling the weight of his words.
"…an heir of the Destructive Demon has also come into this world."
The king frowned, concern etching his features.
> "All four…?"
Maelan nodded. The identity of the Demon heir remained a mystery, but a distant, dark energy already stirred in the lands. The unknown pressed upon the hall like the lingering storm.
> "Prepare the kingdom. Our world's fate is now tied to these children."
Under the still-clouded sky:
Kaelen, an ordinary child with an extraordinary destiny, was welcomed with love and warmth.
Eryon, a future heir of light, was placed under the Grand Sage's protection.
The king now knew the four heirs—light and shadow—had been born.
Silence lingered. The dark clouds above seemed to mirror King Alaric's worry. He rose slowly, eyes fixed on Maelan and his council. His voice, steady and commanding, filled the hall:
> "If these children—the heirs of light and the heir of the Destructive Demon—are to shape our world, we must know where they are."
He slammed his fist on the throne, the sound vibrating through the hall.
> "You, my disciples and loyal messengers, will find them. Protect the heirs of light. Watch over the heir of the Destructive Demon. Their fate is bound to Eryndor. Any delay could cost us the world itself."
Maelan inclined his head, feeling the prophecy's burden deepen. The king's disciples, young but trained, understood the gravity immediately. Each silently vowed to journey across mountains, forests, and valleys to find the children, guided by magic, ancient scrolls, and the instinct of the sages.
> "No mistakes can be allowed. The fate of our world depends on your vigilance," the king concluded.
A shiver passed through the hall. The order had been given, and with it began a quest that would lead the kingdom toward the inevitable clash of light and shadow.