⚔️ CHAPTER 3 — The Boy Who Prayed Too Loudly
The chapel of Valenhold was carved from pale stone, its ceiling so high it felt closer to the heavens than the earth. Candles lined the walls, their flames trembling as if afraid.
Kael knelt alone.
He prayed for strength.
He prayed for purpose.
He prayed to become someone worth remembering.
"Heroes are remembered," he whispered. "Aren't they?"
A voice answered him.
Not aloud—but inside his chest.
Heroes are remembered by liars.
Kael gasped, looking around. The chapel was empty.
His heart pounded.
You want to protect the innocent, the voice continued, calm and ancient. So did they.
"Who are you?" Kael whispered.
The candles flickered violently.
Someone who has watched this story end the same way every time.
The presence faded, leaving only silence—and a cold fear Kael could not name.
When he stood to leave, he noticed something carved beneath the altar.
A name.
Scratched out.
Over and over.