Morning came slowly to the mountains of Draveth.
Golden sunlight crept over the jagged peaks, spilling into the valley below. Thin clouds drifted across the sky as if nothing unusual had happened the night before.
But Aira knew better.
She stood outside the wooden house where she lived, staring at her hands.
The memory of the flames still burned in her mind.
Fire… from my sword.
Her fingers tightened into a fist.
"Was it a dream?" she whispered.
But deep inside, she already knew the answer.
It wasn't.
Something had awakened inside her.
The village of Eldara slowly came to life.
Farmers walked toward their fields. Children chased each other along the dirt paths. Merchants opened their small shops.
Everything felt normal.
Too normal.
Aira walked through the village, her sword strapped to her back. People greeted her with quiet respect.
She had always been known as the strongest fighter among the young warriors.
But today she felt different.
Stronger.
And strangely… watched.
As she passed the marketplace, an old man suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Aira."
It was Master Dain, the oldest sword instructor in the village.
His eyes were sharp, despite his age.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" he said quietly.
Aira's heart skipped.
"Felt what?"
"The sky last night," he replied. "The mountain trembling."
Aira hesitated.
Then she said carefully, "Maybe it was just thunder."
Master Dain studied her face.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he released her arm.
"If anything strange happens," he said, "come find me."
Aira nodded slowly.
But even as she walked away, she knew something was wrong.
Because she could still feel the heat of the flames sleeping inside her.
Far away in the city of Valeron, Kael had not slept at all.
Broken glass still covered the floor of his room.
The window he had shattered with his power let in the cold morning air.
Kael stared at his hands again.
"Wind…" he muttered.
He pushed his palm forward.
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Frustration filled his chest.
"Come on!" he shouted.
Suddenly—
WHOOSH!
A powerful gust exploded from his hand, sending papers flying across the room again.
Kael stumbled backward.
Then a slow grin spread across his face.
"Okay," he whispered.
"That was awesome."
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Ren stood inside the glowing temple ruins.
The ancient symbol of the three circles still shined faintly on the stone wall.
Ren placed his hand on it again.
The voice returned instantly.
"The balance has begun to break."
Ren swallowed.
"Why me?" he asked.
"Because the Forces have chosen."
The voice paused.
Then it said something that made Ren's blood run cold.
"And the darkness has already begun hunting you."
Back in Eldara village, Aira walked toward the training field.
Her thoughts were racing.
She needed answers.
She drew her sword slowly.
The blade gleamed in the sunlight.
"Just once more," she whispered.
She swung.
Nothing happened.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Her frustration grew.
"Why last night… and not now?"
Suddenly—
The ground trembled.
Aira froze.
The tremor grew stronger.
Villagers began shouting.
"What is that?!"
"An earthquake?!"
But Aira knew it wasn't an earthquake.
Something was coming from the forest.
And it was moving fast.
The trees at the edge of the village exploded outward.
A massive creature burst through the forest.
It was twice the size of a horse.
Its skin looked like cracked stone, glowing faintly with dark purple energy. Its eyes burned like red embers.
People screamed.
Children ran.
The monster roared, shaking the entire village.
Aira stepped forward slowly.
Her heart was racing.
But fear wasn't the strongest feeling in her chest.
Determination was.
She drew her sword.
"Everyone get back!" she shouted.
The creature charged.
The ground shook beneath its weight.
Aira gripped her sword tighter.
Come on…
Please work…
The monster leapt.
Aira swung her blade with everything she had.
For a split second, nothing happened.
Then—
FWOOSH!
Flames exploded from the sword again.
A blazing arc of fire slashed across the monster's body.
The creature screamed and crashed into the ground, smoke rising from the burning wound.
The villagers stared in shock.
Aira stood frozen.
The flames slowly faded from her blade.
Her breathing was heavy.
"What… was that thing?" she whispered.
But the creature wasn't finished.
Its eyes glowed brighter.
It began to stand again.
And this time—
It was angrier.
Much angrier.
Aira raised her sword again.
The real battle had just begun.