Chapter 2 – The Night of Blood
Kael's heart pounded so loudly he could barely hear anything else.
The soldiers had already surrounded the small wooden house.
Torches burned outside, their flames flickering through the broken doorway.
The bounty hunter stepped forward slowly, his boots crunching on the wooden floor. His long black coat brushed the ground as he walked, and the silver sword in his hand gleamed under the moonlight.
Kael stood in front of his father's bed, his fists trembling.
"You can't take him," Kael said.
The bounty hunter looked amused.
"And who are you supposed to be?" he asked.
"His son."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"Then you're unlucky."
He raised his hand.
"Kill the traitor."
Two soldiers moved toward the bed.
Kael grabbed the nearest wooden chair and swung it with all his strength.
CRACK.
The chair shattered against one soldier's helmet.
The soldier barely moved.
He simply pushed Kael aside like he was nothing.
Kael crashed into the wall.
Pain exploded through his shoulder.
"Pathetic," one of the soldiers muttered.
They raised their spears.
Kael struggled to stand.
"STOP!"
His father's weak voice filled the room.
The soldiers paused.
The old man slowly pushed himself up from the bed. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes burned with determination.
"I will go with you," he said.
Kael turned in shock.
"Father, no!"
The bounty hunter smiled.
"Good. That saves us trouble."
But the old man shook his head.
"On one condition."
The hunter narrowed his eyes.
"What condition?"
"You let my son live."
Silence filled the room.
The soldiers glanced at their leader.
The bounty hunter studied Kael carefully.
A skinny village boy.
Dirty clothes.
No weapon.
No threat.
Finally he chuckled.
"Fine."
He pointed his sword at Kael.
"Run."
Kael froze.
"What?"
"Run," the hunter repeated. "Before I change my mind."
Kael looked at his father.
"No… I'm not leaving you."
His father's face hardened.
"Kael."
That tone made Kael stop breathing.
It was the same voice his father used when teaching him how to harvest crops.
The same voice when he warned him about storms.
"You must live," the old man said quietly.
Kael shook his head, tears forming in his eyes.
"They're going to kill you!"
His father smiled faintly.
"They were always going to."
The words hit Kael like a hammer.
The old man slowly reached under his pillow and pulled out a small leather pouch.
Inside was a strange silver pendant.
The metal glowed faintly.
He threw it toward Kael.
"Take it."
Kael caught it instinctively.
"What is this?"
His father looked straight into his eyes.
"The truth."
The bounty hunter's patience finally ended.
"Enough talking."
He raised his sword.
"Time to finish this."
Kael stepped forward again.
"WAIT!"
But his father suddenly shouted a strange word.
A word Kael had never heard before.
"Ignis."
The air inside the room exploded with heat.
A circle of red symbols appeared beneath the soldiers' feet.
Their eyes widened.
"Magic—!"
BOOM.
Flames burst from the floor.
The soldiers screamed as fire engulfed them.
The bounty hunter jumped back just in time, his coat barely catching fire.
Kael stared in shock.
"Father… you can still use magic?"
The old man was breathing heavily now.
Blood trickled from his mouth.
"That spell… was the last of my power."
The bounty hunter's expression turned cold.
"So the rumors were true."
He stepped forward again, this time much more carefully.
"A former Highland magician hiding in the Lowlands."
His sword glowed with faint blue light.
"Too bad you're already dying."
The old man collapsed back onto the bed.
Kael rushed to his side.
"Father!"
The old man grabbed his shirt weakly.
"Listen carefully… Kael."
His voice was fading.
"The pendant… will guide you."
"To the others."
"The others?" Kael asked desperately.
"Those who know the truth."
The bounty hunter began walking toward them again.
"This touching reunion is over."
Kael looked around frantically.
The back window.
If he ran now—
His father squeezed his hand one last time.
"Live… Kael."
"Find them."
"Stop the Highlands."
Tears blurred Kael's vision.
"I promise."
The bounty hunter raised his sword.
"Goodbye, traitor."
Kael jumped through the window.
CRASH.
Glass shattered as he rolled into the dirt outside.
Behind him—
A single scream echoed from the house.
Then silence.
Kael didn't look back.
He ran.
Across the dark fields.
Across the silent farmland.
Behind him, flames began rising from the village.
The Highland soldiers had started burning the houses.
Anyone who knew the truth had to disappear.
Kael ran until his lungs burned and his legs nearly collapsed.
Finally he stopped on top of a small hill.
From there he could see the entire village.
His home.
Now burning in the night.
Above it all, the floating Highlands shone brightly in the sky.
Untouchable.
Untouchable.
Kael clenched the silver pendant in his hand.
His father's final words echoed in his mind.
Find them.
Stop the Highlands.
Tears ran down his face as he stared at the glowing kingdom in the sky.
"I swear…"
His voice trembled with rage.
"I will destroy your lies."
Far above, the Highlands remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somewhere in the darkness of the Lowlands…
The war for the truth had just begun.