Chapter 3:
The fire exploded outward in a wave of heat and bright white light. Kael barely had time to cover his innocent eyes before the flames flung around through the forest, devouring the raiders whole in a vortex of burning ember and sparks. Trees burned and splintered under the force of the blast, their branches caught fire in an instant.
Jorin pulled Kael backward just as another surge of energy crackled through the air and all over. A barrier of translucent flames rose between them and the attackers, cutting off their pursuit and putting them in a halt
Kael's heart pounded as he turned to face the woman who had saved the by swinging around magic spells like nothing which nearly killed them.
She stood tall, her auburn hair flickering like a living fire in the firelight. Her cold amber eyes were fixed on the scene infront of her, scanning, calculating. A long, deep-blue cloak swayed behind her, fastened at the shoulders with silver clasps shaped like celestial sigils. Her stance was calm, powerful.
Kael swallowed. He knew her name before she even spoke.
"I am Lyra Valen," she said, her voice steady, almost cold. "And you must be the one they're looking for,right?"
Kael hesitated. His mind was still reeling from everything—his village's destruction, the raiders, the power that had burst out inside him. But Lyra was the only lead he had.
"I… I think so," he claimed. "They called me a sigil bearer."
Lyra's eyes narrowed slightly, as if confirming something. Then she turned to Jorin. "You brought him here?"
Jorin crossed her arms. "I found him first. Figured you might want to meet him before the enemy did."
Lyra sighed. "That was reckless."
Jorin scoffed. "Yeah? Seemed like a good idea when he nearly blew a raider in half with raw aura."
Lyra's gaze switched back to Kael. "You've already used your sigil's power?"
Kael shifted uneasily. "I—I don't know how I did it. It just… happened."
A flicker of something crossed Lyra's face—concern? Surprise? But she quickly hid it.
"No time for stories," she said. "We need to go."
Jorin frowned. "And where exactly are we going?"
Lyra pointed towards the treeline beyond the burning wreckage and people. "There's an outpost two days travel from here. We'll be secured there."
Jorin raised an eyebrow. "You mean your outpost?"
Kael switched glances between them. "You have an outpost?"
Lyra didn't answer right then and there. Instead, she turned and started walking. "Follow me. I'll explain on the way."
Kael hesitated for only a moment before following. Jorin sighed but fell in step beside him.
Behind them, the flames still burned, devouring the raiders—or whatever was left of them.(maybe bones)
They walked through the deep forest for a long time, avoiding the main roads. The further they moved, the quieter the night became, as if the trees themselves were holding their breath in silence for something to happen.
Kael's puzzeled mind was over flowing with questions, but the silence between them was strong heavy, you could even cut the it in half with a knife. He finally broke the silence.
"You knew Orin, didn't you?"
Lyra's pace slowed slightly. Then she spoke her head slowly. "Yes."
Kael's heart tightened. "He said you had answers."
Lyra was quiet for a second. Then she said, "Orin was a good man. A wise man. If he sent you to find me, then that means…" She trailed off, her expression unreadable, like a dancing mosquito.
Kael waited, but she didn't continue. Instead, she asked, "How much do you know about the Eclipse Sigil?"
Kael subconsciously touched his shoulder where the mark was. "Nothing. I always thought it was just a birthmark of some sorts."
. "Well, turns out it's a glowing birthmark that makes people want to kill you. Lucky you." Jorin said.
Lyra looked at Jorin with a warning glance before turning back to Kael. "The Eclipse Sigil isn't just a mark. It's a seal—an ancient power that has been passed down for millenials. Only a few are born with it."
Kael frowned. "Then why me?"
Lyra studied him. "I don't know yet."
Kael hardened his fists. "That's not an answer."
Lyra's eyes darkened. "No, it's not. But it's the truth."
Kael exhaled sharply, angry but knowing she wouldn't say more.
Jorin spoke up. "Alright, let's speak about the elephant in the room. Those raiders weren't normal. And they were after him specifically."
Lyra nodded. "They belong to the Shadowborn."
Kael tensed. "Who?"
Lyra's expression hardened. "A faction that works for an ancient power—one that has long been searching for people like you."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine . "And what do they want?"
Lyra hesitated. "To control the sigil's power. Or to destroy it."
Kael swallowed. That wasn't reassuring.
Jorin muttered, "So either they turn him into a weapon, or they kill him outright. Wonderful options."
Lyra shot her a look but didn't deny it.
Kael rubbed his temples. "And what's at this outpost?"
Lyra's expression softened slightly. "People who can help. People who know more about the sigil than I do."
That caught Kael's attention. "Others like me?"
Lyra didn't answer right away. Then, quietly, she said, "Not anymore."
Kael halted . "What do you mean?"
Lyra's jaw tightened. "The Shadowborn have been hunting sigil bearers for years. You're the only one left."
Kael's breath caught. "The only one?"
Lyra nodded. "That's why they won't stop coming for you."
Kael's mind reeled. He had never been anyone important. Just a boy from a quiet village. Now he was part of something much bigger—something horrifying.
Jorin clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, don't look so terrible. At least you're something."
Kael let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, something ."
Lyra gazed at the sky. The first hints of dawn were breaking over the horizon. "We should keep moving."
Kael took a deep breath and nodded. He didn't have all the answers. Not yet.
But he was starting to understand one thing:
His life would never be the same again.