The forest had never felt so restless. Even the wind carried tension, rustling the leaves like whispers of fear. Rihan walked ahead, his blade strapped to his back, his steps heavy but determined. Behind him, Elira and Lyra moved swiftly, their expressions grim.
The war horns still echoed faintly in the distance, vibrating in the night air.
"Those weren't practice horns," Lyra muttered, her violet eyes narrowing. "The Draemir Kingdom wouldn't sound them unless they were mobilizing in full force. Something must have pushed them to move early."
Elira clenched her fists. "If Draemir's armies march, villages will burn before sunrise. We need to reach Valdoria's capital before it's too late."
Rihan glanced at them. "And what happens when we get there? I'm not exactly a soldier."
Elira's gaze flicked to him, serious. "You're more than a soldier now. The aura inside you—whether you accept it or not—will draw both kingdoms' eyes. Valdoria will see you as a weapon… or a savior."
Rihan grimaced. "Great. Another title I didn't ask for."
---
🌑 Scene Shift — Draemir War Camp
A chilling wind swept across a sprawling camp of black banners and iron tents. Thousands of armored soldiers stood in formation, their eyes gleaming under torchlight. Massive war beasts were chained near the front lines, growling impatiently.
At the heart of the camp stood a throne of obsidian spikes. Upon it sat General Kael Veynar, Draemir's warlord, his crimson armor glowing faintly with etched runes. His scarred face was hidden beneath a mask shaped like a wolf's skull.
"Report," his voice rumbled, deep and commanding.
A kneeling soldier bowed. "General, the Trial of Purity has been breached. The survivor carries… an aura unlike anything recorded. Our spies suggest he may be linked to the Eclipse."
A sharp silence fell.
Kael's gauntleted hand tapped against the armrest of his throne. "The Eclipse… after centuries?"
Another officer stepped forward. "Shall we strike before Valdoria shelters him, General? If he is what the rumors claim, leaving him alive could tip the balance of war."
Kael leaned forward slowly, his voice dark with hunger. "…No. Not yet. If this boy truly carries the Eclipse within him, killing him outright would be a waste." His eyes glowed beneath the mask. "We will capture him. The Eclipse belongs to Draemir."
The officers bowed, fear evident in their eyes.
Kael's masked face tilted toward the horizon where the horns still howled. "Rihan… your fate is already mine."
---
☀️ Back to Rihan's Group
They had reached the outskirts of a sleepy village, but the calm was already broken. Smoke curled upward, and frightened villagers rushed to douse fires. A mother clutched her child, screaming for help as armored raiders smashed carts and tore through homes.
"Draemir's scouts," Elira hissed, drawing her bow.
Lyra raised her staff, anger flashing in her eyes. "Already this close…"
Rihan tightened his grip on his blade. His body ached, exhaustion gnawed at his bones, but something inside him—something new—stirred like a burning flame. The moment he saw the terrified villagers, he couldn't stand still.
Without waiting, he charged forward.
"Rihan, wait!" Elira shouted, but he was already in motion.
The raiders turned, sneering at the lone figure rushing at them. "Another fool with a death wish!"
But as Rihan swung his blade, light burst from its edge, slicing through the night. One raider's weapon shattered, another was thrown back into a burning cart. The villagers gasped, watching the mysterious stranger fight like a force of nature.
Elira and Lyra joined the fray, their spells and arrows striking with deadly precision. Within minutes, the Draemir scouts lay defeated, groaning on the ground.
The villagers slowly emerged, their fear giving way to awe.
"You saved us…" a trembling old man whispered. "Who… who are you?"
Rihan froze. A dozen eyes stared at him with desperate hope. He wanted to say no one, just a guy who didn't belong here. But when he looked into their faces—their relief, their gratitude—he couldn't.
"…Just someone who couldn't look away," he said softly.
Elira watched him, her chest tightening. Lyra muttered under her breath, "…Dangerous or not, people will follow him."
Suddenly, the night sky cracked with distant firelight — a signal burning in the horizon.
Elira's face drained of color. "That's a war beacon. Draemir has officially declared war."
The villagers gasped in horror.
Rihan's hand tightened around his blade. War. Not just survival anymore… but war.
He exhaled slowly, staring at the flames on the horizon. "Then I guess we're out of time."
The horns of war howled once more, louder, closer. The world was shifting, and Rihan could feel it in his bones.
For the first time, he wasn't just a lost soul in another world. He was standing on the line between kingdoms, between light and shadow — a line that only he could hold