The Orphan and the Forbidden Grimoire
The sun had barely risen over the rooftops of Eryndor's capital, yet the orphan streets were already alive with the clatter of carts, the cries of merchants, and the distant howl of stray beasts. Among the narrow alleys, a slender boy with unruly black hair weaved through the crowd, clutching a small bundle of bread stolen from a careless baker.
Kael had lived seventeen years with nothing but his wits, surviving the city's chaos while dreaming of something more. Something extraordinary. Yet, even as he darted past guards and market stalls, he never imagined that today, his life would change forever.
He ducked into the shadows of an abandoned temple, the crumbling stones whispering secrets of an older, forgotten world. Most children his age feared this place, but Kael had always felt a strange pull toward it, as if the temple itself was waiting for him.
And today, it seemed it was.
Inside, the air was thick with dust and the faint scent of incense long extinguished. His eyes caught something glimmering behind a shattered altar. A book, unlike any he had ever seen, floated a few inches above the stone surface. Its cover was dark, etched with glowing runes that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Kael froze. Grimoires were forbidden. Every mage knew it — ordinary people should never touch them. But the book seemed to hum with a strange energy, calling to him. Against every warning echoing in his mind, he reached out.
The moment his fingers brushed the cover, a jolt of power surged through him, and the air around the temple shivered. Kael stumbled backward, his heart hammering in his chest. The book had chosen him.
A voice echoed in his head — smooth, ancient, and commanding:
"Kael… you are mine."
His eyes widened. He was the only Kael in the city. How could a book know his name?
The runes on the cover shifted, forming words in a language he didn't recognize. And yet, somehow, he understood them.
"Master me, and your path will be revealed. Fail, and you will vanish from this world."
Kael swallowed hard. Magic had always been forbidden to him — he had no family, no guild, no teacher. And yet, the power within the grimoire throbbed like a living thing, promising strength, answers, and… revenge.
Revenge? Against whom? Kael's parents had vanished when he was a child. The city whispered of their mysterious disappearance, but no one ever spoke the truth. Maybe… maybe this book held answers.
He lifted the grimoire, and the runes burned faintly on his skin, leaving marks like intricate tattoos. A strange warmth filled him, spreading from his fingertips to his chest. He could feel magic coursing through his veins — raw, unstable, yet exhilarating.
Suddenly, a sharp noise from the temple entrance made him spin around. A pair of glowing green eyes stared at him from the shadows. A creature, something between wolf and shadow, slinked closer, its claws scraping against the stone floor.
Kael's hands shook. He had no weapon. No allies. Only the grimoire. But as the beast lunged, a wave of light shot from the book, hitting the creature. It yelped, recoiled, and vanished into a puff of black smoke.
Breathing heavily, Kael realized one thing: the grimoire was alive, and it had just saved him.
He took a step back, heart racing, staring at the book in awe and fear. What have I just unleashed?
From somewhere deep inside the temple, a whisper echoed again:
"The world will notice you soon, Kael. Prepare yourself."
Kael clenched the grimoire to his chest. His life as an ordinary orphan was over. The streets of Eryndor no longer felt safe. And one thought burned in his mind louder than fear:
"I will find the truth about my parents… no matter the cost."
The temple doors slammed shut behind him, leaving him in darkness. And somewhere in the distance, a faint, malevolent laugh echoed.