Chapter 1 — The Mark
The rain fell over Elyndor as if the sky itself were trying to erase the city.
The streets were nearly empty. Lamplight reflected off the wet stones while thick fog covered the alleys and ancient buildings. In the distance, the bells of Aster Cathedral tolled midnight.
Kael walked alone.
His hood concealed part of his face, but not the cold seeping through his clothes.
— What a terrible night… — he muttered.
He quickened his pace.
There was something strange about that night.
Ever since he had left home, Kael had felt as though he were being watched.
He turned around.
Nothing.
Only the empty street.
He kept walking.
Then he heard a whisper.
— Kael…
He stopped.
His heart raced.
He looked around.
— Who's there?
Silence.
Then it came again.
— Kael…
This time, the voice seemed to come from inside his own head.
He raised a hand to his forehead.
— No… this can't be happening.
An intense pain shot through his left arm.
Kael dropped to his knees.
— Aah!
He yanked up his shirt sleeve.
A mark that had never been there before was beginning to emerge on his skin.
It was a circular symbol formed by black lines that seemed to move as if they were alive.
And at the center of the mark, a small violet light pulsed.
Thud.
Kael took a deep breath.
Thud.
The entire street seemed to tremble.
THUD.
All the streetlights went out.
Kael slowly raised his head.
Across the street stood a figure.
Tall.
Dressed entirely in black.
Its face was hidden behind a silver mask.
— Finally… — the figure said.
Kael stepped back.
— Who are you?
The figure took a step forward.
— Someone who waited eighteen years to find you.
Kael felt his blood turn cold.
— How do you know my age?
The figure did not answer.
Instead, it raised one hand.
Dark energy began to coil around its fingers.
Kael took another step back.
— What do you want with me?
— What's inside you.
The mark on his arm burned.
Kael screamed.
A burst of violet energy erupted around him, launching the figure backward.
He stood frozen, staring at his own hands.
— What… did I do?
The energy vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
But the masked figure was on its feet again.
— So it's true.
It began to laugh.
— The Heir has awakened.
Kael had no time to ask what that meant.
The figure charged.
He ran.
He turned the corner, crossed an alley, and kept going without looking back.
But something was chasing him.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Drawing closer and closer.
Kael spotted a narrow passage between two buildings and darted inside.
It was a dead end.
— Damn it…
He turned around.
The masked figure stood at the entrance.
— It's over.
Kael pressed his back against the wall.
— I have no idea what you're talking about!
— You don't need to understand.
The figure raised its hand.
— You only need to die.
A black sphere formed in its palm.
Kael closed his eyes.
For a moment, everything fell silent.
Then…
CRACK!
A massive violet barrier appeared in front of him.
The attack struck the barrier and exploded.
Kael opened his eyes.
The mark on his arm was shining intensely.
And behind him, a woman's voice spoke:
— If you want to stay alive, start running.
Kael turned around.
A girl was sitting atop the alley wall.
Dark hair, light-colored eyes, and a completely calm expression despite the situation.
She jumped to the ground.
— You're Kael, right?
— How do you know my name?
She smiled.
— Because I was looking for you.
Kael looked at the masked figure.
Then at the girl.
— Who are you?
She held out her hand.
— Luna.
For several seconds, the two of them stood in silence.
Then Luna looked at the mark on his arm.
Her smile disappeared.
— They found you sooner than expected.
Kael frowned.
— Who are they?
Luna looked up at the sky.
The clouds began to part.
Behind them, an enormous red moon appeared.
— The Shadow Guardians.
Kael's mark glowed again.
And for the first time that night, he clearly heard the voice inside his head:
“Awaken.”
Kael's eyes widened.
Luna noticed.
— You heard it too, didn't you?
— Heard what?
Her expression turned serious.
— The call.
In the distance, the bells of the Cathedral began to toll.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Luna looked at Kael.
— Starting today, your life is over.
Kael swallowed hard.
— What do you mean?
She answered:
— Because now the entire world will want to discover what you really are.
And that night, beneath the red moon, Kael awakened.