The group moved cautiously through the dense forest, the moonlight barely piercing through the thick canopy above. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the occasional snap of a twig or Orin's low growl as he kept watch for unseen threats. Kaelan's thoughts churned with Elara's words, each revelation like a hammer striking an anvil in his mind.
He glanced at Elara, who walked beside him with a steady, almost ethereal grace. Her earlier vulnerability had given way to a quiet strength, as though revealing his name had unlocked a part of herself as well. Kaelan couldn't help but feel drawn to her, but his confusion overrode everything else.
"Why now?" Kaelan finally asked, his voice cutting through the silence. "Why did you come now?"
Elara hesitated, her silver hair shimmering in the faint light as she turned her gaze toward him. "I… don't know," she admitted. "I've felt this pull for as long as I can remember, like a thread connecting me to you. But it only became unbearable today, as if the world itself was pushing me to find you. To be here."
Kaelan frowned, trying to make sense of her words. "A thread? What does that mean?"
Orin, still in his wolf form, spoke without turning back. "The bond you share is not accidental, Kaelan. I guess that's what she is saying, maybe,It is written in the fabric of what you are. The Darksong bloodline has always been bound by destiny, and she..." Orin glanced briefly at Elara. "She is a part of that destiny."
Elara nodded, her expression solemn. "I think I was made for this—for you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't fully understand it yet."
Kaelan stopped again, frustration bubbling to the surface. "You're telling me my parents died, I was hidden away, and now you've shown up saying I'm part of some… ancient destiny? And I'm just supposed to accept all of this?"
Elara met his gaze, her own eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and determination. "You don't have to accept it all at once," she said. "But you can't ignore it either. The Soulfire is waking within you, Kaelan. The world needs you."
"The world?" Kaelan's voice was bitter. "The world that killed my parents? That left me with nothing but questions and—" He stopped, clenching his fists. He couldn't finish the thought. It was too much.
Elara placed a hand on his arm, her touch light yet grounding. "You're not alone anymore," she said. "I'm here. We'll figure this out together."
For a moment, Kaelan felt the tension ease. Her words weren't a solution, but they were a promise—a lifeline in the chaos. He nodded reluctantly and resumed walking, his thoughts still tangled but his steps steadier.
Orin led them to a clearing, where the faint outline of a small, weathered structure emerged in the darkness. "We'll rest here," Orin announced, his deep voice carrying an edge of finality. "The night is long, and danger is never far."
As they approached the building, Kaelan glanced at Elara again. There was something about her—something he couldn't quite explain but felt in his bones. She wasn't just a stranger who had stumbled into his life. She was a piece of a puzzle he didn't know he was solving.
"Elara," he said quietly, her name feeling strangely natural on his tongue. "Thank you. For… whatever this is."
She smiled faintly, the corners of her lips tugging upward in a way that made her seem both ancient and impossibly young. "It's only the beginning, Kaelan Darksong. There's so much more you need to know."
Kaelan exhaled, glancing up at the stars through the canopy above. The weight of destiny pressed down on him, but for the first time, it didn't feel unbearable.
He had Elara. And somehow, that was enough.
As the trio settled in the clearing, Kaelan's mind raced with questions he couldn't put into words. The weight of Elara's revelation was suffocating, yet her presence brought an inexplicable calm. He sat near the edge of the clearing, his back against a gnarled tree, watching Orin patrol the perimeter in his wolf form.
Elara sat a few paces away, her silver cloak catching the faint moonlight. She glanced at Kaelan, sensing his turmoil. "It's a lot to take in," she said softly.
Kaelan exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "A lot? That doesn't even begin to cover it. My parents died for me. Orin kept me hidden for years. And now… I'm supposed to be some weapon that can burn gods?" His voice rose, frustration spilling over. "Why me? Why not someone else?"
Elara looked at him with quiet understanding. "I don't have all the answers," she admitted. "But I know this much: the Soulfire chose you. And it didn't do that lightly because it's part of your lineage."
Kaelan narrowed his eyes, his voice laced with bitterness. "The Soulfire chose me? What does that even mean? It's not like I had a choice."
Elara leaned forward, her gaze steady. "Neither did I."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. Kaelan studied her, his frustration giving way to curiosity. "What do you mean?"
She hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of her cloak. "I don't remember much of my life before today," she confessed. "But I've always felt... different. Out of place. Like I was waiting for something—or someone." Her eyes met his, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through her calm exterior.
Kaelan's heart softened, though he didn't fully understand why. "And that someone is me?"
Elara nodded slowly. "I think so. I feel it—this connection between us. It's like I've known you forever, even though we've just met."
Kaelan didn't know how to respond. The connection she spoke of… he felt it too, though it scared him more than he cared to admit.
From the shadows, Orin's deep growl interrupted the moment. "Destiny is not kind, Kaelan. Nor is it fair. You bear the burden of your bloodline because no one else can."
Kaelan turned to Orin, his frustration resurfacing. "You knew all this and didn't tell me? About my name, my power—everything. And you never told me anything."
"Well of all, not your name...i called you lost one for a reason" Orin padded closer, his massive frame illuminated by the faint moonlight. "And you weren't ready," he said simply. "If you had known, it would have destroyed you before you could even wield the Soulfire. My task was to prepare you, not burden you with truths you couldn't handle."
Kaelan stood, anger flashing in his eyes. "And what about now? Am I ready now?"
Orin tilted his head, his glowing eyes meeting Kaelan's. "You are as ready as the storm that forms on the horizon. It cannot stop itself, nor can it turn back. It must simply be."
The words hit Kaelan like a punch to the chest. He sank back down, his hands trembling,his fire twitching in him. "I didn't ask for any of this."
"No one asks for destiny," Orin said, his voice softer now. "But it finds us all the same."
Before anyone could say more, Orin's ears twitched, his body tensing. He sniffed the air, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
"What is it?" Elara asked, her voice sharp with alarm.
"We're not alone," Orin said, his eyes scanning the shadows.
Kaelan stood, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of the blade Orin had trained him to use. Elara rose beside him, her calm demeanor replaced by a readiness that surprised him.
From the treeline, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged, followed by the hulking form of a beast unlike anything Kaelan had seen. Its fur was matted and dark, its fangs glinting in the faint light. The creature growled, its gaze locked on Kaelan.
"The Soulfire attracts more than allies," Orin said, positioning himself between the beast and Kaelan. "It draws those who would see it extinguished."
Kaelan's grip tightened on his blade, his heart racing. He could feel the power within him stirring, the Soulfire flickering to life. But it wasn't enough—not yet.
Elara stepped forward, her silver cloak billowing behind her. "Stay close to me," she said, her voice firm. "I can handle this."
Kaelan hesitated, torn between protecting her and trusting her. The connection between them pulsed, urging him to stay by her side.
"Elara…" he began, but she cut him off with a glance.
"Trust me," she said.
With a wave of her hand, a faint silver light began to emanate from her palm, illuminating the clearing. The beast growled, recoiling slightly, but it didn't back down.
Kaelan watched in awe as Elara stepped forward, the glittering light in her hand growing brighter until she transformed in her celestial self with a bow that gives hope to everything around it.For the first time, he realized that she was more than just a girl pulled into his destiny.
The beast snarled, its red eyes narrowing as Elara's silver light filled the clearing. Kaelan could feel the weight of its presence, an oppressive force that seemed to press against his chest. It wasn't just any creature—it radiated a dark energy that made the Soulfire within him flicker, as though reacting to its malevolence.
"Orin," Kaelan said, gripping his blade tightly, "what is that thing?"
Orin's massive wolf form circled the beast, his growl low and menacing. "A shadow beast," he said. "Spawned from the Void. They hunt power, drawn to it like moths to flame. And tonight, Kaelan, you are the flame."
The beast lunged suddenly, claws raking through the air with terrifying speed. Kaelan barely had time to react before Elara stepped in front of him, her silver light surging outward in a blinding pulse.
The creature screeched, recoiling from the light as if it burned. "Stay back!" Elara commanded, her voice echoing with a power Kaelan didn't recognize.
Kaelan staggered, caught off guard not just by the beast's ferocity but by Elara's transformation. She wasn't just standing her ground—she was radiating a force that seemed to push the darkness itself away.
The beast snarled again, pacing the edge of the clearing as if searching for an opening,seeing none it detached into double of itself,the second a threat for Orin to defeat.Elara kept her hand raised, the silver light shifting and pulsing like a living thing.
"Kaelan," she said without turning, her voice steady but urgent. "I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"
Kaelan hesitated, his grip on his blade tightening. "I—"
"Trust her!" Orin barked, his voice sharp. "The beast will test your will. If you falter, it will consume you."
Kaelan swallowed hard, nodding. "Alright," he said, stepping closer to Elara.
The beast lunged again, faster this time, its claws aimed directly at Elara. Kaelan's instincts took over—he surged forward, raising his blade to intercept. CLANG! The clash was deafening, the force of the impact sending him staggering back.
"Kaelan, no!" Elara shouted, her light flaring brighter.
The beast recoiled, hissing as the silver light enveloped it. Elara turned to Kaelan, her expression fierce. "You can't fight it like that. It's not just a creature—it's a force of pure darkness. You'll need more than steel to face it."
Kaelan could feel the oppressive energy of the beast pressing against him, its malevolence suffocating. His grip tightened on the hilt of his blade, but doubt clawed at him.
"Stay behind me," Elara said, her silver light illuminating the clearing.
The beast growled low, its glowing red eyes fixed on her. Kaelan hesitated. He could feel the power within him stirring, but it remained just out of reach, like a flame flickering in the dark.
The beast lunged, a blur of claws and fangs. Elara stepped forward, her light flaring to meet it. The clash sent a shockwave through the clearing, forcing Kaelan to shield his eyes.
"Elara!" he shouted, but she held her ground, her hands glowing brighter.
The beast roared, swiping at her with one massive claw. Elara evaded, but her movements were slowing, her light dimming. Kaelan's chest tightened as he watched. She was strong, but the creature was relentless.
"Elara, fall back!" Orin growled, attacking and slamming the two shadow beast to the ground.
Elara turned to Kaelan, her voice firm despite her exhaustion. "You have to act, Kaelan. I can't hold both off forever!"
Kaelan gritted his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. "I don't know how!"
"Yes, you do!" Elara shouted, her silver eyes locking with his. "The power is inside you! Stop doubting yourself and let it out!"
The beast roared again as it zoomed past Orin, slamming into elara with terrifying force. Elara cried out as she was thrown to the ground, her light flickering.
"Elara!" Kaelan's voice broke as he watched her struggle to rise, keeping the other beast out of reach.
The sight of her hurt ignited something in him—a deep, primal rage that drowned out his fear. Without thinking, he charged at the beast, his blade raised high.
"Kaelan, what are you doing!" Orin barked, but Kaelan didn't hear him.
The beast turned, its eyes narrowing as Kaelan closed the distance. It lunged, claws slashing toward him. Kaelan swung his blade with all his strength, but it wasn't enough—the creature's claws caught him, sending him stumbling back.
Pain seared through his side, but he didn't stop. His grip on the hilt tightened, his rage burning fiercely.
"Get away from her!" he roared, his voice trembling with fury.
As the beast lunged again, Kaelan raised his blade, his anger spilling over. He felt the heat before he saw it—a sudden surge of warmth in his chest, rushing down his arm and into his sword.
The blade ignited with red flame.
Kaelan froze, staring in shock as the fire engulfed the steel. It wasn't ordinary fire—it was alive, pulsing with a light that felt both foreign and familiar.
The beast hesitated, its red eyes narrowing at the sudden glow as if knowing what it was.Kaelan didn't stop. He swung the flaming blade with all his might, the golden fire slicing through the dark creature like it was nothing.
The beast screeched, its body consumed by the flames. It thrashed, trying to escape, but the fire clung to it, burning brighter and hotter.Its other form disappeared immediately.Within moments, the creature collapsed, its form dissolving into ash.
Silence fell over the clearing, broken only by Kaelan's ragged breaths. He stared at the sword in his hand,it had began to melt the steel,the flames flickering before fading away.
"Kaelan…" Elara's voice was soft, filled with awe.
He turned to her, his chest heaving. "I... I don't know how I did that."
Elara pushed herself to her feet, her silver gaze steady. "You did it because you had to. Because it's who you are."
Orin approached, his massive wolf form looming over them. "The Soulfire has awakened," he said gruffly. "But you've only scratched the surface of its power."
Kaelan shook his head, his hands trembling. "The surface? I don't understand. One moment, I couldn't even feel it. And then… it just happened."
"It will come in time," Orin said. "But for now, we must move. This place is no longer safe."
Kaelan looked at Elara, guilt flashing in his eyes. "Are you alright?"
She nodded, brushing ash from her glittering divine clothing. "Thanks to you."
He swallowed hard, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on him.
"You didn't have to know kaelan " Elara said gently. "You just had to believe."
The path back to Orin's hidden refuge was quiet, save for the faint rustle of leaves and the distant howl of wind through the forest. Kaelan walked behind Orin, the wolf's massive frame leading the way. Elara trailed beside Kaelan, her steps light but her presence grounding.
Kaelan couldn't shake the image of the beast, the way it had disintegrated in the flames he didn't even realize he could summon. His hands still tingled with the phantom heat of the Soulfire.
"Is it always like that?" Kaelan asked suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice was low, uncertain. "The power… it felt like it was going to consume me."
Elara glanced at him, her silver hair catching the moonlight. "The Soulfire isn't just a weapon, Kaelan. It's a force of creation and destruction. It answers to your will—but only if you control your emotions and feelings. If you let it consume you…" She trailed off, her expression unreadable.
"It'll destroy me," Kaelan finished, his tone grim.
"Yes," Orin growled, his voice deep and resonant even in his wolf form. "But you showed restraint. That's more than most of your kind ever manage when their power awakens."
Kaelan frowned, his gaze falling to the ground. "I didn't even know what I was doing. I was just… angry. It wasn't control—it was instinct."
"That instinct saved us," Elara said softly, her hand brushing against his arm.
Kaelan stopped walking, his fists clenching. "But what if I can't control it next time? What if I hurt someone?"
Elara stepped in front of him, forcing him to meet her gaze. "You won't. Because you're not alone in this."
Her words were simple, but they struck something deep within Kaelan. He nodded in approval, his resolve hardening. Whatever this power was, he would learn to master it. He had to.