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As she went, Lilith talked softly to herself.
"Nathan..." she whispered to herself. "What have I done...?"
"Nathan... I gave you something I wasn't supposed to. And if those other powers are awakened... I could have destroyed everything."
And again, the land of the dead was left behind, silent and waiting.
But now... a storm was brewing quietly.
Lilith stroked the back of her neck, talking to herself.
"Well... I suppose I have no choice now."
She walked, crackling her boots on dry bones that lay across the ground. The agitated dead directed their blank gazes towards her as she walked, but none moved towards her.
With every step deeper into the dead earth, her apathetic mind wandered again.
"Nathan, huh? What makes you so different...? That Aura wasn't supposed to wake up - not now, not in him."
Lilith looked up at the blood-red sky, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"Again, I was supposed to give that medallion to a monster... someone worse than me. Spread a little darkness, cause some chaos and simple. But you... you weren't supposed to matter. And yet..."
She exhaled sharply, a bitter laugh twisting her lips.
"Fate always has its own way, doesn't it?"
A far-off, silent hum filled the air. The River of Death glimmered in the distance, and the wind carry the faint wails of lost spirits.
Lilith stood still, gazing around the hell landscape. She knew it well. Every broken road, every restless ghost, every cursed whisper. And yet, tonight it was different.
She didn't know why... but a steady pull in her chest indicated things were already altering.
"Guess I'd better stay close to that kid," she whispered to herself quietly. "If you burn the world down... I'll be right behind you."
And with that, she disappeared into the dark fog once again, with nothing left but the chill air and the broken bones behind.
The underworld waited as it had always waited - in silence, cursed, and waiting.
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In the world above, Nathan stood in the training ground, still concentrated, but with exhaustion hanging over him. His energy had been weakened after an entire day of continuous training. Then came the ringing of the bell - a call that the time had elapsed.
"Well, my fellow students, take a rest. Don't push yourselves to the point of collapse. It will only lead to fatigue and weaken your body," Sir Vad called out, his voice firm but caring. "Once you've finished resting, everyone can go home."
Nathan stopped what he was doing and sat down to rest. He let out a long, tired breath.
"So exhausting... I do wish I could go home. But my mind still wants to continue practicing," he said to himself, letting out a deep but soft breath as he reached for his backpack. He pulled out a metal water bottle and sipped it slowly.
"By the way, students," Sir Vad announced, getting everybody's attention. "You are all assigned an assignment."
Most of the students groaned in tired protest, some of them were excited, some others were curious.
"Don't worry - it's easier than you can imagine," said Sir Vad with a wise smile. "It's just reading this book. It has lessons about how to improve your strength little by little, gradually, and how to unlock your potential. It also instructs in meditation, a method of learning about your inner strength."
"Oh... so we have inner powers?" a young girl questioned, her voice puzzled and innocent.
"Right," Sir Vad said warmly. "That's the reason why I want you to read this book - to know what's inside of you. Because every one of you has potential. Nobody is born without it, unless they want to give up. But I don't think any of you are the kind to give up before things are through, right?"
"Yes Sir!" the students replied, although their tones were interspersed - some with pride, others with soft resolve.
"Oh! So then if I know my inner strength, can I be a warrior when I'm grown up?" one boy asked excitedly, his eyes shining with determination.
"Nah, nah, you can't. You'll become a weakling when you're grown up," one of the bullies mocked standing near him, sneering at him.
"Stop," Sir Vad said sharply, getting in between them without hesitation. "You can't talk to your mate like that. Or maybe it's you who will become relentless, since you've already given a good idea of what kind of example you'll make. Isn't that so?" A small smile played on his lips.
The students burst into laughter, some teasing the bully as he stepped back, embarrassed and quietly angry. His pride was hurt, but he said nothing.
Nathan, observing in the back, and did not laugh. Rather, a silent understanding flashed through his heart - a reality concerning how words hurt, even if they are intended to underestimate another person.
"Okay, okay, that's enough," Sir Vad shouted, waving his hand. "Now, line up. I'll give each of you a copy of the book." He uttered a slight chuckle before clearing his throat and becoming serious. "Ahem - quickly form a line."
The students immediately lined up without any concerns, serious to get out of class for the day.
After a few, Nathan was given his copy of the book, sliding it into his bag in silence. He went to a wooden bench and sat down, taking a brief rest before going at his home castle.
A gentle breeze went by, causing the leaves to rustle. Nathan looked down at his hands, experiencing the familiar pain in his muscles.
"I don't recall what I did when I was training with my partner before. I only remember hearing Sir Vad complimenting my counter attacks against the opponent." His eyebrows furrowed. "What? I don't remember what I did."
His thoughts confounded between checking on the odd gap in his mind or forgetting it.
"Never mind... it's probably nothing," he whispered to himself, smiling softly as he thought. "I mean... how could I possibly be able to pull off such good moves?"
But deep within - deeper than his own thoughts - the medallion hanging about his neck was quietly affecting his spirit with each and every day.
Even you, as a reader, may wonder why a boy just 9 years old would have very matured so fast. But the secret lay in the silent, unseen power of the medallion.
Pushing the thoughts aside, Nathan put away his water bottle and was about to leave. The majority of the other students had already departed by now.
As he sling his bag onto his shoulder, he met Sir Vad heading towards the exit too. Their eyes locked for an instant.
"Good work today, kid. See you morning," Sir Vad said with a brief smile and a wave.
Nathan was taken shocked a bit. He did not even know what he'd done in training. But he gritted a little smile and waved his hand back.
"Thanks, Sir."
With that, Nathan walked in the direction of his home, and the sky, a color of soft orange and purple as the evening drew in.
The medallion, kept under his shirt, and pulsed slightly.
Therefore did another day come to pass - yet something unheard moved still in the depths of Nathan's heart.
Nathan walked along the earth road. The distant chirping of birds returning to their nests was present in the air, mixed with the soft rustling of leaves blown by the sunset breeze.
His walk was slow, tired. Each step weighed heavy after the exhausting day, but Nathan did not complain. He was trained to it. The training, the sore muscles, the long walks to home - it was part of life now.
He gripped the strap of his pack hard, his fingers touching the cold metal of his medallion beneath his shirt. It felt strangely warm once more.
"Huh... why does it keep feeling like this?" he muttered softly to himself, his voice barely louder than a whisper. A faint pulse, like a slow heartbeat, came from it, and Nathan instinctively placed his hand over his chest. He didn't know why... but it always made him uneasy.
He shook his head.
"Maybe... I'm just imagining things."
The path in front of him cut through a narrow forest path before it reached the big village. The trees grew long, thin shadows on the path. Nathan looked around. The branches swayed with the wind, and for an instant, the place was too quiet.
But he continued walking.
After several minutes, the warm lights of the village came into view. Small lanterns flickered outside the wooden homes. The faint smell of cooked meals drifted through the air, making Nathan's stomach growl. And the talking sounds of the people around him.
"Whoa, I'm starving..." he said with a weak grin.
He passed by a few villagers closing up their shops for the night. Some of his classmates he have seen before greeted him with a wave.
"Good work today, Nathan!"
"You're growing strong, boy!" a villager said. The one who have seen him before while he was training.
Nathan nodded shyly and smiled politely. He didn't like to talk much to the villagers and his classmates, not because he didn't like them, but because he thought he was always an outsider. No one his age practiced as hardworking as he did. No one else wore a medallion on their neck without any idea what it symbolized.
It made him feel, different.
Nathan walked slowly down the dirt road, his tired body aching from the day's exhausting training. The far-off chattering of folks returning to their homes echoed through the evening air as he walked through the village, past by faces and closed market stalls.
Nathan's travel, however, was far from over.
The road curved up the soft hill at the back of the village, where the grass was tall and flowered against his boots. A gentle wind carry on the far-off ring of Atlon Castle's bells, settled atop the hill - as if a sign of the kingdom's power. The light of evening touched its pointed to soft gold.
Nathan sighed wearily, readjusting his pack over one shoulder as he walked on. The hill was steep, but his legs had forced to it. The familiar meadow lay before the castle, a patch of scattered boulders and centuries-old trees that rustled with the wind.
Upon reaching the great royal gates, the guards standing stood taller at the sight of him.
"You're almost late, young master Nathan," one of them teased with a faint grin.
Nathan gave a tired smirk. "Don't mind it."
The tall royal gates creaked open, and Nathan moved through into the castle courtyard, the dying light casting long shadows between the stone walls and great pillars. A few knights practiced their sparring in the training yard, armor clashing with every move, while others stood in whispered groups by the torch-lit halls.
Nathan didn't linger.
His feet took him by the training yard, where the ring of swords still rang in the distance, and up the wide stone stairs into the great castle halls. The great doors swung open at his thrust, and the familiar smell of royal stone, tile floor, and burning hearth welcomed him.
It was a quiet evening tonight.
The grand royal living room lay ahead - a wide chamber with high ceilings, tall stained glass windows, and fine tapestries hanging from the walls. The flicker of candlelight made the shadows sway across the marble floors. A large, royal sofa settled near the center, its deep cushions are likely to call Nathan like a soft gentle.
"I'm home," he called out softly.
But no answer. The castle was calm and quiet. Except the knights' murmurs outside.
Without a word, Nathan let his bag fall at the side and collapsed into the sofa with a long, tired sigh.
"Finally..." he grumbled and smile weakly, extending his aching legs.
He leaned back in his head for a moment, allowing the calm to envelop him. The only noises were the gentle crackle of the fire in the hearthstone and the muffled whispers of castle guards changing watch.
Eventually, Nathan opened his eyes, recalling the book that Sir Vad had given him earlier that day. He reached over, retrieved it from his pack, and cradled it in his lap.
The cover was a simple dark leather, worn at the edges, with the title colored in faded gold:
'Awakening the Strength Within.'
Nathan raised a brow and gave a tired grin.
"Alright... let's see what secrets you've got."
He was about to open it, but then stopped, glancing down at himself.
"Oh... right. Still smell like sweat and dirt." letting a small chuckled from his face.
He stood with a groan, extending his arms before walking off to his chambers. The long corridor was faintly lit by wall light, and Nathan went into his room - a plain room compared to the luxury of the castle, but still significantly more than most people in the kingdom had. He rinsed and washed up quickly with a bathtub, splashing cold water on his face and body, and dressed down into a plain tunic and loose pants for bed.
Feeling fresh and just a bit more alert, he walked back into the living room.
It was fully night now. Shadows pushed against the high windows, and only the warmth of the fire and the chandelier preserved brightness in the dark inside the castle.
Nathan stepped over to the doors of the royal balcony, swinging them open to invite the night air inside. Standing there, he could see the grounds of the castle out before him - the knights sitting in subdued groups by the light of the torch-filled barracks. Their low, hushed tones reached him in fragmented words sound.
"...weird incident happening there."
"yeah...when the time comes..."
"...Aurelia is also in danger."
Nathan furrowed up his face. He couldn't hear the entire conversation, but he caught the words of Aurelia and danger, which made his chest feel tightened.
He shook his head, moving away from the balcony and toward the sofa. The book lay on the table, still waiting for him. Nathan sat down and opened it, but as he read through the first several pages, his stomach rumbled with a low, audible growl.
"...Tch. Of course I'm starving from training."
He put the book aside with a sigh and pushed himself upright, stretching his arms. The castle was still at this time of night, but Nathan walked through the broad hallways, the royal lights casting long, standing shadows along the stone walls. The dining area wasn't far away.
As he walked in, the soft chandelier light illuminated the long thick glass table. On one side, a plain plate awaited him - three neatly prepared sandwiches and a lukewarm cup of juice. Nathan furrowed his brow.
"...Huh?"
Next to the plate was a folded letter, his mother's writing recognizable.
He retrieved it and unfolded it.
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> "Dear Nathan,"
"Your dad and I have gone to the Kingdom of Aurelia for a big important meeting. It concerns the safety of the kingdom, and we will be here for four days. Don't be worried about us, I have prepared you some sandwiches for your dinner, your favorite one - behave well my son, keep training, and remember, we love you much. We will be back soon."
- Mother.
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Nathan glared at the letter for a second. The phrase 'concerns the safety of the kingdom' lodged in his mind like a thorn.
He put it down and picked up one of the sandwiches and took a huge bite.
"Four days, huh..." he grumbled with half his mouth full. "Always some meeting..."
The bread remained soft warm, and the juice, even a bit cold, was comforting. He sat down in one of the dining chairs and had a few more bites, allowing the heat to soothe the pain in his stomach.
But his ears picked up the distant voices once again.
From the open windows of the dining hall, the murmur of the knights' talk by the barracks firepit carried up into the darkness.
"...spreading darkness... the signs already appeared."
"...it's going to rise in Aurelia first, then here."
"...the king is trying to cover it up."
"Sigh. I don't know, perhaps we should call sir Galen for the latest news."
Nathan stood still with his mouth full.
His eyes glanced towards the window. The words sent a chill down his spine more than the cold wind.
"Darkness?.... In Aurelia? What's that?" Nathan allowed a questioning tone on his voice.
He placed the second half-eaten sandwich on the plate and stood, moving quietly to the window. The knights were sitting, others stood around the fire, their faces grim.
He slowly tightened his fist.
"Is that why they traveled? Why didn't they inform me?" Speaking with his mind.
Nathan hesitated, then softly called the nearest guards stationed by the door. "Um, Hey... you guys."
The knight turned. "Yes, young master?"
Nathan's voice did not waver. "Why did my parents travel to Aurelia? Is it... concerning some sort of strange occurrence?"
The guard's face froze for a fraction of a second. "It's... it's nothing you should worry yourself with, young master. Just important kingdom business. They'll return within a couple of days, your father told us."
Nathan scowled. "I overheard the other knights talking. About something rising in Aurelia."
The guard paused again, looking at the other soldiers, then at Nathan. "It's not for me to speak of it, young one... but it's true there have been strange rumors. Things that the council didn't want to get out. Your parents traveled with our soldiers to go talk to Aurelia's king because... something unnatural has begun manifesting itself there. Darkness, they called it."
Nathan's chest constricted.
"What kind of darkness?
The guard shook his head. "Nobody knows yet. Just... bad signs. Missing people. Things moving around where they shouldn't. And kid, your father didn't want you to worry, you're still young."
Nathan scowled away, jaw clenched.
"But.... But I'm not a kid," he whispered aloud.
The guard gave a small, nervous smile and chuckled. "Aye, I think that, young master. You've got your mother's fire. And your father's stubbornness."
Nathan smiled slightly, wearily, at that.
"Well... Thanks."
The knights bowed and moved aside.
Nathan lingered by the window awhile, his mind knotted. The tension in his chest wouldn't relieve.
He looked down at the medallion lying against his chest, concealed beneath his shirt.
It was warm once more.
As though it, too, had foreknowledge of the impending incident.
"...What's really going on?" he breathed into the night.
Then, after a lingering silence, he took the remaining sandwich, bit slowly into it, and walked back in the direction of the royal living room.
If there was a tempest incident, Nathan knew he couldn't remain in the darkness much longer.
The minutes passed on.
Down in the back courtyard, some of the off-duty knights had played cards around a small table, their soft laughter and small talking blending with the crackling of the nearby wood fire. The night had fallen thick over Atlon Castle, and most of the halls were empty by now.
Nathan leaned back on the royal sofa, the book spread wide on his lap, eyes squinting at the yellowed old pages.
"Unlocking one's inner strength takes not force, but awareness. The spirit must first feel its limits... then apply them."
Nathan scratched his head.
"...What is this supposed to mean?"
He turned another page, his lids drooping, when-
A knocking at the main door...
A dragging, vacant sound let out from the main castle doors.
Nathan stiffened.
He looked toward the entrance hall.
No one was to be calling at this time.
Putting the book aside, he rose to his feet, warily. The air seemed strange now as he feel, as if the room had grown chilly.
He approached and called, "Who's there?"
..... There was no reply.
Only the creak of the wind against the stone walls beyond.
Nathan pushed open the tall doors a little... but saw nothing. Nothing but the vacant courtyard and the dying light of the torches in the distance.
A tiny shiver crept down his spine.
He closed the door and shook his head.
"Tch... Maybe it's just the wind."
Nathan sat down again, picking up the book once more. The castle was slightly too large when this quiet. He tried to concentrate on the words, reading another line.
"...Let your fear be vanished. To awaken one's strength is to first calm the challenge within."
Nathan glared at the sentence, blinking.
He leaned back on the sofa, muttering to himself.
"Calm the challenge within... what's that all about?"
He sat there for a moment, then furrowed his brow as he remembered back - how his palms had shaken when Sir Vad was inspiring at him, how his heart pounded whenever the medallion burst up, and how when he panicked. his mind was puzzled.
"...Perhaps it means you need to stop freaking out. Like... when you're angry or scared, you can't think clearly. Can't fight correctly. So if you're running around in here-" he touched his chest "-you won't be able to manage what's in here." He touched his head instead.
Nathan nodded to himself slightly.
"Yes... calm the challenge. Be calm first... then determine what you're really capable of."
It wasn't much, but for the first time that day, something made sense.
He turned the page, curiosity building again.
He sighed.
"Easy for you to say, old man writer..."
Then a tapping sound.
This time, from the kitchen window.
Nathan tensed, his heart picking up a little.
"...Seriously?"
He stood again, a combination of annoyed and uneasy now, and went to the kitchen. He flung open the window shutters quickly.
Nothing.
Just the night wind.
Nathan grumbled under his breath.
He sighed but annoyed tone. "Fine, if this is a kind of joke, it's not funny."
He looked around - and almost leapt out of his skin.
Standing in the hall behind him was a man.
Tall, somewhat rough-looking, with short, unkempt hair and a long, battered coat that seemed to have been around for years. The man's eyes were calm and unreadable, and there was a thin smile on his lips.
Nathan's hand snapped to the kitchen knife on the table.
"Who in the crap are you?!"
Pointing the knife at the man.
The man lifted his hands slowly.
"Whoa, Easy, lad. Name's Fred."
Nathan did not relax his hold.
"Fred who? How did you get here?"
The man let out a brief, low chuckle.
"Been a friend to the family for years. Your folks sent a message for me before departing for Aurelia. Said the castle could use a level head while he was away."
Nathan scowled, looking at him suspiciously.
"I never heard of you."
Fred shrugged. "Surprised not. I ain't precisely the kind your parents spoke of often. It was generally around."
A brooding silence fell.
The man's face relaxed.
"But I ain't here to cause no trouble, kid. Just thought. it's safer that someone keep an eye on this place, given the goings-on in Aurelia."
Nathan dropped the knife slightly, but he wasn't completely sure of him yet. "...You heard about that too, huh?"
Fred grinned. "Of course. Everyone worth their place has."
Another silence.
At last, Nathan breathed out, putting down the kitchen knife on the table.
"...Alright. But don't sneak up on me like that again, old man."
Fred chuckled. "You're kidding? I've never heard a knocking sound."
Nathan raised an eyebrow "Sure?"
Fred sighed in affirmation "Of course not. And why would i do such a thing without greeting and knocking on the door."
Nathan remaining in consciousness "Hmm. That's weird."
"Then who could be?" He said to himself.
The tense atmosphere in the castle relaxed a bit. But the night was far from over.
And Nathan could tell... this Fred fellow wasn't here by accident.
Not tonight.
Fred kind a curious of Nathan's face "Is there something on your mind young one?"
Nathan brushing his back neck letting a guilty smile "Oh. Um. Nothing. It's just my imagination that running in my mind. Haha." He chuckled nervously.
Fred raised a brow "Sure?"
"Yeah." Nathan a force short smile.
Nathan exited the kitchen room without a word, passing right by Fred as if he wasn't even in the room, and picked up the book from the living room table. Fred looked at him, slightly uncomfortable, but didn't say anything. Nathan walked up the stairs, opening the door to his bedroom.
Fred stood in the hallway, observing the closing door. His expression wore that same subdued concern that he had had since he got home. "This kid is cutting me off... can't blame him, though."
He dropped the book onto his bed and sat, exhaling.
"Who is even that guy...?" he grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "Being all nice out of nowhere."
Nathan flopped onto the bed and gazed at the ceiling for a moment before picking up the book once more. He attempted to read, eyes skimming the letters, but his mind kept going back to Fred. His name... his face... it all seemed too sudden. And too familiar somehow.
Outside the bedroom, Fred remained silent standing next to the door. The bright of the chandelier created his shadow over the hallway floor. He extended a hand and knocked lightly.
"Hey... kid," softly yet anxiously spoken by Fred "you got a minute?"
Nathan frowned considering it. "Maybe some trick. but. I don't know, he doesn't look so bad. Just strange."
"Okay, fine," Nathan exhaled silently, then said a bit louder, "Alright, come in."
The door groaned open and Fred entered, his face holding a worried sort of weariness. He did not speak at first but merely looked around the room, then at the book in Nathan's hands.
He breath slightly. "You're reading that, huh?" Fred asked with a slight smile. "Sir Vad gave you that, didn't he?"
Nathan barely replied, merely nodded a little, not wanting to appear interested.
Fred strolled over, drew out a chair, and settled in with a gentle grunt. "You... uh, wanna chat for a minute?" he asked tentatively.
Nathan didn't look up from the page. "Not really."
Fred released a brief sighed. "Look... I know you most likely don't trust me yet. And I don't blame you. It's just been... a long time."
Nathan remained silent, acting like he was studying the page.
"I'm not joking around, kid," Fred added, his tone serious now. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, worn book.
"I came because of your mother's intentions. You don't believe me, probably... your mother, Rhea - she is my little sibling. I was there when she was small."
Nathan's eye was furrowed, his lips compressing. "Okay, then."
He opened it cautiously, showing an old, yellowed photograph inside.
"This... was your mother" he explained, passing it over.
Nathan looked at it, a bit uncertain. The photograph was old, the sort with the grayish hue of years past. It depicted a large family - men, women, and children in one group. A younger version of his mother, perhaps about thirteen, smiled weakly. Standing next to her, a taller boy sporting a rough smile... Fred.
Fred indicated. "That's me... and that's your mother, Rhea. We were young then. She was about 10 years old, but I was older. That there... that's our warrior brother, and our other relatives. Some of them are..." releasing a breathed "well, they're not around anymore."
Nathan gazed at it for a moment, his stubbornness falling a little bit.
"But...Why are you here now, though?" he grumbled, staring at the photo. "Aurelia to Atlon... why?"
Fred took a long breath and sat down on the chair opposite.
"Work purposes." he whispered. "And your mother handed this letter to me." He distributed the paper in his pocket. Passing it to Nathan.
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(Letter)
Brother Fred,
If you made it to Atlon, thank you. I need you to keep an eye on Nathan for me. The roads are dangerous, and this meeting in Aurelia...it isn't just a trade like we said. Something bad is happening. I will explain when we have both returned.
If something goes wrong, keep Nathan with you. Do not let him out of your sight. And if we have not contacted you after a couple of days, take him to safety - you already know where.
I am counting on you, big brother.
-Rhea
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Nathan's hand slowly clenched around the paper as he read, eyes wet. The room was still for a long moment.
"She...she wrote this?" Nathan asked, quietly.
Fred settled back, his own brow a little furrowed.
"Yeah, kid. She did..."
Nathan looked down, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Guess...I miss her too."
"Then our families were separated. Kingdom responsibilities, roles given to us... we didn't get a choice in it. I was given to Aurelia when I was fifteen. And I haven't spoken to your mother since years ago. But today she sent this message to just provide for you." Fred looked down.
Nathan's scowl relaxed. The thought of being yanked away from your family like that... it struck him more than he wanted it to.
"And them...?" he asked, nodding toward some other faces in the picture.
Fred's jaw clenched. "As I've already told you, they're all dead, kid. And our parents. And our big brother. They perished in the war with the abyss."
Nathan's voice barely made it past his throat as he whispered, "The abyss...?".
"Mhm", his gaze far away. "In the good old days - a nasty, long war between Atlon and the Tenebrous. We won it, but... at the cost of losing half of all we had. And even after the Tenebrous were repelled, something strange appeared in this kingdom. I don't know how Atlon made it through it... but something unnatural happened that night. I can't remember it."
The room fell silent. Nathan gazed at the photograph, a strange commotion arising in his chest.
Something with those words... 'something strange appeared'... it stuck with his mind like a dark shadow he could not dislodge.
Nathan closed the book in his hands and glanced at Fred.
"...What do you mean, something strange?"
Fred smirked grimly. "I'll explain. But not all at once. It's better you hear it slow, piece by piece. And you're still young to know it. It'll make you scared and panic, giving you a nightmare."
Nathan remained silent, but he didn't ask him to leave either.
Fred sat back in the chair. "Hungry? Your mother left some stuff in the kitchen."
Nathan managed a faint smile. "Already found the sandwiches."
They both snickered softly. And for the first time today... the castle has no longer seemed to be in risk.
Nathan settled back, recalling everything. He was... not afraid, per se. But an odd fascination. Like a knot inside him was being drawn out slowly.
Fred smiled.
"Didn't mean to lay all that on you, kid. Just thought it. you need to know some of it. Even if you don't trust me yet."
Nathan gave a weak, half-shrug, then looked back down at the book. "I'm still listening though."
Fred smiled. "Good enough."
The room dropped into an uneasy silence for a moment. Only the wind against the window could be heard, and the far-off crackle of torches outside.
"Alright kid. Get some rest soon," Fred finally said, standing up from the chair. "Big things tomorrow, whether you like it or not."
Fred let out a soft sigh, resting his back against the wall.
Fred gazed at him with a weak, knowing smile.
"So that's how you make it through?" Nathan asked in a soft tone.
With a nod, Fred said nothing, a flash of pain washing over his face.
"Well, young one," Fred attempted to break the heavy atmosphere. "It's already 10 o'clock. You'll be late for morning training if you continue like this."
Nathan sighed out a soft chuckle. "Yeah... this is why Sir Vad gave me this book. But I really wanna learn it... there's a lot in here that I don't get."
Fred smiled slightly. "You'll learn it, kid. Just don't push yourself too hard. Forcing your head through pages all night will make you dizzy. I know what that feels like."
Nathan smirked a bit, rubbing his neck. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sore all over anyway... guess sleep will help."
He placed the book down beside the lamp and grabbed his blanket, flopping back onto his bed.
"Goodnight, kid," Fred murmured, sighing quietly.
Nathan yawned, his eyes drooping. "Yeah..."
As Nathan drifted off to sleep, Fred reached over and switched off the lamp. The room dimmed, leaving only the soft glow of moonlight spilling through the window, casting a pale light over Nathan's face. Fred just stood there for a bit, watching the kid sleep.
"You'll grow up good, kid... for sure." he muttered under his breath, proud but kind of bittersweet look crossing his face.
After a moment, he turned and slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. As he descended the stairs, something began to gnaw at the back of his head. Old memories. Stuff he never told her. Stuff he probably should have.
The corridor was empty and quiet, only the brightness of the chandelier along the high ceiling and the vase furnitures stood side the corridor.
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As Fred passed the doorway for the back courtyard, he heard the murmur of voices - serious, low ones. He paced slowly, curiosity overcoming him, and moved closer to the door from which the voices were coming.
Through the small gap, he could hear the familiar voice of Sir Galen, the castle's knight commander. The guy's tone was deep.
"I just got back from Aurelia," Galen said, his voice firm. "And it's bad. Worse than any of us thought. The darkness is moving again... getting ready for a second invasion. Nobody knows when, but it's coming."
The knights surrounding him murmured, restive.
"Aurelia's requested our assistance," Galen continued. "They won't be able to get through this on their own. And this time... it won't be as the last war was. It's gonna be more difficult. And bloodier."
Fred's stomach knotted, leaning on the chill stone doorframe as the words took effect. That name - darkness. The very same evil that destroyed his life years ago. The very same nightmare that killed his family. Especially, his older brother.
His fist clenched at his side.
"They have no idea when Lord Tenebrous will strike," Galen said. "It might be tomorrow. It might be next month. But we don't have time to sit around and play cards."
The knights slowly began throwing out ideas - battle strategies, defense arrays, emergency signals, what weapons needed. The normal war talk, but with a harsher tone this time.
Fred stared at the ground, feeling that familiar nightmare on his chest. That voice in the back of his mind - the one that encouraged him to leave, years before. The one that had caused him to leave his brother.
And now. it returned.
He closed his eyes, breathed slowly in, and continued listening. The planning soldiers, the old ghosts of his past closing in nearer, and his mind not letting him rest.
Because deep within, he understood that this was not just another battle.
It was personal now.
Sir Galen stood before the fire pit in the courtyard, the swaying orange light illuminating sharp lines on his weathered face. The knights stood near, armor softly clinking, and you could almost sense the tension suspended in the air.
Galen went on, his voice low, measured. "But listen soldiers - if it's anything like the last time, they'll strike us in the dark of night. No warning and no mercy."
A few of the men looked at one another uncomfortably.
"This ain't like fighting men," Galen continued. "This is darkness. It creeps silent, makes use of hell against you. I've seen good men vanish without so much as a damn whisper."
There wasn't a word from anyone. The only sound you could hear was the fire crackling.
"First thing," Galen voice stern, running his eyes over them, "I have someone double watch the north and east walls. Because those fools love to come in from the dark side of the forest. Every four hours - new eyes. No slackers. If you blink wrong so much as once, you ring that bell."
"Yes, sir!" the knights chorused.
"Second, get the archers and marksmen moved to the towers at sunset. Hide them, but keep them on call and alert. If anything moves so much as an eyelash near those woods, I want your arrows and bullets shoot the enemy before it gets a second wave. No one waits for a command."
"Even wild animals?" one knight asked, trying to sound light but his voice cracked halfway through.
Galen gave him a look so cold it could've frozen the fire. "Especially animals. Darkness wears a lot of faces."
The knight shut up real quick.
"Third," Galen continued, pacing in front of the fire, "I need a scout pair out at first light. Fastest we've got. No armor - light gear only with weapon. Slip through the forest and ride toward Aurelia's border. If you spot black mist, dead ground, missing patrols - you turn back. In Fast. And no hero crap, no arrogant styles."
"Fourth - weapons must be check. Every blade must be sharp, every shield must be tight. Make sure we've got spare oil for the firepits, and those signal arrows ready to fly. We'll need 'em if this turns bad."
A thick-bearded knight spoke up. "And what about the Aurelia, sir?"
"We're not sending anyone yet," Galen replied, his tone like stone. "If we left our walls now and they'll hit us, and you know, it's over. Aurelia knows we'll stand with them. And tomorrow we should finish the plans - reinforcements, supplies, march routes. But this time, no one leaves Atlon. Understood?"
"Yes, Commander!"
Galen's gaze hardened. "Last thing - no word to the townsfolk. Not a single one. We're not stirring panic before dawn. And the boy - Nathan - he stays guarded. He's not ready for this disaster. You soldiers must watch him."
Just then, a figure stepped out from the tent off to the side - tall, lean, with a weathered face and a hard, steady gaze. It was Varun. High-ranking, respected, one of the old war hounds who'd seen more battles than most of these lads combined.
The moment the others spotted him, a few grinned.
A knight sighed. "There he is," one muttered.
"It's about time," another smirked.
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To be continued
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