The Beginning of the Journey

Kael walked along the stone roads of the village, clutching the crystal shard tightly in his palm. Night still held its grip on the world, yet the light within the crystal illuminated his steps. With every step, the crystal whispered:

“Go east. The source of the light lies there. Time is running out.”

When he reached the old stone gate at the edge of the village, he stopped. This gate was the only passage leading beyond the Plains of Nivareth. Crossing it was not merely a physical departure—it was the abandonment of the past. Kael looked back. His home, his family, everything he had ever known, was being left behind.

Just then, he heard a voice.

“Kael!”

He turned around and saw Lira standing there. Lira was the most intelligent girl in the village. Her eyes always looked as if they were trying to unravel something unseen. She held a book in her hands; on its cover was an ancient symbol—three interlocking crystal rings.

“I knew you would leave,” Lira said. “On the night the crystal cracked, I saw you in my dream. The light was calling to you.”

Kael was surprised, yet somehow relieved. Knowing he was not alone lightened the burden on his shoulders.

“I’m coming with you,” Lira said. “According to what’s written in this book, the crystal’s call is part of a prophecy. And the prophecy begins with the journey of two.”

Kael nodded. There was no turning back now.

Together, they passed through the stone gate. The road ahead was shrouded in mist. But the crystal shard carved a glowing path through the fog.

The journey had begun.