PART 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: A Father's Dilemma

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, yet Elias remained steadfast in his commitment to the babe he had found in the heart of the Backwood Forest. The child, whom he had named Asher, grew strong and healthy under Elias's care, his presence bringing a newfound sense of purpose to the humble farmer's life.

But as Asher blossomed into a curious and adventurous toddler, Elias found himself faced with a dilemma that weighed heavily upon his heart. Though he had vowed to protect the child with every fiber of his being, he could not shake the feeling that their tranquil existence was but a fragile illusion, destined to be shattered by the harsh realities of the world beyond their cottage walls.

One evening, as Elias sat by the hearth with Asher nestled in his lap, the weight of his worries pressing down upon him like a heavy burden, he was startled by a knock at the door. With a furrowed brow, he rose from his seat and made his way to answer the summons, Asher's curious gaze following his every move.

As Elias opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of a weary traveler standing upon his doorstep, rain-soaked and shivering from the cold. The stranger's face was obscured by the hood of his cloak, but Elias could sense a weariness in his eyes that mirrored his own.

"Please, sir," the traveler said, his voice trembling with exhaustion. "I seek shelter from the storm that rages outside. Will you grant me refuge for the night?"

Elias hesitated, his gaze flickering between the stranger and the sleeping babe in his arms. Though his instincts urged him to turn the traveler away, he could not ignore the pangs of empathy that tugged at his heartstrings. After all, had he not been in the same position himself, on that fateful night when fate had brought Asher into his life?

With a sigh, Elias stepped aside and gestured for the traveler to enter, the weight of his decision settling upon him like a leaden cloak. As the stranger crossed the threshold into the warmth of the cottage, Elias could not help but wonder what dangers lurked beyond the safety of their sanctuary, and whether his actions had unwittingly placed Asher in harm's way.

As the night wore on and the storm raged outside, Elias sat by the hearth with the traveler, their conversation veering from one topic to the next like a ship tossed upon a turbulent sea. But try as he might to banish his fears and doubts, Elias could not shake the feeling that something was amiss, that the arrival of the stranger heralded a new chapter in their lives, one fraught with uncertainty and peril.

It was not until the early hours of the morning, when the storm had finally subsided and the first light of dawn painted the sky with hues of pink and gold, that Elias's worst fears were realized. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he discovered that the traveler had vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing but a trail of muddy footprints leading out into the forest. He looked for Asher but he was nowhere to be seen and then the reality dawned upon him that Asher was taken by the man, who could have been a myriad . Realizing his mistake of not thinking through his decision because of being clouded by so many thoughts last evening, he let myriad fool him. But he did not entertain any more thoughts and quickly rushed to rescue Asher from those myriads.

He took the only rusted sword in his cottage available. And ventured out into the forest.

As Elias stepped out into the cool morning air, his heart pounded in his chest with a mixture of fear and determination. The forest lay before him, silent and foreboding, its tangled depths shrouded in mist and shadow. With each step he took, the weight of his responsibility pressed down upon him like a leaden cloak, driving him forward in search of the child he had sworn to protect.

The muddy footprints left by the mysterious traveler served as his guide, leading him deeper into the heart of the forest. Branches snagged at his clothes, and thorns tore at his flesh, but Elias pressed on, his mind consumed by thoughts of Asher and the unknown dangers that lurked ahead.

Hours passed, the sun climbing higher in the sky as Elias pressed deeper into the wilderness. At times, he thought he caught glimpses of movement amidst the trees, fleeting shadows that vanished as quickly as they appeared. Yet, he dared not dwell on these ominous signs, lest they distract him from his singular purpose.

Finally, as the day began to wane and the shadows lengthened, Elias stumbled upon a clearing nestled deep within the forest. At its center stood a dilapidated cabin, its walls weathered and worn with age. A sense of unease settled over him as he approached, his hand tightening around the hilt of the rusted sword at his side.

With cautious steps, Elias crossed the threshold of the cabin, the musty scent of decay assaulting his senses. Inside, he found himself confronted by a scene of utter desolation. Furniture lay overturned, and cobwebs hung from the rafters like funeral shrouds. But amidst the chaos, there was no sign of Asher or the mysterious traveler who had stolen him away.

Panic threatened to consume Elias as he searched every corner of the cabin, his heart sinking with each passing moment. But then, just as despair began to take hold, he caught sight of a faint glimmer of light emanating from a trapdoor hidden beneath a threadbare rug.

With trembling hands, Elias lifted the rug aside and pried open the trapdoor, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness. Without hesitation, he descended into the depths below, the flickering flame of his torch casting long shadows upon the earthen walls.

As Elias reached the bottom of the staircase, he found himself standing in a dimly lit chamber, its walls lined with shelves stacked high with jars and bottles filled with strange and unfamiliar substances. In the center of the room stood a crude wooden table, upon which lay a small figure, bound and gagged, tears streaking down his dirt-streaked face.

"Asher!" Elias cried out, rushing to his side and quickly cutting through the ropes that bound him. The child flung himself into Elias's arms, clinging to him with a desperation born of fear and relief.

With Asher safe in his arms once more, Elias's heart swelled with a fierce sense of triumph. But his victory was short-lived, for as he turned to leave the chamber, he was confronted by the sight of the mysterious traveler standing in the doorway, a wicked grin twisting his lips.

"So, you've found us at last," the traveler sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "But do you truly think you can escape the clutches of the Myriad Brotherhood so easily?"

Elias's blood ran cold at the mention of the Myriad Brotherhood, a shadowy organization rumored to traffic in forbidden knowledge and dark magic. But he refused to cower in the face of their threats, for he knew that he would stop at nothing to protect Asher from their sinister grasp.

Elios put the child in the side and With a steely glint in his eye, Elias raised the rusted sword he carried and prepared to face his foes head-on.

As Elias faced off against the mysterious traveler, the air crackled with tension, each movement fraught with the promise of violence. The traveler's eyes gleamed with malevolent intent as he lunged forward, his own sword flashing in the dim light of the chamber.

"You cannot hope to defeat us, peasant, the traveler taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "The Myriad Brotherhood is far beyond your meager abilities.

But Elias remained undaunted, his grip on the rusted sword steady as he parried the traveler's blows with practiced skill. Their swords clashed with a resounding olang, the sound reverberating through the chamber like a thunderclap.

As the fight raged on, it became clear that the traveler was the superior swordsman, his movements swift and precise as he forced Elias back against the wall. With each strike, Elias felt the weight of his opponent's strength bearing down upon him, threatening to overwhelm him with its sheer ferocity.

But just as the traveler raised his sword for the killing blow, a sudden change swept through the chamber, a dark red mana swirling through the air like a tempest unleashed. The traveler froze in his tracks, his eyes widening in shook as he struggled against an unseen force that held him fast.

Elias seized the opportunity with a surge of adrenaline-fueled determination, his movements swift and sure as he closed the distance between them. With a mighty swing of his sword, he struck true, the blade biting deep into the traveler's flesh with a sickening orunch.

The traveler let out a pained cry, his grip on his sword faltering as he stumbled backwards, blood pouring from the wound. With a final, desperate effort, he tried to raise his sword once more, but the dark mana held him in its thrall, rendering him powerless against Elias's onslaught.

With a grim determination, Elias delivered the finishing blow, his sword slicing through the air with lethal precision. The traveler's eyes widened in shock as the blade pierced his heart, a strangled gasp escaping his lips before he collapsed to the ground in a lifeless heaр.

Breathing heavily, Elias stood over the fallen form of his foe, his chest heaving with exertion. The chamber fell silent once more, the only sound the ragged gasps of his own breath as he surveyed the scene before him.

With the threat of the Myriad Brotherhood vanquished, at least for the time being, Elias turned his attention to Asher, who watched wide-eyed from the safety of the shadows. He took the child into his arms and With Asher safe at his side, he fled from the cabin and into the safety of the forest, vowing to never again underestimate the dangers that lurked beyond the boundaries of his humble cottage.