1 Prologue: Strange Visit

Loye tossed and turned in his sleep, his mind racing with images and sounds that he couldn't quite make sense of. Suddenly, the world around him faded away, and he found himself standing in a vast plain, surrounded by tall grass that swayed gently in the breeze. In the horizon, a burning red sun setting behind a mountain.

As he looked around in wonder, a figure materialized before him. It was a man, tall and regal, with skin as dark as night and eyes that glowed like embers. Loye felt a strange sense of familiarity wash over him, as though he had known this man for all his life.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The man smiled, and his teeth glinted in the sunlight. "I am your ancestor," he said. "A mage warrior who ruled these lands five hundred years ago."

Loye gasped, unable to believe what he was hearing. "But that's impossible. You're just a vision."

The man shook his head. "No, I am more than that. I am a spirit, one who has been waiting for the right person to pass on my legacy to."

Loye felt a strange sensation in his chest, as though his heart was beating faster than it ever had before. "What legacy?" he asked.

"The legacy of the Mage Warriors," the spirit said. "The knowledge and power that once made our people rulers of the largest empire this land has ever seen. And I have chosen you, Loye, to carry on that legacy."

Loye felt a surge of excitement and fear course through him. "But I don't know anything about magic. My family has been hunters for generations."

"The spirit of Loye's ancestor spoke to him in a voice that echoed with power and wisdom. 'Loye, my descendant,' the spirit said, 'you have been chosen to carry on the legacy of our people, the Ijari. You are one of the few who possess the potential to unlock the ancient powers of the mage warriors, and with them, you will lead our people to greatness once again.'

Loye listened intently, feeling both awe and fear at the prospect of such a monumental task. 'What must I do?' he asked, his voice trembling.

The spirit's form began to fade, but its voice remained as clear as ever. 'Your journey begins with the path of the hunter,' it said. 'You must hone your skills as a hunter, for it is only by mastering the skills of the hunt that you will learn the discipline and focus necessary to master the powers of the mage warrior. Seek out the old hunter, and learn from him. He will be your guide and mentor on this path.'

And with those words, the spirit was gone, leaving Loye alone in the darkness of his dream, with the weight of his destiny heavy upon his shoulders."

Loye woke up with a start and thinks; "Who is the old hunter?"