Chapter 5: Whisper of Shadows and Daggers

The Mana Festival in Bria Village was always a grand event eagerly awaited each year. That evening, the streets were filled with colorful tents selling various magical items, from protective amulets to mana-infused weapons. The glow of lanterns hanging along the road enhanced the beauty of the night, adorned by the bustling crowd of villagers and visitors from faraway places. The noise of haggling echoed here and there, mingling with the distant sound of blacksmiths hammering metal, accompanied by cheerful laughter and the lively conversations of the attendees.

Ardyn, Elysia, Kael, Nolan, and Rian strolled together, enjoying the cool evening air and the lively atmosphere. It was a rare moment for them to relax outside their daily training and routines. Ardyn's eyes scanned the area, observing the tents displaying magical weapons, mana-coated armor, and various enchanted items. They passed by stalls selling gleaming swords, bows wrapped in lightning, and gauntlets softly glowing in the dark.

"This festival always attracts many merchants from across the land," Rian commented, breaking the silence between them. His gaze was fixed on a tent displaying a staff topped with a large, glimmering gemstone. "Who knows, maybe we'll find something useful."

Elysia smiled and nodded, her silver hair glistening in the lantern light. "It's amazing, so lively and filled with interesting items."

Kael, walking beside them with his neat black hair, seemed intrigued. "I'm going to look for something interesting. What about you, Nolan?"

Nolan, who always appeared cold with his striking white hair, shrugged lightly. "I'll join. Perhaps I can find something compatible with my shadow element."

After a brief discussion, they decided to split up to better search for the items they wanted. Kael and Nolan headed off in different directions, while Ardyn, Elysia, and Rian continued walking past stalls filled with all sorts of weapons.

One tent caught Ardyn's eye. Inside, there was a display of swords, spears, and other weapons radiating mana energy. However, what drew Ardyn's attention most was a pair of daggers in the corner of the tent, dark red with delicate engravings on the blades. He could sense a faint but strong aura emanating from the weapons.

"These daggers...," Ardyn muttered as he picked one up, feeling the mysterious energy within.

An old man tending the tent approached him. His hair was completely white, and his wrinkled skin hinted at many battles or simply years of experience. "Those? They're just old decorations. There's no mana inside them. Many people have looked at them, but no one wanted to buy them."

Ardyn frowned. "No mana? I can sense an aura."

The vendor chuckled softly, as if amused. "Ah, you're just imagining things, kid. They may look appealing, but there's nothing there. If you want to buy them, they're only 13 gold and 2 silver. I've been wanting to get rid of them for years."

Elysia, standing beside Ardyn, eyed the weapon hesitantly. "Ardyn, are you sure you want to buy them? The seller said they're useless."

Rian also looked puzzled. "Yeah, he said there's no mana. Are you sure you didn't misjudge?"

Ardyn gave a slight smile and shook his head. "No, I know there's something here. This aura can't be a mistake." Without hesitation, Ardyn handed over the gold coins and purchased both daggers.

Rian, still perplexed, stared at Ardyn with a questioning look. "Are you really sure? If they turn out to be useless, isn't it just a waste of money?"

Ardyn calmly strapped the daggers to his belt. "I'm certain. Sometimes, true power isn't always visible on the surface."

After paying for the daggers, Ardyn, Rian, and Elysia continued browsing the other stalls. "Wow, look at this, a really nice arrow," Rian remarked, examining arrows from a tent specializing in archery supplies.

"Haha, you couldn't possibly handle that arrow," teased an older adventurer nearby. "Your mana flow is still too weak. If you tried to use it, you'd probably be thrown back."

The crowd laughed at the joke, but Rian wasn't having it. "What did you say? I'm weak? You should look in a mirror, old raccoon," Rian retorted angrily. "From the looks of it, you must be around 29 years old and still a rank D sharpshooter. Hahaha!"

Sharpshooters are specialists in long-range attacks, using bows, arrows, or other projectiles with great precision.

The adventurer, clearly embarrassed and upset at being ridiculed in front of the crowd, hesitated for a moment before launching an attack at Rian. "You little brat!" he shouted, aiming a strike at Rian.

Ardyn quickly intervened, blocking the attack with his earth element. "Earth Shield," he shouted, casting the spell.

He successfully deflected the adventurer's fire element attack. As he prepared to counter, his gaze turned dark, his blue eyes shifting to a menacing blood-red hue. The adventurer, now terrified, fell back onto the ground, trembling.

"Please, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have mocked your friend," the adventurer pleaded for mercy.

The crowd, confused by what had happened, murmured among themselves. "What's going on? Why is he so scared of a nine-year-old? It's strange, isn't it?"

"Haha, serves him right," Rian laughed, continuing his negotiation for the arrow he wanted.

The merchant, watching Ardyn, murmured to himself, "This kid… there's something intriguing about him."

Rian paid the 60 gold for the arrow, and they continued exploring other parts of the festival.

After finishing their shopping, the three returned to the meeting spot where they had planned to regroup with Kael and Nolan. As they approached, they saw Kael and Nolan surrounded by a group of village girls who seemed enamored by the two young men. Kael looked calm and friendly, while Nolan maintained his usual distant demeanor, though his mysterious aura still captivated the girls.

"It seems Kael and Nolan always attract attention," Elysia said with a small smile.

"Yeah, they always do," Ardyn replied, relieved he wasn't in their position.

Kael, with his natural charisma, was well-known in Bria Village. He was regarded as a young genius who had mastered the light element at the age of five and was an exceptional swordsman. His friendly and smart personality made him popular with everyone.

Nolan, despite being quieter, was equally admired. His white hair and mastery of the shadow element gave him a mysterious and powerful aura. His cold yet wise nature often drew the attention of the village girls intrigued by his enigmatic presence.

After finally breaking away from the group of admirers, Kael and Nolan rejoined Ardyn, Elysia, and Rian. They decided to head back home after a long night at the festival.

As they parted ways at the usual crossroads, Ardyn and Elysia headed towards Aunt Eladra's house. Their path was dimly lit by lanterns, casting long shadows.

Suddenly, two small figures leaped out of the darkness, shouting, "Ardyn!"

It was Eldric and Lyron, Ardyn's younger brothers, both only six years old. They jumped up and hugged their older brother with excitement.

"You're both back!" Ardyn laughed, hugging his brothers tightly.

Elysia watched the scene with a gentle smile. "They're adorable, Ardyn."

From behind the two boys, a tall man with gray hair emerged, smiling kindly. "They couldn't wait to see you again, Ardyn," said Darius Caelum, Ardyn's uncle and Aunt Eladra's husband.

Ardyn smiled warmly. "Uncle Darius, it's been a while."

They all went inside together. That night, they shared a meal, talking about their experiences at the festival, Elysia's journey, and the travels of Eldric and Lyron with Uncle Darius. Ardyn felt the warmth of family, though deep inside, his worries about his recurring dreams lingered.

As the night wore on, Ardyn tried to sleep, but once he closed his eyes, the darkness consumed his thoughts. The nightmare returned. He found himself standing amidst lifeless bodies. Before him lay Kael, Rian, Nolan, Uncle Darius, Aunt Eladra, Eldric, Lyron, and Elysia, all motionless. His sword was stained with their blood.

"What is this…?" he thought, gripped by fear.

He awoke with a gasp, his body covered in cold sweat, his heart pounding.

"Is this my fate? Is this what the figure in my dream warned me about?" he wondered, staring at the dark ceiling.

That night, Ardyn couldn't fall asleep again. The darkness outside only intensified the shadows haunting his mind. He curled up, hugging his knees tightly.