The Unseen Protector

In the two years leading up to Lucian's seventh birthday, he quietly borrowed books from Nora, the daughter of Village Chief Neil.

"You are such a bookworm, Lucian. You never play with me and only come to me when you need a book," complained Nora.

Lucian replied with a smile, "I'm really sorry, Nora. I know I get caught up in my books, but I'll make more time for us to play together. I promise."

Through those books, he learned about his village, Pinevale, nestled within Raynoria and ruled by Baron Raynor, as well as the Veridian Kingdom they belonged to. He also discovered details about the Aurora Empire to the north, the Orienta Empire to the east, the Elven Realm of Eldoria to the south, and the mysterious Shadevale Forest in the west. Beyond Shadevale lay Dracoria, the Stonereach Dominion of dwarves, and the Netherrealm of demons—dragons roamed the lands beyond Shadevale Forest, adding to the region's mysteries and dangers.

[𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲]

One peaceful afternoon, Lucian walked along the familiar dirt path that led from his modest home in Pinevale to Nora's house. The village was quiet, the usual hustle and bustle of daily life subdued by the weight of recent hardships. A poor harvest season had left many families struggling, none more so than Lucian's own. Despite the hardships, Lucian found solace in books borrowed from Nora, which transported him to realms far beyond Pinevale.

As he approached Nora's house, nestled at the edge of the village under the comforting shade of tall oak trees, Lucian's thoughts drifted to the lessons he had gleaned from those books. Stories of the Aurora Empire's grand cities and bustling markets in the north, the disciplined armies of the Orienta Empire to the east, and the ancient wisdom of the elves in Eldoria to the south fascinated him. The mention of Shadevale Forest always stirred a sense of mystery—a place where darkness and whispers intertwined among the gnarled trees and hidden paths.

However, Lucian's moment of reflection was abruptly shattered by the sounds of commotion up ahead. His pace quickened involuntarily, curiosity mingled with concern as he approached Nora's home. What he witnessed there would forever change his perception of the world beyond Pinevale.

Soldiers clad in the livery of Baron Raynor's house stood menacingly before Village Chief Neil and a small group of trembling villagers. Neil, a man weathered by years of tending to Pinevale's needs, stood defiant yet weary under the weight of his responsibility. The soldiers, unmoved by Neil's explanations of the failed harvest and the villagers' inability to pay their taxes, resorted to violence. Lucian's heart sank as he watched one soldier strike Nora—a girl not much older than himself—causing her to cry out in pain.

Fear and anger welled up within Lucian. He wanted to rush forward, to confront the soldiers and protect his friend. But a voice of caution echoed in his mind—the consequences of revealing his latent magical abilities, a secret he had kept guarded for years. If the nobles came to know that a commoner at the age of 7 know to use magic it can cause harm to his family safety.

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm him, a sudden change in the atmosphere seized everyone's attention. Dark clouds gathered swiftly overhead, swirling with an ominous energy. A bolt of dark lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a chilling howl of wind that seemed to emanate from nowhere. The soldiers, caught off guard and momentarily frozen in fear, found themselves engulfed in dark flames that turned them into ashes in a split second.

The villagers watched in awe and terror, interpreting the spectacle as a divine intervention—an act of protection bestowed upon them by some unseen force. Lucian, however, sense the mana flow coming from the forest direction. It pulsed with a strange familiarity, drawing him irresistibly toward its source.

Ignoring the villagers' cries and gratitude, Lucian followed the trail of the dark mana flow deeper into Shadevale Forest. The air grew colder and heavier with each step, the canopy above casting eerie shadows that danced around him. The forest seemed to come alive with whispers of ancient secrets and untold dangers.

Finally, at the heart of the forest where sunlight dared not penetrate, Lucian found himself face to face with a figure cloaked in swirling black robes. The figure exuded an aura of power and mystery, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light as he regarded Lucian with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Young one," the figure's voice echoed like a distant memory, chilling yet strangely comforting, "are you searching for me?"

Lucian's throat felt dry, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and fascination. He swallowed hard, summoning the courage to respond, "I... I don't know. Who are you?"

The figure tilted his head, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "I am known by many names, young one. Some call me a guardian, others call me a devil. But you... you may call me Shade."