Thornton

  The shed doors now open, and the air shifted, heavier now with a sense of power. A faint light shimmered from within, illuminating the space beyond the threshold. The three of us—Hue, Jade, and I—took cautious steps inside, all holding our breath, not knowing what awaited us.

  As the door closed behind us, the faint glow became more distinct, revealing the shape of a tall, imposing figure. Its form was semi-transparent, but radiated mana so strongly that the air seemed to hum with its presence. The being was neither fully human nor fully elemental, its essence a blend of ethereal magic and ancient power.

  The figure gazed at us, its eyes piercing, searching our souls as if weighing us with one glance. Then, in a voice that was more felt than heard, it spoke.

  Ancient Being: "Ah, the children of the Liche. How curious that I am awakened now. What is the occasion, I wonder?"

  Hue stepped forward, his voice steady but laced with disbelief. "We've been through hell. We've seen betrayal, death, and loss. The King of The Belfour Kingdom... he's not what he seems. We've come here to seek answers."

  Jade nodded, her gaze unyielding. "We've fought and survived a demon attack. We've lost everything, and we need to understand why."

  I could feel the weight of those words as they hung in the air, the truth of what we had endured seeping into the space around us. The ancient being paused, as if contemplating the enormity of what we had just said.

  Ancient Being: "A demon... you speak of the Demon race, I presume. They were once sworn to the Belfour bloodline, thousands of years ago. Loyal to the first King Belfour, in exchange for power and immortality. But they were never meant to be allies. They were created, bound by blood and dark magic to serve the King's will. It is said that there should only be ten of them left in existence now, after centuries of hunting them down. And you have killed one."

  The room felt colder as the ancient being spoke, its words echoing in our minds. Hue clenched his fists, his face set in determination.

  Hue: "Where are the others? Why are they still here? And what do we do now?"

  The being seemed to consider the question carefully before speaking again, his tone now somber.

  Ancient Being: "The demons are scattered, hiding in the shadows of your world. But as the Belfour bloodline grows stronger, their loyalty will be called upon again. They will come. And when they do, they will bring more destruction. Your task, young ones, is not yet finished. You must prepare for what is to come."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  I noticed how the being's gaze turned slightly, as if searching deeper into us.

  Ancient Being: "Now, tell me, where are your parents? The Liche Clan was once a powerful force. Your bloodline should be strong. But where are the others?"

  Hue's face darkened, and his voice dropped.

  Hue: "They're gone. All of them. My parents, my clan... they were killed by King Belfour. I thought I was his son, raised in his household. But now I know I was just a pawn, and the King murdered my family."

  Jade's eyes flickered with the same raw grief as Hue's, though she remained silent. I couldn't bring myself to speak at first, the weight of the truth pressing in on my chest. The ancient being's expression softened, though there was no sympathy—only recognition of the grave loss we had suffered.

  Ancient Being: "If I could grieve, now would be the time. It is the same loss I have seen before, a thousand years ago, when the first King Belfour began his reign. That king, too, was strong, but not invincible. His bloodline—this one you now face—was forged in darkness."

  There was a long pause, and the air in the shed seemed to pulse with power, as if the very walls were alive with the ancient mana swirling within.

  Ancient Being: "But you—" he turned his piercing gaze to each of us in turn, "you are not yet ready. The King you face now, if he is as strong as the first, will require more than mere strength. You will need time, patience, and training. Even with your combined abilities, you would fall before him."

  My stomach twisted at the being's words. Hue, Jade, and I exchanged a glance. I knew we weren't ready. But to hear it confirmed so bluntly by a being so ancient and wise—it was like a punch to the gut.

  Ancient Being: "It will take five years, perhaps more, for you to be ready. But the path you take will not be easy. You must train, grow, and unite with those you can trust. And you will need help. I sense other mana sources—three more strong sources nearby, waiting to be called upon. They must train as well."

  He paused, and created a mana manifestation of Emberes,

  Ancient Being: "This, young man, have the greatest potential among you, but he have already reached the peak of what his body can handle. His mana, though vast, is limited. The Liche bloodline's potential, however, is limitless. You will not face the King with what you have now."

  I felt a flicker of doubt wash over me, but I pushed it aside. The mana manifestation of Emberes evaporates into the air.

  Ancient Being: "And now, listen well. The King will assume you are coming for him directly, but that will play into his hand. You must avoid Belfour City at all costs. It will be a trap. You must find another way."

  The being's form began to flicker as if it were fading into the air itself.

  Ancient Being: "Our paths will cross again, but for now, I bid you farewell. Do not seek the King until you are prepared. And when the time comes, you will know how to defeat him."

  With that, the being shot upwards, its form dissipating into the sky like a streak of light. I stood there for a moment, the weight of his words settling heavily in the air.

  As the light faded, I turned to Hue and Jade, and without needing to speak, we all understood what needed to be done.

  We had a long road ahead of us.