The journey back to Emberlight Village was longer than it had any right to be. The once-familiar paths now felt alien, haunted by the whispers of the mask's memory. Kael's fingers trembled as he clutched the cloth-wrapped artifact. The boy's face was burned into his mind, and the name N'varis refused to leave his thoughts.
"When the stars start whispering..."
It wasn't just a vague warning. It was a declaration. Something was coming. Something bigger than he could understand.
The village finally came into view, nestled at the foot of a towering range of mountains. The cool wind carried with it the scent of pine and wet earth, a reminder of the life that still clung to the world. But Kael couldn't shake the feeling that everything was slowly… shifting.
---
"Do you feel it?" Seris asked, her voice low as they entered the village gates.
Kael looked at her, his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"The air," she said, her gaze sweeping over the village. "It's different. I've spent my entire life here, and I've never felt it like this before."
Deyric, who had been quiet for most of the journey, spoke up. "You're not the only one who feels it. Something's coming. Something more than just the dangers we've been chasing."
Kael stopped walking, his heart pounding in his chest. "You feel it too?"
Deyric nodded. "The Mark you bear is not just a symbol of power. It's a curse. And those who hold it are always drawn to the heart of these shifts."
Seris stepped closer. "And you think that's why the mask spoke to you?"
"I think it's why I saw the things I did." Kael's voice was steady, but his mind raced. "I saw a world... a world before the gods were sealed away. A time when everything was connected."
"You're saying the gods... they weren't always like they are now?"
Kael shook his head. "I'm saying that something happened. Something changed them. And I think it's the reason we're feeling this shift now."
---
That night, they met in the village's common hall. The flickering light of the fire cast long shadows across the room, and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut.
"What we're dealing with here isn't just the mask," Deyric said, his voice low. "I've heard rumors… strange things happening beyond the borders of Emberlight. People disappearing. Monsters appearing where there shouldn't be any."
Seris raised an eyebrow. "Monsters? What kind of monsters?"
"Not like anything we've seen before. I don't think they're even from this world."
Kael's stomach dropped. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying we need to be prepared," Deyric replied, his gaze hardening. "There's something worse coming than just a few rogue creatures or renegade warlords."
---
The hours dragged on, but no one slept well that night. Kael's thoughts were consumed by the visions he had experienced, and the strange feeling that had settled deep in his gut. Every instinct he had screamed that the shifting stars weren't just a metaphor. Something bigger was out there, and it was coming for him.
The next morning, Kael stood on the edge of the village, looking out over the dense forest beyond. It was quiet—unnervingly so. Not a bird called. Not a leaf rustled. The stillness felt like an omen, a sign that something had already begun.
He was no longer just a boy with a mark. He was something more. And that meant everything was about to change.
---
A figure appeared from the shadows, cloaked in a deep red robe, their face obscured by a hood. They moved with purpose, their steps silent against the earth. Kael didn't sense them approach, but somehow, he knew they were there.
"You've felt it too, haven't you?" the figure said, their voice like a soft wind.
Kael's hand instinctively went to his sword, but he didn't draw it. There was something about this stranger that made him hesitant to act rashly. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted their head slightly, their face still hidden. "I am not your enemy, but I'm afraid you'll find no peace until you understand what's at stake."
"What's at stake?" Kael demanded, his voice rising. "Who are you?"
The figure smiled, though Kael couldn't see it. "Someone who has been waiting for you to come to this point. Someone who has seen the end of this path. The stars are aligning, Kael. They've begun to whisper, and the world is starting to listen."
The figure stepped closer. "You are the one who must stop it."