After sharing a meal while engaging in a lengthy discussion about the history of the Doliex tribe and the wonders of Aeternum Vale, the atmosphere in the meeting chamber began to shift. A subtle tension lingered in the air as one of the most senior elders, a man named Veynor Grauri, rose from his seat. His aged yet piercing eyes swept across the room. He carried a carved wooden staff adorned with ancient Doliex symbols. The moment he stood, everyone fell silent, sensing that what Veynor was about to say was of great importance.
"My children," he began, his voice deep and gravelly—like the voice of the earth itself. "There is something you must know. A prophecy passed down from our ancestors. This is not just a tale, but a warning for the world to come."
Rogg, Robb, Yara, Brisena, and even Mother Brigita turned their full attention to Veynor. The room, once warmed by lively conversation, grew cold and hushed.
"Have you ever heard of the Hollow World?" Veynor asked, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
Rogg frowned, trying to recall if he had ever encountered the term. "The Hollow World?" he repeated softly. "What do you mean, Elder?"
Veynor gazed at Rogg, as if searching deep within his soul. "The Hollow World is the name our ancestors gave to the coming of ruin and darkness. In their visions, this world—the continent of Megido, and even the entire Whiteheaven Empire—will face a threat unlike anything we've ever known. A being, not born of this land, but from the edge of the world itself, will come."
"A being from the edge of the world?" Yara asked, her voice trembling slightly as she gripped Rogg's hand tightly.
"Yes," Veynor replied. "They are not humans like us. They are creatures that soar from the sky, beings of fire beyond our understanding. They will come riding massive flying beasts, bearing power capable of shattering mountains and igniting seas. They will call themselves… Velkthar."
The name echoed through the chamber, silencing everyone. Brisena stared wide-eyed at Veynor. "What do you mean, Elder? Creatures like that… are they real?"
"They are real, Brisena," Veynor said with unwavering certainty. "Our ancestors saw them in their visions. They will come from the stars, bringing destruction—but also a test for us all. They will conquer this world with their might and magnificence, and only a few will survive."
"How can we fight them?" Robb asked, his voice firm. "If they're that powerful, do we even stand a chance?"
The elder woman who had earlier led the conversation, named Aryndra, now spoke. "There is hope—but it will not come easily. In every vision, one truth always remained: a leader will rise. Someone who will carry light into the heart of darkness. That person will possess strong blood, an unshakable spirit, and courage that knows no bounds."
Aryndra looked intently at Rogg, Robb, and Brisena. "We believe that leader is one of you."
Yara turned to her husband, stunned. "Rogg? Or Robb? Or Brisena?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief and hope all at once.
"We do not yet know which one of you," Aryndra said gently. "But the signs are undeniable. Your presence here, in Aeternum Vale, is no accident. It is part of fate."
Brisena slowly shook her head, struggling to process everything she had just heard. "If this prophecy is true… when will they come? And what must we do to stop this destruction?"
"Our ancestors' visions gave no exact time," Veynor answered solemnly. "But the signs will be clear. The skies will glow with lights not from the sun or moon. The mountains will tremble for no reason. And those sky-creatures will reveal themselves first in the most peaceful lands."
Mother Brigita, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke. "Elder, if these sky-beings truly come, what can we do? Do we have the power to resist them?"
Veynor looked at her with great respect. "Mother Zeeva, our strength lies in unity and courage. The Doliex tribe has endured for centuries, through war and natural disaster. But this threat is different. We cannot face it alone. We must prepare ourselves, strengthen alliances with other tribes, and seek answers in places not yet explored."
Aryndra added, "There is a legend of an ancient creature hidden deep beneath the earth—Severus the Dragon. It is said to possess the power to protect this world from external threats. But to find it, you must face a great trial."
"Where is this dragon?" Rogg asked eagerly.
"In a place called the Island of Neverus," Aryndra replied. "A chasm so deep that even light cannot reach its depths. No one has ever returned from there… except your grandfather—and your mother, sitting beside you now."
With her eyes misted by painful memories, Mother Brigita began her story, her voice resonating through the room now cloaked in silence.
"All of us—your paternal grandfather, the 14th Emperor Rogius Robelix, and my own father, Vortharian Aedrin, Grand Minister of Whiteheaven—once faced an unspeakable horror. Alongside twenty thousand imperial troops, we embarked on a mission to Neverus Island to retrieve the Lovarian steel seeds. Your father, Brovos Robelix, and I were still children then, too young to join the expedition to the mines. But what happened there left an eternal scar in the history of this empire."
Brigita paused for a moment, drawing a deep breath. Her eyes drifted across Rogg, Robb, and Brisena, one by one, ensuring they grasped the weight of what she was about to share.
"When they returned, only five thousand survived. Neverus Island had become a sea of fire, and Severus—the dragon who resided there—unleashed his overwhelming fury. But it wasn't just the dragon. On the voyage home, out of fifteen warships, only five made it back. The rest were lost, not to fire, but to a terror from the sea—Negodu, the leviathan of the deep, rose from the abyss and annihilated nearly every vessel. Amidst that chaos, your grandfather, Emperor Robelix, vanished. He was never found."
Rogg and Robb exchanged a glance—an expression of disbelief, grief, and awe tightening their faces. The tension in their mother's tale seeped into their very bones. Brisena sat frozen, realizing how many dark truths had been kept hidden from her family.
"My father, Vortharian Aedrin, managed to survive with a handful of his men, adrift on lifeboats until they finally reached Whiteheaven. But your father, Brovos, and I weren't as fortunate. We were stranded in the Mozkdu forest with the last remnants of the surviving army. Yet even there, we found no safety. The survivors were massacred… by a colossal creature known as Lagosh."
Brisena's eyes widened at the name. "Lagosh? So that creature has been around since then?"
"Yes," Brigita answered with a slow nod. "Lagosh never stays in one place. It goes wherever it senses prey. They are savage, relentless beasts—driven by a hatred that defies reason. They are omens of ruin, harbingers of greater catastrophe."
Her voice trembled, yet it held firm conviction as she continued. "Your father and I, with Brovos—still a child—managed to survive and found refuge in the village of Rhazab. That was where I met the Rhazab tribe. I married your father there… and gave birth to you, Rogg and Robb. But when I was carrying Brisena, Lagosh returned. You all remember the destruction that followed."
Brisena could no longer contain the question burning inside her. "So… my father is Brovos? Not Emperor Brovon?" she asked, eyes piercing.
"Yes, Brisena," Brigita replied gently. "Emperor Brovon is your father's eldest brother. Though you carry imperial blood, you were born from a life forged in hardship and sacrifice."
But Brigita quickly steered the conversation back to its pressing matter, her tone now laced with concern. "According to prophecies passed down by the elders for centuries… beings from the sky will come. They are a race from beyond this world, bringing devastation and chaos with powers far beyond our comprehension. They do not see our lives as sacred; to them, we are mere insects."
One of the elders seated at the round table nodded slowly, adding, "The prophecy says that when the sky-beings arrive, human civilization will teeter on the edge of extinction. Only one hope remains—Severus, the dragon. But Severus is a force unto himself. He sides with no one and only stirs when the world stands at the brink of annihilation."
"And the price of invoking Severus is steep," Brigita continued, her voice now edged with steel. "I will not offer my children to fulfill a prophecy. I've lost too many already. We must find another way."
Another elder—an old man draped in black robes embroidered with gold—spoke with measured authority. "Mother Zeeva, we cannot ignore the prophecy. If the sky-beings truly come, we will have no choice but to face them. And Severus is the only force capable of challenging their power."
Brisena, her voice shaking with curiosity and dread, asked, "What exactly does the prophecy say about these beings? What are they like?"
The elder looked directly at her, his eyes filled with solemn warning. "They are called the Velkthar in ancient prophecy. They command vast vessels that drift like stars across the heavens. They come not to make peace, but to conquer, to strip the earth of its resources. They can bend minds, cloak the world in endless night, and erase the very notion of freedom."
Rogg, who had been listening with clenched jaw, finally spoke. "If they're coming… we must prepare. We can't rely solely on a dragon or a prophecy. We have to fight."
The female elder seated beside Brigita offered a faint smile, as if quietly admiring his resolve. "You are a brave soul, Rogg. But to face them is nothing like facing men. They are something far greater than any foe we've ever known."
Silence fell once more. Only the sound of heavy breaths echoed in the room. Then Brigita spoke again, her gaze fixed deep into her children's eyes.
"I believe in you. I believe you carry the strength of our ancestors within you. But this path will demand sacrifice. If you must face the Velkthar… remember this: there is no victory without loss. Yet I will not allow you to throw your lives away chasing Severus. If fate deems his help necessary, he will rise to fulfill it."
An oppressive stillness once again blanketed the room. Yara clutched little Rex tightly, as if to shield him from an unseen menace. Robb's fists were clenched, ready for whatever lay ahead. Brisena bowed her head, processing every word she had just heard.
Outside, the wind howled through the highlands, carrying with it a whisper—an eerie cry that seemed not of this world.
"Was that… a sign?" Brisena whispered.
Brigita nodded wordlessly, while the elders exchanged glances with unreadable expressions. The prophecy they had long feared was stirring into motion.
Yet amid the gloom, Rogg rose to his feet. His eyes blazed with unwavering resolve.
"If this is our fate, then we will face it. Whatever stands before us—we will not back down."
Robb, typically the quieter of the two, stood beside him. "I'll stand with you, brother. No matter what comes, we'll face it together."
Brisena offered a faint smile, though worry lingered in her eyes. "You won't go without me. I'm part of this family too—and I will help protect our world."
Brigita looked upon her children, pride and fear swirling within her. "You are the hope of this world. But remember—bravery alone is not enough. Use your mind, your heart, and your love to face the trials ahead."
Veynor nodded, seemingly satisfied with their spirit. "Prepare yourselves, children. What lies ahead will not be easy. But never forget—destiny always favors the bold."
As the meeting ended, they stepped out into the cold winds of Aeternum Vale, determination burning in their hearts. It was as if the world itself was bracing them for the storm to come.
Later, the family gathered once more in the chamber set aside for them in Aeternum Vale. There, Rogg began to recount everything he had experienced—everything that had led to this very moment.