Dawn had not yet fully broken when Kael stood at the main gate of the training complex. The morning air was still cold, his breath forming thin white mist in the air. In his hand was a small bag containing basic supplies and the wooden training sword newly given by the old man at the instructor's workshop. In the inner pocket of his robe, his father's broken sword still felt cold yet provided a strange sort of comfort.
"Are you ready?" a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
Kael turned to find Erik standing a few steps behind him, his face serious, with evident worry in his eyes. His friend hadn't slept at all; his tunic was still neat and his hair was still wet like he had just washed his face.
"You shouldn't have woken up this early," Kael said in a low voice.
"And you shouldn't be going alone," Erik retorted with a faint smile that didn't entirely reach his eyes. "But I know you wouldn't let me come."
Kael didn't answer. He indeed didn't want to involve Erik in this mission. The mission was dangerous, and he didn't want to drag his friend into an uncertain situation.
"I will be fine," Kael said after a moment. "This is just a reconnaissance mission. I will only observe and report."
"To a place that has lost all contact," Erik stressed. "Where a soldier was found with a shattered soul. With Shadow Knights possibly roaming around."
"I will be careful."
Erik took a long breath and extended his hand. "Come back safely, Kael. Don't make me have to tell your mother that her son died on his first mission."
Kael accepted the handshake and gripped it tightly. "I promise."
After releasing the handshake, Erik took something from his robe pocket and held it out to Kael. A small bowl of hot soup still emitting steam.
"Eat this on the road," Erik said. "An empty stomach won't help you think clearly."
Kael accepted the bowl with a smile. "Thank you, Erik. For everything."
"Go before it's late," Erik said, turning around. "And don't die. That's an order."
Kael watched his friend's back as he walked back to the barracks with heavy steps. Then, taking a deep breath, he turned and stepped out of the complex gates, leaving behind the safety he had known for weeks.
Outside the gate, a man was already waiting for him. Darius, the shadow soldier who would be his companion on this mission, sat atop a strong horse with a dark coat. The man looked older than Kael expected; the lines on his face showed years of experience on the battlefield.
"Kael," Darius greeted with a deep yet calm voice. "We must leave now. The journey to Ironhold will take about three days if the weather favors us."
"I am ready," Kael answered.
Darius nodded and threw something toward Kael. A black cloak, thicker than what he was wearing now.
"Put this on. Up north, the air is colder. And this cloak will help you blend in with the environment."
Kael caught the cloak and put it on quickly. The material was indeed thicker, but light enough not to hinder his movements. He mounted the horse provided and followed Darius away from the training complex.
The first part of their journey passed through small villages scattered around the City of Valdoria. Farmers had already begun their activities in the fields, working the land for the next planting season. Children ran along the footpaths, laughing and playing without a care for the changing world around them.
"Look at them," Darius said as they passed a village. "Their lives are simple. They don't know what is happening at the border."
"Should they know?" Kael asked.
"That's a difficult question," Darius answered with a serious tone. "If they know, they'll be terrified. Their lives will be disrupted. But if they don't know, they won't be able to prepare if danger truly comes. There is value in ignorance, but there are also risks."
Kael thought of the night Greenwood was attacked. He didn't know the demons would attack. There was no warning, no preparation. And as a result, his father died.
"I prefer to know," Kael said in a loud voice. "Ignorance doesn't protect anyone. It only delays the fear."
Darius turned with a different look, as if judging Kael more closely. "You're different from most recruits. You have seen death. You know what we are up against."
"I have seen a Shadow Drake," Kael answered in a flat voice. "And I don't want to see one again. But I know that's impossible. This war won't end anytime soon."
"True," Darius nodded. "This war has lasted for a thousand years. And it might continue for a thousand more. But..." He paused. "Every generation has its own responsibility. We cannot end this war alone. But we can ensure that the next generation has a better chance."
The first day passed with smooth travel. They stopped at a small inn in the village of Halford to rest and restock supplies. Darius didn't speak much, but every word he said felt weighty. He taught Kael several basic things about surviving in the wild, how to recognize tracks, and how to detect danger from afar.
That night, sitting by the campfire behind the inn, Darius opened a deeper conversation.
"Kael, I want to teach you something," Darius said, looking at the fire dancing before them. "Light Aether is not just a tool to detect Dark Aether. It is a weapon. And you must learn to use it."
"I've tried," Kael admitted. "But my control is still weak. Every time I use it, I feel exhausted."
"That's because you force it," Darius explained. "Aether is not a muscle that has to be flexed. Aether is flowing water. You cannot force water to flow where you want it with brute strength. You must direct it, open a path for it."
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Darius picked up a small stick and started drawing on the ground. He drew a simple symbol, a circle with eight rays radiating outward.
"This is the Lux rune," Darius explained. "The basic rune for Light Aether. Every rune is a visual representation of a fundamental concept. Lux represents light, clarity, and purification. If you can master this rune, you will be able to control your Light Aether better."
Kael stared at the symbol with full attention. He remembered the books he had read about runes, but had never practiced them directly.
"Try," Darius said. "Imagine this rune in your mind. Then direct your Aether to it."
Kael closed his eyes and tried to visualize the Lux rune. Slowly, he felt the Light Aether within him begin to move, but not like before. This time, he didn't force it. He just opened the path, letting the Aether flow toward the visualization of the rune.
In the palm of his hand, a golden light began to ignite. Brighter than before, yet more stable. The light formed a faint pattern similar to the rune Darius drew, a circle with radiating rays.
"Good," Darius said with an impressed tone. "You have natural talent. But remember, this is just the beginning. Runes are the foundation of all magic. The more you master runes, the stronger your abilities become."
Kael opened his eyes and looked at the light in his hand with mixed feelings. For the first time, he felt that Light Aether wasn't just an uncontrollable power. He could learn to master it.
The second day of the journey brought them to a more sparsely populated region. The trees began to thin, replaced by shrubs and drier land. The night wind felt colder, carrying an unfamiliar scent from the north.
"There's something different," Kael said as they rested under a large tree. "The air... feels heavy."
"You feel it," Darius nodded with a serious expression. "That is the effect of Dark Aether. The closer we get to the source, the heavier the air will feel. Your Light Aether is already acting as a detector."
"Is this normal?" Kael asked.
"No," Darius answered in a heavy voice. "Based on my experience, effects like this usually appear after a major Dark Aether incident. An open portal. Or the presence of a Shadow Knight."
Kael felt a chill unrelated to the temperature creep down his spine. He remembered Lord Varen's words about Shadow Knights who could imitate anyone, even loved ones.
"Darius," Kael started in a low voice. "If we encounter a Shadow Knight, what do we do?"
Darius was silent for a moment, his eyes staring into the darkness in the distance. "If that happens, we must separate. You must return and report. Never try to fight them alone. Shadow Knights are not enemies that can be defeated by a recruit and a shadow soldier."
"But you..." Kael began to argue.
"I have dealt with them for years," Darius cut in with a faint smile. "And my job is to ensure you can return with information. Don't worry about me. Focus on your duty."
Kael wasn't entirely satisfied with the answer, but he knew that arguing wouldn't change anything. He clenched his fists and tried to focus on the goal of this mission.
On the morning of the third day, they arrived at the foothills right before Ironhold. The fort was visible in the distance, a tall stone structure with a wall surrounding the entire complex. Flags fluttered atop the watchtowers, but there were no usual signs of life. No smoke from the chimneys, no movement on the fort walls, no sounds to be heard.
"Quiet," Darius whispered with a tense voice. "Too quiet."
Kael felt something strange in his chest. His Light Aether vibrated, not with the usual warmth, but with an unpleasant sensation. Like a warning.
"I feel something," Kael said in a low voice. "There's... there's something there. Something dark."
Darius nodded with a serious face. "Stay alert. We will approach from the east side, where the vegetation is still thick. It will provide cover."
They dismounted and tied their horses in a hiding spot among the bushes. On foot, they approached the fort with slow, careful steps. Every step felt heavy, and Kael could feel the air around them getting colder as they drew nearer.
The main gate of the fort was wide open. No guards, no signs of resistance. Just a chilling silence, a silence that felt unnatural.
"No bodies," Darius whispered as they entered the fort's inner courtyard. "No signs of battle. This is strange."
Kael looked around with full attention. His Light Aether was vibrating stronger now, providing an increasingly intense warning. He could feel the darkness flowing from within the fort, like an invisible smoke that could be felt.
"There," Kael pointed toward a large building on the west side of the courtyard. "There's something inside that building."
Darius followed his pointing direction. The building had large doors that were half-open, and the darkness inside felt thicker than ordinary darkness.
"We will check it," Darius said, drawing his sword with a slow motion. "Stay behind me. And if anything happens, run."
Kael nodded, even though every instinct told him to disagree. He followed Darius toward the building, with bated breath and a pounding heart.
As they reached the doors, a sound was heard from inside. The sound of heavy, but irregular footsteps. Like someone walking with unhuman movements.
"Come out of there!" Darius shouted in a loud voice.
The footsteps stopped. Then, slowly, a figure emerged from the darkness. A tall and thin figure, wearing a black robe torn in several places. The face couldn't be seen clearly because it was obscured by shadows, but Kael could feel something from the figure. A living darkness, flowing and moving like running water.
"Shadow Knight," Darius whispered with a voice full of tension.
The figure smiled, a smile that was not entirely human. "You shouldn't have come here," it said with a voice that echoed as if coming from a faraway place. "But now you are here. And that is... interesting."
The figure stepped forward, and with every step, the darkness around it moved with it. The sunlight entering the fort courtyard seemed to dim as the Shadow Knight approached.
Kael felt his feet anchored to the ground. This was his first time facing a real enemy, an enemy he had heard about in horror stories since childhood. And now, that enemy stood right before him.
"Kael," Darius whispered without looking. "Remember what I said. If this happens..."
"No," Kael interrupted, his voice louder than he planned. "I won't leave you."
The Shadow Knight laughed, an ear-piercing sound like grinding metal. "Sacrifice. How human. But you don't understand, do you? This darkness... cannot be defeated with mere bravery."
Kael felt the Light Aether inside him begin to react, vibrating with increasing intensity. He didn't know if it was out of fear or something else. All he knew was that he wouldn't run.
"Maybe not," Kael said with a steady voice despite his pounding heart. "But I don't need to defeat it. I just need to survive long enough to report what happened here."
The Shadow Knight paused, its eyes hidden in darkness staring at Kael with a different intensity. "Interesting. You have Light Aether. And its purity... is unusual."
"Don't go near him!" Darius shouted, stepping forward with his sword raised.
The Shadow Knight smiled again, but this time the smile felt darker. "Oh, I have no intention of approaching him. At least, not yet. I am waiting. Waiting for someone more... suitable."
Before Kael or Darius could react, the Shadow Knight disappeared. Not walking or running, but literally disappearing into the darkness that suddenly appeared around it.
"What just happened?" Kael asked with a panting breath.
"It was testing us," Darius answered with a pale face. "Or perhaps, testing you."
"Testing me?"
"Your Light Aether," Darius explained. "Shadow Knights are attracted to strong Light Aether. Your purity... might have caught their attention."
Kael felt a chill creep over his entire body. The Shadow Knight's words rang in his head. Waiting for someone more suitable. What did that mean?
"We have to go," Darius said with an urgent voice. "Now. Before it comes back with reinforcements."
"But the information..." Kael tried to argue.
"We have gathered enough information," Darius cut in. "Ironhold has fallen. Shadow Knights are roaming inside it. And the portal... the portal might have opened. That is all we need to know."
Before Kael could respond, the ground beneath them shook. The sound of clanging metal echoed from inside the fort, like massive chains being pulled with great force.
"RUN!" Darius shouted, pushing Kael toward the gate.
Kael didn't need to be told twice. He ran with all his might toward the gate, with Darius beside him. Behind them, a deep growling sound echoed from within the fort, a sound not coming from a human or an ordinary beast.
As they fled from Ironhold, one thought kept spinning in Kael's head. The Shadow Knight said it was waiting for someone. And Kael's Light Aether had caught its attention.
Did this mean he was now a target?
— To be continued in Chapter 12 —