The morning sun slipped through the gaps in the old wooden walls, waking Kael from his sleep. The five-year-old boy rubbed his eyes with a small hand, trying to chase away the remnants of the nightmare that had haunted him last night. In his dream, he saw the sky torn in two, and from that rift emerged dark figures with eyes glowing red like embers.
Kael shook his head; it was just a dream, surely just a dream. He had had the same dream many times lately, and every time he woke up, an uneasy feeling always followed him. But today was a bright day, there was no reason to be sad.
"Kael! Get up immediately!" The voice of Dorian, his father, could be heard from outside. "There is work to be done before the sun gets too high!"
Kael quickly jumped out of bed, putting on simple clothes made of rough cloth that already showed signs of wear. He ran outside and saw his father preparing farming tools in the front yard.
Dorian was a well-built man with a hardened face but gentle eyes. His hands were full of calluses from years of working in the fields, yet his touch was always warm when he stroked Kael's head. That morning, he wore the same work clothes as every day, but there was something different in his eyes. A worry he tried to hide.
"Father, did you not sleep last night?" Kael asked as he noticed the dark circles under his father's eyes.
Dorian smiled, rubbing his son's hair. "Just a lot on my mind, son. It's nothing. Come on, we have a lot to do today."
Kael nodded and picked up the seed basket his father pointed to. Together they walked toward the family farm located on the edge of the village, bordering the dense Greenwood forest.
Greenwood was a small village in the western region of the Kingdom of Valdoria. Its name came from the thick forest that surrounded it, a forest that had existed since the time of their ancestors. The villagers were mostly farmers and herders, simple people who lived off the land and livestock.
But despite its simplicity, this village had something that other villages did not. Surrounding the village stood a three-meter-high stone wall. A defensive wall built by their ancestors, and atop that wall, guards stood watch every day and every night.
"Father, why are the guards always watching?" Kael stared toward the distant fort, where two guards stood with bows in their hands.
Dorian stopped in his tracks. He looked in the same direction as Kael, and for a moment, his expression turned serious. "You know about the war, right son?"
Kael nodded. Every child in the village knew about the war. The war that had lasted for a thousand years. The war against the demons from the dimension of darkness. Mother always told stories about it before bedtime, about great heroes and epic battles.
"Mother told me about it," Kael said. "About the Demon King Malachar and his army. About how humans survive in defensive bastions."
"That's right." Dorian placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. "And that's why the guards stand watch at all times. We never know when danger will come. We never know when they will emerge from the darkness."
Kael pondered his father's words. He stared at the forest in the distance, a forest so dense that the sun could barely penetrate it. Inside that forest, according to his mother's stories, lived various types of demons. Shadowspawn that lunged at anyone brave enough to enter. Shadow Drakes that could destroy a house with a single strike. And other even more terrifying creatures.
"But we're safe here, right?" Kael asked in a voice smaller than he intended. "We have the walls. We have the guards."
Dorian smiled. "We are safe, son. As long as we are together and looking out for each other, we will always be safe. Now come on, these seeds need to be planted before noon."
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
They worked in the fields until the sun was almost directly overhead. Kael enjoyed this work. He loved the feel of the earth in his hands, the smell of wet, fertile soil, and the gentle breeze carrying the scent of leaves from the forest.
During their lunch break, sitting under an old oak tree at the edge of the field, Kael watched his father closely. Dorian wasn't his usual self. He kept staring toward the forest, his eyes occasionally glancing at the fort whenever there was an unusual sound. Something was troubling his mind.
"Father," Kael broke the silence. "Can I become a soldier someday?"
Dorian turned his head with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you suddenly want to be a soldier?"
"Because..." Kael searched for the right words. "Because I want to protect. Protect Mother, protect Father, protect the village. If I become a strong soldier, no one can hurt our family."
Dorian was silent for a moment. Then he laughed, a warm and affectionate laugh. "Son, you're only five years old. There's plenty of time before you have to think about things like that. Enjoy your childhood first."
"But I'm serious!" Kael frowned. "I want to be like the heroes in Mother's stories. They protect the weak. They defeat the evil demons. I want to be like them!"
Dorian placed a hand on Kael's head, stroking it gently. "Kael, listen to Father. True strength isn't about how hard you can hit or how sharp your sword is. True strength is the resolve to protect the people you care about. No matter what happens, no matter what you have to sacrifice, as long as you have that resolve in your heart, you are already stronger than any soldier."
Kael looked at his father with serious eyes. "Do you really believe that, Father?"
"I firmly believe it." Dorian smiled. "Now, let's finish this work. Your mother must be waiting with lunch."
That afternoon, as the sun began to set, Kael played with the other village children in the central square. There was Finn, a neighbor's child who was seven years old. There was also Mira, a little girl who always carried a handmade doll wherever she went. They played war, running and shouting enthusiastically.
"I am the commander of the Valdorian army!" Finn raised his wooden stick into the air. "And you are my soldiers! We will defeat those demons!"
"Not demons!" Mira protested, swinging her doll. "We're playing happy family! There are no demons in a happy family!"
Kael laughed at their argument. He raised his own stick and joined Finn. "I want to be a soldier too! I'll protect the family from the demons!"
They played until the sun completely set and the moon began to appear in the sky. Only then did the parents call their children to go home.
As Kael walked home with his parents, he noticed something. The guards on the wall seemed more alert than usual. They whispered to each other, their eyes constantly scanning the tree line. The torches along the wall were lit earlier than usual.
"Father, what's wrong with the guards?" Kael whispered.
Dorian gripped Kael's hand tighter. "Nothing, son. They are just being cautious. Let's go home."
But Kael could hear the tension in his father's voice. There was something unspoken. Something feared.
That night, after dinner, the small family gathered in the living room. The fire burned in the hearth, providing comforting warmth and light. Mara told the story of Archmage Valerius and his sacrifice a thousand years ago.
"And then, Archmage Valerius breathed his last breath," Mara said in a soft voice. "But before that, he left a prophecy. A prophecy that one day, a hero would be born who could defeat the Demon King Malachar and end this war."
"Has that hero been born yet?" Kael asked, his eyes wide.
"Who knows, son." Mara smiled. "Maybe he has, maybe he hasn't. Maybe he's growing up somewhere, learning and training to become strong. Or maybe he hasn't been born at all."
"If I could be a hero like that..." Kael closed his eyes, imagining himself wearing shining armor and wielding a blazing sword. "I would protect everyone. I would defeat Malachar and end this war."
Dorian and Mara exchanged a glance. There was pride in their eyes, but there was also fear. The fear that their son's dream might lead him down a dangerous path.
"Enough stories for tonight," Dorian said, standing up. "Time for bed. We still have a lot to do tomorrow."
Kael nodded and ran to his room. But before he went in, he overheard his parents talking.
"...the neighboring village was reported attacked three days ago," Dorian's voice sounded low. "The guards said demon activity is increasing in this area."
"Should we leave?" Mara's voice sounded anxious. "It might be safer in the city."
"To the city? With what? We have nothing but this farm. No, we will hold out here. I will be careful. And I will protect you both."
Kael didn't listen any further. He ran to his bed, his heart pounding. A demon attack? In the neighboring village? Would they attack his village too?
Outside his window, the moon shone brightly in the dark sky. The stars twinkled calmly, as if nothing was wrong. But somewhere in the distance, behind the trees of the Greenwood forest, something was moving. Something was waiting.
Kael did not know that that night would be the last night he would sleep peacefully in his home. He did not know that destiny was waiting for him in the darkness.
He only knew that one day, he would become a strong soldier. And he would protect everyone he loved.
— To be continued in Chapter 2 —