The morning dawned clear and beautiful, fifteen days until the King Summit.
"What's this in my kitchen, Mole?" Shawn asked, gesturing to a strange creature.
"Ooh, that's Terri, short for Terragrim," Mole replied.
"Why are you bringing strange creatures home? I've never seen such a tall bird."
"She's my partner now, and she's not a bird. She can't fly, but she can run."
"Shouldn't you be training?"
"It's my day off."
Lloyd entered, recoiling. "A Terragrim!" He stumbled over a chair, falling.
"You okay, little bro?" Mole asked.
Lloyd, standing slowly, mumbled, "I'm fine," and hid under the table.
Mole approached. "Don't worry, she won't hurt you. Look, she's napping."
"Terragrims are aggressive. How did it even get here? They're not native to Ignisia, and even if they were, they'd hide. And they run faster than sound. It must have been captured... in a game of tag, which would make it loyal..."
"Woah, hold on, smarty boy. Just know I won, she's my partner, and her name is Terri."
"Impossible!" Lloyd scoffed, grabbing a book and leaving for the library.
Mole noticed Shawn's worry. "You're thinking of her, aren't you?"
Shawn sighed. "I can't understand. Why would Mom say that as her last words?"
Mole patted his brother's back and walked away. "I promised her, and I'll keep it."
Later, Shawn, Mole, and Lloyd returned to find their village ablaze. Houses burned, villagers paralyzed, awaiting a fiery death.
"Mole, water! Put out the fires, starting with the occupied buildings. I'll carry people to safety."
Mole rushed for water. Shawn entered the inferno, finding Samantha, the girl he'd given cookies to, in a steam-filled room. He carried her out.
Mole returned. "The houses are empty. Let's check the others. I don't want him to see this," Shawn said, tears blurring his vision. They raced towards the untouched buildings, rescuing silent, grateful villagers.
Finally, everyone was safe.
"Where's Lloyd?" Shawn demanded.
"We left him near..." Mole began.
Shawn sprinted towards the village gate, finding Lloyd giggling, holding their mother's hand. Rose lay on the ground, blood staining her clothes. Mole arrived.
"Mom!" Mole cried, seeing the blood.
"You're leaving us," Shawn said gently.
Rose chuckled weakly. "It seems Thorn protected you after all."
"I'm sorry, Mom, if I were stronger..."
Rose squeezed his hand. "Strong? You are strong, all of you." She coughed, vomiting blood.
"Mom!" they cried.
Rose gasped. "Please listen... I'm sorry... a terrible vision... I can't say more, but things will explain themselves."
"Mom, please don't leave us!" Mole sobbed.
"For generations... our family hid... under the name Hosi."
"It is believed one of our people carries the blood that will free Theodoros."
"Mom, save your energy..."
"One of us has the blood to break his seal. Lloyd is the key."
"Lloyd?! That's why you wanted us to protect him," Mole exclaimed.
"I don't have much time." Rose coughed. "Shawn, these people need hope... give them that. Lead them."
"Mom, what are you saying?"
"Mole, carry your father's will. Become the strongest warrior in Aerthys."
"I have one last... thing to give you all."
Rose raised her left hand. A green aura emanated, washing over the village. Simultaneously, a red light blazed from the woods, the sky illuminated in green and red. The villagers regained movement, the fires extinguished, and they celebrated, oblivious to Shawn and Mole's grief.
"Mom, I promise... I will become strong, stronger than anyone in Aerthys, and protect my brothers."
"I will... carry on the work you and Father left. I will give these people hope," Shawn declared.
Though they didn't witness Thorn's death, they knew he wouldn't return, sacrificing himself for his people.
AND THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THEIR JOURNEY: TO BECOME STRONG AND TO PROTECT.
Elsewhere in Aerthys, within hidden ruins, Mirrow, a 6'7", 23-year-old Luminari member with blue eyes and a black ponytail, complained, "This place is cold and dusty." She joined the Luminari at nineteen.
"You volunteered," retorted Lucky, a bespectacled 19-year-old with a bob cut, who joined at twelve and could interpret ancient texts.
"Quiet, you two. Listen," Aria instructed, urging them to hear the echoes.
"It's just the wind," Mirrow said, continuing onward.
"Just wait..." Lucky began.
Mirrow stepped on a loose rock, and they all fell into the cave's basement. "Are you okay?" She held up her crystal ball, which emitted blue light.
"I'm fine," Lucky replied.
"Aria, look!" Mirrow exclaimed.
Aria turned to see a stone wall covered in symbols. "It's the ancient text!"
Meanwhile, far from any kingdom, in the Aerthys village of Zowe, known for its spices and salt, a vital trade hub where kingdoms shared guards and gold in exchange for supplies, a tall, muscular man with green eyes, black hair tied back, and a sword emblazoned with a cross arrived. The guards and villagers recognized him. "It's him! I've only seen him in paintings," a villager whispered.
In Ignisia, a banquet was underway, attended by royalty and dignitaries. Beneath Ignisia Castle, a prisoner's cries and growls could be heard.
At Thorn village library, Lloyd considered his next read.
"Mr. Mount, any new books? I've finished the science and mechanics," Lloyd said.
Mr. Mount, the library owner, Samantha's grandfather, and a friend of Lloyd, said, "You have, but you haven't touched the history section. And no, no new collection."
"The history section seems boring."
"Perhaps. Some were collected by Thorn. Your father seemed interested in them."
Lloyd's expression saddened. "Thorn? My father? Can you show me the books he read? I want to know what he was like. I only know him from pictures."
"Of course." Mount used a stick to support himself and led Lloyd to the history section.
Meanwhile, at the Hosi house, Mole tried to feed his Terragrim.
"Eat this," Mole said, offering a carrot.
The Terragrim refused. "What's wrong? Don't you like carrots?"
Shawn, washing dishes, called out "Maybe it's tired of the same thing. Try an apple."
Mole grabbed an apple and returned. "Here, an apple." The Terragrim ate it, then closed its eyes, ignoring Mole. "Where's my thank you?"
Back at the library...
"Here," Mount said, handing Lloyd a pink book.
Lloyd read the cover. "A Thief and a Ballerina Princess? Are you sure?"
"Check the back," Mount replied.
Lloyd opened the back to see, "History will remain true until it is erased in the memory of people, Signed Thorn."
"Oh. I never knew my father was into love stories."
"Maybe he was. Never judge a book by its cover."
"It's Volume 6. Where are the others?"
"We couldn't find them. Thorn said we shouldn't look. Besides, this history is well-known."
"Okay. I'll read it, even if it's confusing."
"Good luck."
Lloyd left. "A romantic history... This will be new." He noticed other genres listed on the cover, but not romance, and the author was unknown.
Aria, Mirrow, and Lucky left the cave empty-handed.
"That was a waste of time! Why did they send us here?" Mirror snapped.
"We found what we were looking for. Right, Lucky?" Aria responded.
"She wouldn't know; she only cares about treasure. Gold digger."
"Take it back!" Mirrow demanded, stalking towards Lucky.
"I won't take back the truth!" Lucky defended himself.
Aria stepped between them. "Break it up! We need to deliver this information, fast."
FIVE DAYS REMAIN UNTIL THE KINGS' SUMMIT.
TO BE CONTINUED.