Chapter 6 – The Journey Begins
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He looked closer and found a small handwritten note tucked beneath the equipment. The ink was slightly faded, but the words were clear:
> "An ordinary sword, but extremely durable. Clothing resistant to the harshest climates — from burning deserts to freezing glaciers. A bracelet carrying rations and healing potions. A cross-shaped amulet to stabilize the body against negative effects.
Son, we wanted to give you more… but your human body wouldn't be able to withstand the power of the Sacred Artifacts."
Adrian's eyes lingered on the final sentence.
"So... ordinary people can't wield Sacred Artifacts," he muttered. His gaze dropped to the sword lying on his bed. It was plain — no engravings, no glowing aura — and yet, it felt special. Purposeful. Like everything here had been chosen with care.
As he pondered the meaning of his parents' words, the diary on his desk shivered. Its cover pulsed faintly, and with a soft whoosh, it opened on its own. Pages flipped rapidly until one stopped, glowing faintly. A map emerged again — but this time, it pointed to a new location: a cave nestled deep within an unmarked forest, far from the city. Adrian leaned in. The path was nearly invisible. He would never have found it without the enchanted guidance.
His eyes narrowed.
"So this… is where it begins."
He looked out the window. The sun had long since set, and the stars were scattered like sparks across the dark sky. A calm breeze rustled the trees outside, and somewhere in the distance, a lone owl hooted. The world seemed to hold its breath.
Adrian closed the diary gently and whispered, "Tomorrow will be the day that defines my destiny."
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The next morning...
"Adrian! Wake up! Breakfast is ready!" Maria's voice echoed from the kitchen.
"I'm coming!" Adrian called back groggily, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. The morning light poured through his window in golden rays. He stretched, feeling the weight of the day ahead settle in his chest. "Today… everything changes."
Downstairs, the usual chaos of breakfast was already underway.
"Mom, is Adrian taking forever again? I'm starving!" Theo groaned from his seat, arms folded.
"He'll be here soon," Maria replied, placing the last of the plates on the table. "Theo, Lia, Noah — be patient, please."
"I'm here!" Adrian announced, sliding into the room slightly out of breath.
"You took forever!" Theo shot back with a scowl.
"Sorry, sorry..." Adrian laughed, tousling Theo's hair as he passed.
"Enough talking," Maria said with a soft chuckle. "Let's eat."
"Yes!" the children said in unison, their voices filling the warm kitchen as they dug in.
Halfway through the meal, Adrian looked up.
"Director…" he began. "I need to stay at a friend's house for a few days. Is that okay?"
Maria paused mid-bite, giving him a long look. She sighed, sensing there was more to his words than he let on.
"Alright," she said gently. "What time are you leaving?"
"Right after breakfast."
"Then you'd better pack quickly."
Adrian smiled gratefully. "Thanks!"
He rushed up the stairs, skipping steps, heart pounding—not from fear, but from excitement. It felt like every second mattered now.
"That boy…" Maria murmured, shaking her head with a fond smile.
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A short while later...
"Guys, I'm heading out! Bye!"
"Bye!" Theo, Lia, Noah, and Maria called from inside.
Adrian stepped through the front door, pausing just past the gate. The air was crisp and clear, the wind carrying the scent of pine and morning dew. He pulled out the enchanted map and unfolded it again.
"A bus won't reach a place like that…" he muttered.
After a moment's thought, he walked around to the side of the orphanage and found his old bicycle leaning against the shed. The paint was chipped, the gears a little stiff, but it still worked.
"It'll have to do," he said with a grin, hopping on and pedaling away.
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The road was long and unpaved, winding through grassy fields and dense woods. Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, blazing down as the path grew steeper. His legs ached, his clothes clung to his skin, and sweat dripped from his brow.
"Aaah... Aaah... I didn't think it'd be this far…" Adrian groaned, pushing through the final stretch.
But then—he saw it.
Nestled between a wall of thick trees and overgrown brush, a dark hollow yawned open like the mouth of a beast. The cave entrance was mostly hidden, camouflaged by nature and time. Moss covered the jagged rocks, and a cool mist clung to the ground around it. The forest was unnaturally quiet here. No birdsong. No insects. Just the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant drip of water.
Adrian slowly approached, his heart thumping.
He stepped off his bike and let it fall beside a nearby tree.
The cave loomed before him, wide and dark like the threshold to another world.
"So this is where it all begins…"
He didn't speak the words—they escaped his lips like a breath.
The wind stirred behind him as if the world itself was listening.
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