The village wears a cloak of uneasy silence. The market stalls stand empty, and the usual laughter of children is absent, swallowed by a shadow no one dares speak aloud.
Kael moves through the streets like a restless ghost, the weight of his victory at the trial still heavy on his limbs. The Mark of the Hidden pulses faintly under his skin, a constant reminder of the power he's just begun to wield—and the price it demands.
In the dim light of the fading afternoon, Kael finds himself drawn to the old library—a crumbling stone building filled with dusty tomes and forgotten knowledge. Lyra had told him once that understanding the past was the key to fighting the darkness.
Inside, the air smells of old parchment and secrets. Shelves stretch to the ceiling, filled with scrolls etched in languages long dead.
Kael's fingers trail over a thick leather-bound book, its cover embossed with a symbol matching the Mark on his palm.
His heart hammers as he opens it.
The pages reveal stories of the Evenhart bloodline—guardians who had stood against the darkness for generations. But among the tales of heroism, one name is stained with betrayal: Aelis Evenhart, the Keeper's own kin, who had turned against the family, opening the door and unleashing the shadows.
Kael's breath catches.
Could the darkness be tied to his own blood?
A sudden noise startles him. He spins around to see a figure lurking in the doorway—Jaren, the village blacksmith, a man Kael has always trusted.
"What are you doing here?" Kael asks, wary.
Jaren's eyes flash with something unreadable. "You don't know what you're dealing with, boy."
Kael steps back, instinct bristling. "I know enough. And I'm going to stop it."
Jaren's jaw tightens. "Be careful who you trust. Not everyone wants the darkness sealed."
Before Kael can reply, Jaren disappears into the shadows, leaving a chill that settles deep in Kael's bones.
The library feels colder now, the walls closing in.
Outside, the wind howls, carrying whispers that seem to echo from the door itself.
Kael knows one thing for certain—the fight is not just against the darkness outside, but the shadows lurking within the hearts of those around him.