One night, a river flowed slowly under the moonlight, its surface reflecting a soft glow like a living mirror. Calm, almost motionless, except when the occasional ripple was broken by leaves falling from the trees. A small boat made of old wood drifted along with the current. Inside, a baby boy lay with his eyes closed. His breath was slow and peaceful. His tiny body, unaware of the world. Unconscious of the danger lurking in the darkness of the night.
Behind the dense trees on the riverbank, a threat lurked in silence. A pair of yellow eyes glowed from behind the foliage, staring at the boat with a savage instinct. A giant crocodile slowly emerged, its body splitting the water silently like an approaching shadow of death. Its long fangs gleamed as its mouth opened wide, ready to swallow the contents of the boat.
But as it was only a foot away
Kzzzt
Suddenly, a deep purple light erupted from the baby's body. Like dark lightning, the aura struck the crocodile with inexplicable force. In an instant, the creature was reduced to ashes without a sound. The water calmed again. The river fell silent, as if everything was just a nightmare that passed in an instant. The boat continued to drift slowly, surrounded by silence.
On the bank, an old man sat on a large rock. Eldric, the head of Ruame Village, fished in silence. The night wind swayed the tip of the fishing rod in his hand.
"It's so quiet today," he muttered, half disappointed. But suddenly, something caught his attention. A shadow, faint, hovering over the water.
He stood up. Then without hesitation, he plunged into the river. The water was cold, biting his skin, but Eldric's heart raced. He swam towards the boat. And there, lying down, was a baby boy, wrapped in old cloth. His face was peaceful, as if he was just sleeping. Around his tiny neck, a silver pendant hung with one name. Kai.
"Who could be so cruel to leave you in such a dangerous place," Eldric whispered softly. He gently lifted the baby into his arms. There was something pulsating from the child's body. An alien energy. But Eldric ignored it. He only whispered one thing.
"Be calm, son. You are safe now."
Three years passed.
In a simple village, surrounded by forests and fields, a little child ran with carefree laughter. Kai Yanvey, the name Eldric gave him. He was now three years old. He was known by almost all the villagers. His black hair was always messy, and he laughed merrily every time he chased the chickens in the yard. But Eldric often watched him secretly. When the child slept, sometimes a faint purple shadow appeared, swirling slowly around him, then disappearing.
That afternoon, the sky suddenly clouded over. Not because of rain. But there was something in the air. The wind blew strong and nervous, and at the village gate, a man in black robes appeared. He stood calmly. His eyes, gray like faded crystal, stared straight at little Kai who was playing in the mud.
"His name is Karma, Master Eldric," the man said without preamble. His voice was flat, but there was a warmth and authority that blended together. "This child carries the energy of Chaos. An ancient power that will devour him alive if not controlled. Let him be my student. I will train him before that power destroys him. He is destined to be an extraordinary human."
Eldric bit his lip. His face was stiff. He didn't answer immediately. Five minutes. Ten minutes. He just stood silently staring at the ground. Then finally, he nodded.
The next morning, as the sky began to redden with the dawn light, little Kai walked away from the village. Beside him, the man in black robes walked slowly. And from that day on, his life changed forever.
Years passed.
Kai Yanvey, now known as Blaze, grew into a handsome young man with an aura that was difficult to explain. He understood magic quickly, especially the element of fire. But not ordinary fire. Black-purple fire. Its heat was scorching, its power threatening. His teacher, Master Kael, who gave him the name Blaze because of that power. But strangely, Kael wasn't a magician. He was more like a warrior. He taught Blaze how to fight at close range. About speed, accuracy, and movements that flowed like water. About martial arts. About dodging and attacking without hesitation.
Blaze didn't know who his teacher really was. Kael always looked young, like a man in his mid-twenties. But behind his dark blue eyes, there was wisdom that felt very old. The black robe he wore was adorned with a silver crescent moon on his chest. The symbol of the nobility in the Aetheria kingdom.
That night, the ancient forest was filled with hurried steps. Kael was injured. Blood flowed from his ribs, soaking his clothes. Blaze carried him, trying to escape. Behind them, the Order of Carmesim pursued. More than twenty people. All wearing blood-red robes. Magic ignited in their hands.
"Stop running!" the voice boomed. The fourth prince of Aetheria. His crown gleamed coldly. He threw a blast of red energy at them. A large tree was shattered into pieces.
And suddenly, a silver light streaked from the sky.
Sasha. Former General of the Kingdom. She landed lightly, her crystal sword cleaving the earth, creating a chasm of holy fire between them and the pursuers.
"I'll hold them off!" she shouted. Her green eyes blazed. She glanced at Kael. Her gaze was gentle.
But before they could breathe a sigh of relief
Sruukk
The light sword pierced Kael's body from behind. Straight to the heart.
Golden blood spurted into the air. The sword was pulled back slowly. And Sasha stood behind him, calm. Her white robe was stained with blood, but her smile didn't change.
"My naive lover," she whispered. "Love is just an illusion. The throne of Aetheria is everything."
Blaze screamed. Black-purple fire enveloped his body, raging. But before he could move, Kael's weak hand touched his forehead.
"Don't... let them..." he muttered. A blue circle glowed beneath Blaze's feet.
In the distance, the fourth prince laughed loudly.
"You've lost, Kael."
White light swept through the entire forest. And as everything subsided, Kael's body vanished. No body. No soul. Nothing left.
On the cliff, far from the scene, Blaze fell to his knees. He hugged his sword, which was now cracked, then crumbled into dust. Black-purple fire raged around him, burning the forest. But he didn't even realize it.
Sasha's laughter still echoed. Piercing. Cold.
"I swear," Blaze muttered in a loud voice, "I will burn your throne. I will destroy everything. I will bury Aetheria in a sea of fire and take everything precious to you."