Night has settled over Eldoria now, like a shroud, with the air cool and the village lanterns flickering softly. Kael sat outside his home, polishing his training sword and letting the familiar motions wash over his mind.
It had been a good day, indeed: training with Thalor, helping Lyra with healing, teasing Erynn about her Tower obsession. Just another ordinary day in the life of Kael.
But as he looked up toward the heavens, it all felt horrendously wrong.
He furrowed his brow and stood. The stars were twinkling, scattered like diamonds over the emptiness; but in the very midst of it all... well, hell, something was different.
A **rift**.
It was a dark, throbbing distortion. A swirl of magic not the ordinary billowing like used to drift from their divine mountains, nor even a mere cloud. This was **unnatural**-a twisting anomaly, like a wound in the heavens.
Kael's blood began racing.
*"What the hell is that?"*
A gust of wind tore through the village, shaking the lanterns, causing the flames to wave like frightened people's hands.
*"Kael!"*
Erynn came running up to him, her eyes wide and fearful. *"Did you see that? The sky-it's...*wrong!*"*
Thalor stepped out of their house, his face grave. Lyra followedstep, her expression white as she stared looking up.
*"Something is coming,"* she murmured.
*"We need to warn the village,"* Thalor said. *"Get everyone inside."*
The villagers had already begun gathering: whispers grew, panic spread. Some were pointing toward the sky; others rushed inside locks doors, secured windows.
Kael clenched his fists. The gods never **interfered** directly, not like this; they ruled and dictated, but never descended from their heavenly thrones.
So why, then, did it feel like something was **watching**?
*"We stay together,"* said Thalor sternly. *"Whatever comes-we face it together."*
Kael met his father's gaze and nodded. But in his inner self something told him that **this was just the beginning**.