The darkness of the early morning was interrupted by the orange glow of flames consuming the outskirts of Liang village. The sky, once speckled with stars, was now shrouded by a thick cloud of smoke and ash. The smell of burning wood and chaos filled the air. Each burst of fire roared like a ravenous beast, advancing relentlessly on what had once been a tranquil refuge.
Castian woke with a start, the villagers' cries echoing through the streets. The sound of improvised alarms and hurried footsteps invaded his mind as he jumped out of bed. Opening his bedroom window, the sight before him made his heart race. The outermost houses of the village were ablaze, their structures collapsing as if made of paper. The flames painted the horizon red and gold, a harbinger of imminent destruction.
Frenzied knocks at the front door interrupted his thoughts. Joren's desperate voice rang out:"Castian! They're here! Feng's forces have arrived!"
Castian wasted no time. He dressed quickly, grabbed his old sword—the only weapon he had at hand—and rushed outside. Opening the door, he found Joren and other young warriors of the village running toward the barricades. Chaos had already taken over.
Children were crying, clinging to their mothers' arms. Men and women armed with improvised spears and bows tried to organize some kind of resistance, but fear was evident on their faces. Villagers ran in all directions, some carrying buckets of water to try to douse the flames, others fleeing desperately from the destruction.
The sky was covered by a spiral of smoke dancing to the rhythm of the flames. In the distance, Castian could see the silhouette of enemy forces moving through the forest, their armor gleaming in the firelight. There were many of them, marching like a dark wave toward the village.
"We need to help on the front line," Castian said, his voice firm despite the fear coursing through him.
Joren shook his head, his face pale with apprehension."They're too many, Castian. And they have weapons we've never seen before. This isn't a battle—it's a massacre!"
Before Castian could respond, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. Turning, he met his father Cheng's grave gaze. There was something in his eyes Castian had never seen before: a mix of despair and determination."Come with me," Cheng said, his voice low but laden with urgency.
Castian hesitated. He wanted to fight, to protect the village, but his father's look made him realize there was something more at stake. Reluctantly, he followed Cheng inside the house.
Entering, he saw his mother, Mei, kneeling on the floor, packing provisions into a small leather bag. Her face was wet with tears, but her hands moved with determination."What’s going on?" Castian asked, his voice brimming with unease.
Cheng closed the door behind them and approached, gripping his son’s shoulders tightly."The village is lost, Castian," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "We don't have the strength to fight them. Feng hasn't come just to destroy; he’s come for the Pearl."
His father’s words hit Castian like a blow. He knew the situation was dire, but hearing this made it all the more real."Then we fight!" Castian replied, his voice raised and full of indignation. "We can’t just give up. We can’t run away!"
Cheng shook his head, his gaze hardening."You don’t understand, son. They won’t stop until they get what they want. And if the Pearl falls into Feng’s hands, it won’t just be our village—it will be the end of all the surrounding lands."
Castian looked at his mother, who met his gaze with tear-filled eyes. He knew what his parents were asking but didn’t want to believe it."You want me to run?" he asked, incredulous. "To abandon you?"
"It’s not abandonment," Cheng said, his voice firm but emotional. "It’s the only way to protect the Pearl. You’re young, strong, and… special. We know there’s something inside you, something that makes you different. You can take it far away, to a place Feng will never find."
"And what happens to you? To the village?" Castian shouted, anger and despair boiling within him.
Mei approached, placing her hands on her son’s face."We’ll do what we can to resist," she said softly, her eyes locked with his. "But you have to survive. You have to fulfill your destiny."
Cheng pulled the Pearl from a small leather pouch at his waist and placed it in Castian’s hands. The artifact glowed softly, emanating a warm and pulsating energy. Castian felt the weight of the world in his hands, both literally and figuratively.
"Take it to the mountains," Cheng instructed firmly. "There are ancient caves where you can hide it. And when the time is right, you’ll know what to do."
Castian looked at the Pearl, its light reflecting in his eyes. He felt its energy pulse, as though it were alive."I can’t leave you..." he murmured, his voice faltering.
"You can," Cheng replied, gripping Castian’s shoulder firmly. "And you will. Because if you stay, Feng wins."
Outside, the sounds of explosions and screams grew louder. Castian knew time was running out. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at his parents."I’ll come back for you," he promised, clutching the Pearl tightly.
Mei hugged him briefly, her tears soaking his shoulder. Cheng placed a firm hand on his shoulder, squeezing it one last time."Go. Now."
Castian exited through the back door, his heart heavy and his mind in turmoil. He ran through the dark streets, dodging panicked villagers and avoiding enemy guards who had already infiltrated parts of the village. Flames consumed the houses around him, and the smell of destruction filled the air.
When he reached the edge of the forest, he stopped for a moment to look back. The village was ablaze, the sky lit by an intense red glow. He saw figures running, fighting, trying to save what they could. His heart ached as he realized he was leaving everything behind."I’ll come back," he whispered to himself before disappearing into the trees.
As he ran toward the mountains, the sounds of battle echoed behind him. Castian knew he was carrying the fate of his village—and perhaps the entire realm—in his hands. Though fear consumed him, a spark of determination burned in his heart. He wouldn’t let his parents’ sacrifice be in vain.