The forest seemed more alive than ever around Castian, but not in a good way. His body ached with unbearable pain; each step was a struggle not to succumb to exhaustion. The Celestial Pearl in his backpack felt heavier than it should, as if it had a will of its own, forcing Castian to keep moving, even when all he wanted was to collapse on the ground covered with leaves. He could feel its subtle pulse, like a heart beating in unison with his own, but in an unsettling way.
When the outline of a rectangular structure appeared through the vegetation, Castian blinked, uncertain if he was imagining things. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and approached cautiously. The moss-covered wooden walls and the battered roof revealed a cabin that seemed forgotten by time. He circled the place, on alert for any signs of danger. There were no fresh footprints, no signs of recent use. Only silence, deep and impenetrable.
With a hesitant hand, he pushed the door open. The loud creak made him recoil instinctively, but the interior revealed nothing but dust and abandonment. Castian entered, his eyes scanning the space. It was simple, almost austere: a wooden table, a fallen chair, a rusted stove. He sighed in relief but remained on alert. The forest was treacherous, and this temporary refuge could become a trap.
"Finally... a little peace," he murmured to himself, though he knew peace was just a temporary illusion.
After placing his backpack on the table, Castian collapsed into the chair. The wood creaked under his weight, but he was too exhausted to care. His hands were scraped, his legs marked with cuts and bruises, and a deep gash on his left arm throbbed with constant pain. He needed to tend to it before an infection weakened him even further.
He placed a hand to his sweaty forehead, taking a deep breath. His father's words echoed in his mind like a whisper he couldn’t ignore: "You are young, strong, and... special."
"Special how, father?" he muttered bitterly. "If I were special, none of this would be happening."
The anger in his voice surprised him. Not against his father, but against himself. He had always thought of himself as just another one of the young people in the village, a hunter or perhaps a farmer. He never saw himself as someone who could carry such a great destiny. Now, the Celestial Pearl was with him, and he couldn’t ignore that there might be something within him that he had never noticed before.
After searching the cabin, he found a small wooden chest in a corner. Inside were some useful items: a piece of clean cloth, a nearly full bottle of water, and a small but sharp knife. He used the water to clean his wounds, gritting his teeth at the sting. The cloth was torn into strips to serve as makeshift bandages. As he tended to his cuts, his mind wandered back to the village. Were his parents still alive? Or had Feng carried out his threat?
He shook his head, trying to push the thought away. He couldn’t afford to lose focus. The Pearl needed to be protected, and as long as it was with him, there was still hope for his village and his people.
With his wounds treated and exhaustion taking over his body, Castian found an old, moldy mattress in the corner of the cabin. It wasn’t comfortable, but anything was better than the forest floor. He lay down, adjusting his backpack by his side, ensuring the Pearl was secure.
For a few minutes, he tried to close his eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. His mind was filled with images: the flames devouring the village houses, the screams of his mother calling for him, Feng's stern gaze when he saw him escape with the Pearl. The weight of the memories made his chest tighten.
"You are not alone."
Castian sat up, startled. He looked around the cabin but saw no one.
"What was that this time?" he asked, his voice tense.
Silence answered, but a presence began to form in his mind, a strange feeling that something or someone was trying to speak to him.
"You are stronger than you think, Castian."
"Stop it!" he exclaimed, gripping the knife tightly. "I'm not strong! If I were, none of this would have happened."
"No, you’re not, Castian…"
The young man hesitated. The idea of something inhabiting his mind terrified him, but there was a familiarity in the voice that he couldn’t ignore.
"What do you want from me?"
"Nothing. Just for you to fulfill what has been predestined. You carry the Celestial Pearl, but you also carry a power that you do not yet understand. This is your chance to discover who you really are."
Castian ran a hand over his face, trying to process it all.
"What if I don’t want to? What if I just want to be... normal?"
"Normality is not an option for you, Castian. You were chosen. Not by chance, but because of who you are. Now, it’s up to you to accept it or run away."
The anger returned.
"Chosen? I never asked for this! My people are suffering, my family might be dead, and you talk like I have a choice!"
The presence was silent for a moment before responding, softer:
"I understand your pain. But running from the truth won’t change what you need to do. Your destiny is tied to the balance of the world. The Pearl is just the beginning."
Before Castian could respond, a strange sound echoed through the cabin. He tensed, holding the knife tightly. It seemed to come from beneath the floor. He stood slowly, his eyes searching for the source of the sound until he found loose floorboards.
Carefully, he pulled up the boards, revealing a trapdoor. Inside, a wooden box decorated with ancient symbols awaited him. He removed it and placed it on the table, opening it cautiously. Inside, he found an aged scroll and a dagger that seemed to radiate a glow similar to the Pearl.
The presence in his mind returned.
"You found what you needed. This was waiting for you."
Castian unrolled the scroll, but he didn’t recognize the language written there. However, one word stood out among the symbols: Balance.
"What does this mean?" he asked, waiting for an answer.
"It means you have a greater role than you realize. Use the scroll and the dagger. They will guide your path."
Castian took the dagger, feeling the energy pulse in his hand, similar to the Pearl’s. It was light but powerful.
He sighed, looking at the dawn light beginning to filter through the trees.
"Maybe I don’t understand everything now... but I’ll keep going. For them."
The presence fell silent, but Castian felt something different: he was no longer alone. He had a purpose.
With the scroll and dagger safely stored, he took the Pearl in his hands, staring at it as the first ray of sunlight pierced the trees.
"I won’t let you down," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.