The morning sun broke through the trees, casting its golden rays across Julius' expansive mansion. A sense of purpose was in the air as Hali, Pege, Finn, Vold, and Alistar gathered in the grand hall, their eyes bright with determination. Their hearts, however, beat with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. It was time for their journey. The weight of the world seemed to hang over them, but they knew that what awaited them at the Iron Sanctum would shape them into warriors capable of confronting the Abyss Walkers.
The grand wooden doors of the mansion creaked open, revealing a magnificent carriage drawn by two powerful steeds. The carriage, an ornate creation, was built for long travels, with its cushioned seats and heavy, iron-clad exterior. Its sleek design spoke of elegance, but its weight suggested the gravity of the task ahead.
"Gather around, children," Julius' voice broke through the quiet murmur of the group, his tone firm but tinged with a paternal warmth. His deep-set eyes swept over each of them, his gaze lingering a little longer on Hali, who stood just behind the others. "We're heading for the Iron Sanctum. This will be the first step toward your training as Royal Knights, and if we're to face the Abyss Walkers and survive, we must be ready for what lies ahead."
The five young nobles, still uncertain of their full potential, nodded in unison. They had already been through so much together, but they understood that this was only the beginning.
"Pege, Finn, Vold, Alistar—Hali," Julius addressed them one by one, his voice low but powerful. "You must learn to balance your power. Shadow magic and light magic are potent forces, but they are fickle. Too much of one, and you risk losing control. Too little, and you are left vulnerable. Your training will focus on harnessing and controlling the Veylara Current, the energy that binds our world. It flows through us, but only the wise can channel it without losing themselves."
"Balance," Hali murmured to himself, as though the word carried new weight in his mind. He felt the dark pulse of Shadow Magic within him, always at the edge of his control, and the thought of finding equilibrium between such opposing forces seemed impossible.
Julius continued, his voice steady, "You must also understand the horrors that we are facing. The Abyss Walkers are not like any enemy we've encountered before. They are a force of annihilation, born from the chaos that lies beyond the fabric of our world. They do not seek power, territory, or gold. They seek only destruction, the erasure of everything. If we do not stand united, they will wipe us out without hesitation."
The words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, the weight of their reality settled on the young group. Each of them had heard the tales of the Abyss Walkers—how they wielded magic so dark and twisted that it could turn the very air around them to poison—but hearing it from Julius, their trusted mentor and father figure, made the danger feel all too real.
"The road ahead will not be easy," Julius said, his voice turning grim. "But Attla, the commander of the Royal Knights, will teach you the skills you need. His methods are harsh, but they are necessary. He will push you to your limits and beyond. Only by embracing that pain and discipline will you have any hope of surviving the horrors to come."
With those final words, Julius motioned for them to board the carriage. Pege and Finn climbed up first, with Vold and Alistar following shortly after. Hali hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding with anticipation. He felt the strange, foreign presence of Ilis within him, guiding him as always, but today, the weight of his decisions seemed heavier than ever. He climbed into the carriage last, sitting next to Julius, who gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
The carriage lurched into motion, and the wheels creaked against the dirt path as they set off toward the Iron Sanctum. The road stretched for miles, winding through forests and rolling hills, with the sound of hooves against the earth creating a rhythmic cadence that both calmed and unsettled them. Outside, the world was bathed in the warm hues of the afternoon sun, but inside the carriage, the atmosphere was thick with tension.
As they journeyed, Julius spoke more of the world they would face, his voice a low rumble that carried the weight of years of battle and loss.
"The Abyss Walkers have lived in the shadows for far too long. We've never truly understood their motives—why they attack when they do, or how they can move through our defenses so easily. They have no mercy, no honor, only a burning need to consume everything in their path. And we, the living, must face them."
Hali could feel a sense of dread seeping into his bones. The thought of facing such an enemy, an enemy that did not care for diplomacy or terms of surrender, was terrifying. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to suppress the waves of fear that threatened to rise within him. But the power within him, Shadow Magic, stirred uneasily in response to his fear, as if it too was drawn to the chaos and destruction Julius spoke of.
"Once we reach the Iron Sanctum, you will train under Attla's command," Julius continued, his words steady, though there was a hint of something darker lurking beneath his tone. "He will teach you the art of combat, of strategy, and of war. But more importantly, he will teach you how to control your magic. Each of you has great potential, but potential means nothing without discipline."
The landscape outside began to shift as they traveled deeper into the mountainous region. The air grew cooler, the trees thinner, and the ground more rugged. Soon, they would be in the heart of the mountain range, where the Iron Sanctum lay nestled within the steep cliffs—a fortress known for its impregnable walls and unyielding warriors.
As they rounded a bend in the road, Julius suddenly tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the sword at his side. "Get ready," he said, his voice low but commanding. "Bandits. They've been known to operate in these mountains. Stay alert."
Before the young nobles could react, a flash of movement erupted from the dense trees lining the road. Figures emerged, clad in dark leather armor, their faces concealed behind masks. They moved with precision, their weapons drawn, and their eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity.
"Stay back," Julius ordered, stepping forward. "I'll handle this."
But Hali felt something stir deep within him. The rush of adrenaline, the quickening of his heart, the fear coursing through his veins—it all felt too familiar. His mind raced, thoughts of the upcoming war mingling with the uncertainty of the present. His instincts told him to fight, but his body felt as though it were being weighed down by an invisible force.
Julius moved with lightning speed, his sword flashing in the fading light as he dispatched one of the bandits with a single strike. The other bandits hesitated, clearly outmatched by his strength and experience, but they were not deterred. They regrouped and launched another attack.
Hali's mind raced as he tried to prepare himself. His fingers tingled with the familiar cold energy of Shadow Magic, but his thoughts were clouded. Fear, anger, confusion—all the emotions he'd been trying to suppress—seemed to rise up from within him.
He tried to focus, to gather the energy and form it into a weapon, but something felt wrong. A wave of dread crashed over him as one of the bandits, a massive figure with a great axe, charged toward him. Hali tried to dodge, but the sheer speed and power of the attack caught him off guard. Time seemed to slow as the axe came down, its edge gleaming with the promise of destruction.
In that moment, a cold shiver ran through Hali's spine. The fear he had long kept hidden surged to the surface, and his mind screamed with the thought of death. I can't die… not here, not now.
His body froze, unable to move, as the axe came closer. His mind screamed, and for a moment, he thought he might lose control entirely. His heart hammered in his chest as the blade loomed ever closer, but then—
A sharp, cutting sound rang out, followed by a thundering impact. The world seemed to freeze in that moment, and Hali was left hanging on the edge of his terror, unable to move as the battle raged around him.