Kael woke up to the sound of bells.
Not the loud kind that echoed across cities or called priests to prayer—but the small, tired bell hanging outside the orphanage kitchen. It rang every morning, slightly off-beat, like it had forgotten how to be cheerful a long time ago.
The boy lay still for a moment, staring at the wooden ceiling above his bed.
He was small for his age—only five—but his features were already sharp in a quiet, strange way. His hair was dark, almost black, messy from sleep and refusing to lie flat no matter how often Sister Maren tried to tame it. His lashes were long, framing eyes that were deeper than they should've been for a child—dark gray, calm, and oddly thoughtful. Too observant. Too aware.
Not frightening.
Just… different.
Kael Ardyn didn't know his parents. He didn't even know where he came from.
All he knew was the orphanage.
The old stone building sat on the edge of a quiet town, far from the capital and even farther from places where heroes were born. The beds creaked, the floors groaned, and the walls carried the warmth of too many winters survived with too little firewood. Still, to Kael, it was home.
A sudden **BANG BANG BANG** rattled his door.
"Kael! Wake up!" a woman's voice called out. "Breakfast is ready. Come down *now*!"
Kael jolted upright, heart jumping.
"Yes, Sister!" he answered quickly, scrambling out of bed.
Sister Maren was strict—but kind. She wore the white and gray robes of the church, her sleeves always rolled up from work that never seemed to end. She was the closest thing Kael had ever known to family.
He pulled on his simple clothes—brown tunic, worn pants, patched at the knees—then hurried to wash his face in the cold basin. The water stung, but he didn't complain. Today wasn't an ordinary day.
Today was **the day**.
As Kael stepped into the hallway, the orphanage was already alive. Children rushed past him, laughter echoing off stone walls. Some were younger, barely walking. Others were his age—five years old.
The age when magic awakened.
"They say it feels warm!" one boy shouted.
"No, no, other kids said it hurts!" another argued.
"My magic will definitely be fire," a girl declared proudly. "I dreamed about it!"
Kael's fingers curled slightly at his sides.
Magic.
In Eldrya, magic was everything. Even children knew that. Power decided your future—whether you became a mage, a knight, an adventurer, or nothing at all.
Kael had dreamed about it for as long as he could remember.
He wanted to see the world beyond the orphanage walls. To walk forests where monsters roamed. To see dragons with his own eyes. To stand somewhere high and far away and feel like he belonged there.
Magic was the first step.
"You think the priest will let us see light spells?" a boy beside him asked.
"I hope so," Kael replied honestly.
He did.
They reached the dining hall, long wooden tables already filled with bowls of porridge and slices of bread. Sister Maren stood at the front, arms crossed, pretending not to smile as chaos unfolded in front of her.
"Alright, alright," she said, raising her voice. "I know you're excited. I *know* today is important."
The children slowly settled, though their whispers didn't stop.
"But," she continued, eyes sharp, "no magic awakens on an empty stomach. Sit. Eat. Properly."
"Yes, Sister!" the room answered in unison.
Kael took his seat, gripping his spoon.
Across from him, a boy bounced in place, barely touching his food. To Kael's left, a girl clasped her hands together, eyes closed, muttering a prayer to the gods.
Kael didn't pray.
He didn't know who to pray to.
Still, his chest felt tight—not fear, not excitement exactly. Something else. Like standing at the edge of something he couldn't see.
Sister Maren moved between the tables, checking bowls, fixing posture, ruffling hair. When she reached Kael, she paused for a second longer than usual.
"Eat well," she said gently.
Kael nodded. "Yes, Sister."
She smiled then—soft, warm, the kind of smile that made the orphanage feel less cold.
Outside, the morning light filtered through the windows.
And somewhere beyond the walls, a priest was on his way.
Today, magic was meant to awaken.
Kael didn't know it yet—but the world was about to realize something was wrong.
Very wrong.