The woman looked at the unconscious Kael, then turned toward the crowd and began to speak.
"The first family to become the House of Light was called Vahanastra. It was founded when the gods chose to send part of their power into the world to fight against the growing darkness. Many warriors and soldiers were born in that bloodline. They were trained from birth to fight against demons and anything corrupted by the dark. They succeeded for a long time. The darkness was pushed back again and again."
She paused, glancing at the red moon still hanging above.
"But power brings pride. And pride brings division. Some in the world began to resent the House of Vahanastra. Even within the house itself, jealousy took root. The head of the family at that time—Revantar—was powerful, respected, and had fought in many wars. But not everyone appreciated him. Some thought he had too much influence. Others just hated the way people looked up to him."
Her voice turned cold.
"During one battle, Revantar was killed. He was stabbed in the back. No one knew if it was done by an enemy or by someone from his own house. After his death, everything changed. He left behind a wife and a son—Kael."
People started whispering among themselves. She continued without reacting.
"After Revantar's death, his wife and son were no longer respected. They were treated like servants—worse than servants. No one helped them. Not even the maids. Kael's mother was beaten regularly. Harassed. She couldn't defend herself, because she knew if she did, they would hurt Kael. So she stayed quiet and endured everything, thinking it would protect her son. But she didn't know Kael was also being beaten and starved. They lived in the same house but suffered separately."
She looked at the ground, her tone flatter now.
"One morning, chaos erupted. Kael woke and didn't see his mother. Hearing screams from the yard, he ran toward the noise. One man held her by the hair while the others struck her. Kael ran to her—small, desperate—and threw his arms around her, trying to shield her. But they didn't stop." His mother wrapped herself around him to shield him. Then someone picked up a wooden table and slammed it down on her."
Her voice stayed steady, but her words hit hard.
"Blood came from her head, but she still smiled at Kael. She didn't want him to be afraid. She died holding him, smiling, trying to comfort him even in her last moment. After she stopped breathing, they checked and confirmed she was dead. Kael screamed. They dragged him away from her body, and he cried out for her over and over again."
She looked up.
"The new head of the house—Revantar's younger brother—saw it. He looked at Kael and his dead mother, then turned away like he didn't care. They threw her body in the forest. No proper burial. Nothing."
Daran clenched his jaw. Several others looked down.
"Kael was locked in a dark room after that. They gave him spoiled food and ignored him. He was forgotten. Years passed. Then, one day, a major meeting was planned at the estate. Important guests were coming. They cleaned the house. When someone opened the door to Kael's room, they found him lying on the floor, barely breathing."
She looked at Kael again.
"They thought he was going to die, so they tossed him into the animal cave—the place where dead beasts were dumped. They didn't care. They thought that was the end of him. But they forgot something important."
She stood up.
"But they forgot something. When a candle burns to spread light, the one place left in darkness… is beneath it.
And high above, beneath the red eye of the gods, the spiral began again.
Not in mercy.
In reckoning."
The clearing was silent. Everyone stared at Kael, but with new thoughts in their minds. No one spoke.
They were no longer just looking at a dangerous man. They were looking at someone who had survived what no one should have.
And they all knew—something far bigger had just begun.