Chapter 1: The Call of the Sea
From the novel: Storms of Destiny
The storm roared like a beast unleashed, its fury shaking the heavens as lightning split the darkened sky. Towering waves crashed violently against the jagged cliffs of the hidden island—a sanctuary long lost to the world. Here, nestled in the shadows of time and secrecy, lay the remnants of the once-revered Clan of ST.
Pol ST Daniel stood at the edge of the rocky shore, the salty wind thrashing against him as if testing his resolve. His cloak billowed wildly, his dark hair tangled in the tempest's grasp. Yet he did not flinch. The chaos of the sea reflected the chaos within—questions that had haunted him since childhood.
Why had the mighty ST Clan fallen into silence, while the EL Clan flourished in power and influence?
"Pol!" came a voice behind him.
He turned slowly. Kaiden ST Theri approached, his weathered face carved by wisdom and sorrow. Despite the storm, his steps were steady, his presence unwavering. In his hands, he carried a scroll—ancient, worn, and bound by a crimson ribbon.
"The time has come," Kaiden said, his voice carried by the wind. "You've always known your name holds a purpose greater than you could imagine. This scroll is the first step toward that truth."
Pol took it carefully. His fingers trembled slightly—not from fear, but anticipation. As he unfastened the ribbon, the parchment unfurled with a rustle like distant thunder. Strange symbols, etched in an ancient language, shimmered briefly in the flashes of lightning. He couldn't read them, yet they stirred something in his blood.
Kaiden stepped closer. "This is the map to the first of the Nine Wriths," he said solemnly. "The Writh of Truth. It's real, Pol. And it holds the answers you seek. More than that, it holds the power to restore our clan to its rightful place."
Pol's breath caught. The Wriths—long dismissed as legends—were real.
"And the EL Clan?" he asked.
Kaiden's expression darkened. "They've formed a shadow organization—the Order of Eclipsia. Their leader, Zephyr EL Veyrion, will not let the Wriths fall into any hands but his own. If he learns of your journey, he'll hunt you down. He'll destroy you."
Pol gritted his teeth, his hand tightening around the scroll. "Then I'll need allies."
"You won't walk alone," Kaiden said softly. "I'll guide you as far as I can. And in time, others will join you. But the path forward is yours to carve."
The storm began to recede, the wind fading into a gentle howl. The sea calmed, as though granting its blessing to the one brave enough to face its depths.
Pol gazed out at the endless horizon. For the first time in his life, the unknown didn't terrify him. It called to him.
"I'll find the Wriths," he whispered. "I'll uncover the truth. I'll reclaim what was stolen from us."
As he turned from the cliffs, determination burned in his eyes like fire beneath storm clouds.
The voyage had begun.