Cael's world revolved around shepherding, supplemented by the hunting skills Ronan had taught him and the tales gleaned from Master Elian.
His knowledge of the world beyond Oakhaven was limited, shaped by the teachings of SerpentCreed, the sole religion of Erathos. According to its priests and apostles, their kind, the Unclaimed, appeared when the SkyFather descended from the sun, created by the Sun-Serpent to inhabit Erathos and worship the great deity.
For centuries, the SkyFather roamed the land, eventually yearning for companionship. The Sun-Serpent answered his prayers, sending him a woman to be his partner and serve him. They bore three sets of twins, but the SoilMother perished giving birth to the last pair.
The SkyFather raised his children, who eventually mated with each other, giving rise to three distinct bloodlines: the fair and intelligent Thono, the passionate and creative Arotho, and the strong and cunning, yet gullible, Ethana. Harmony reigned until the SkyFather's death, after which the Ethana, their ambitions growing alongside their strength and intelligence, sought to dominate the other bloodlines.
Thus began the first Great War, a bloody conflict that spanned generations. After centuries of fighting, the Ethana withdrew, vanishing behind the two great mountain ranges that stretched across the land.
Rumors spread of their burgeoning civilization and formidable armies, causing fear and desperation among the Thono and Arotho descendants.
"What about the Ashen King?" Theron asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Never heard of him," Cael replied, his curiosity piqued.
"Then let me tell you a fascinating tale..."
Theron spoke of a myth, unknown to most, about a savior who emerged during the two bloodlines' time of need. A skilled warrior, strategist, and scholar.
He was hailed as the Emissary, sent by the Sun-Serpent to vanquish the Ethana and became known as The Ashen King.
Leading his armies south, he marched towards the Ethana's hidden empire, nestled behind the seemingly impassable mountain walls.
The Ashen King saw opportunity where others saw only obstacles. He devised a weapon, the "PaleDeath," and ordered his troops to scale the mountains, carrying barrels filled with the deadly concoction. From the peaks, they unleashed the mist upon the unsuspecting Ethana, its vapors spreading death and despair.
The Ethana perished, their screams echoing through the land as they succumbed to the invisible poison. The king and his men waited, but no survivors emerged from the "AshFell Lands," as the land beyond the mountains became known.
He returned home a hero, worshipped as the Sun-Serpent's personification, ruling until his death many years later.
"What a story!" Cael exclaimed, his eyes turning green with amazement.
"It may not be just a myth," Theron hinted.
"You think it's true?"
"I believe the Ashen King existed," Theron stated, his voice serious. "This is history, even if it's shrouded in inconsistencies. That is why I am here. Scriptures hold the truth, and I believe I can find clues to their location here in Oakhaven. Finding those scripts would be like discovering the most valuable treasure in the world."
"I see," Cael murmured, his eyes turning orange with respect for the old scholar's ambition. "I hope he didn't exist, but I admire your dedication."
"Thank you, young man. Most call me a fool for believing this tale, yet a shepherd boy understands." Theron smiled, but Cael sensed a deeper desire within him, a hunger for something more than mere knowledge.
"Thank you for the story," Cael said, his eyes turning orange with gratitude.
"Are you staying in town long?" Master Elian asked.
"No, I'm meeting Ronan. We have hunting to do."
"I was hoping you'd stay longer," Elian said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "There's someone who wishes to see you again."
Cael knew he was referring to Ilya, and a mix of emotions washed over him, his eyes shifting between blue and orange. "I don't," he replied quickly.
"Speaking of leaving," Theron interjected, "I depart tomorrow. I came to bid you farewell, old friend."
"So soon?" Elian's eyes held sadness. "I wish we had more time, but I understand. You have your quest."
"It was a pleasure seeing you again, old friend," Theron said warmly.
Cael felt it was time to leave. He donned his glasses and hood, bidding the two scholars goodbye. As he headed towards his meeting with Ronan, he noticed Ilya in the distance. His eyes, one blue, the other orange, reflected the conflicting emotions that surged within him. He had been infatuated with her before the incident, but never dared to act on his feelings. He watched her, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure, unaware that she knew he was there.
Ilya, the town's "goddess," was accustomed to men's stares. But Cael's gaze was different, filled with a longing that resonated with her own. She had missed him dearly, the void his absence left in her heart a constant ache. She had sought him out at Master Elian's, hoping to reconnect, but his avoidance only confirmed her fears. Now, as she felt his eyes upon her, joy mingled with trepidation. She yearned to turn back, to hold him close, but fear held her captive.
Unbeknownst to Cael, Ilya's brother, Meike, the Thorne heir, had noticed the exchange. He approached, recognizing Cael by his distinctive glasses. Anger flared within him, and he advanced with two of his lackeys.
"Look who decided to show his face," Meike sneered. "So you're the source of that goat stench I've smelled all day."
"Master Thorne, what do you want?" Cael replied, his eyes burning red beneath his glasses, his fists clenched.
"Since when do you talk back to your master, herd dog?" Meike's face contorted with rage.
"I haven't served anyone in years, and I'm no one's dog," Cael retorted, his anger barely contained despite the fear gnawing at him. He knew Meike had the power to make his life, and his parents' lives, a living hell.
"You dare defy me?" Meike roared, and before Cael could react, a fist connected with his chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. Meike and his lackeys descended upon him, kicking and punching as Cael curled into a ball, enduring the blows. He could have fought back, but Ronan had trained him well, and he knew the consequences of retaliating against the town leader's son.
"Filthy dog!" Meike spat, his breath ragged. "Let's go, his stench is making me sick." He glared at Cael's unmoving form. "And if I ever see you looking at my sister again, I'll kill you and those pathetic old fools who took you in."
Cael remained still, his eyes crimson with suppressed fury. He waited until they were gone before rising to his feet, his body aching but unbroken. Ronan's training had hardened him, making him the second strongest in the land, a fact he was grateful for at that moment.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes returning to black. As he walked towards the eastern entrance, the setting sun cast long shadows, mirroring the darkness that threatened to consume him. He found Ronan asleep under a tree, his hunting gear beside him.
"A lord sleeping under a tree, waiting for a shepherd boy," Cael said, his eyes turning blue with amusement. "You must be crazy."
"This shepherd boy is different," Ronan replied, his eyes locking onto Cael's sky-blue gaze. "He possesses something I desire. Tell me, what is it?"
"I came to talk to you about not going."
"Not this again," Ronan groaned.
"Hear me out." Cael recounted Theron's tale, concluding, "That old man is searching for scriptures, not treasure. We'll find nothing there."
"You're as dim-witted as ever," Ronan scoffed. "Why would he bring mercenaries instead of knights or soldiers? He's lying, hiding his true motives. He seeks something of great value, something he doesn't want others to know about."
"So he lied about everything?" Cael's eyes turned indigo with disappointment. "He's after treasure after all?"
"Yes, my slow-witted friend. And after hearing that story, I want it even more." Ronan's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Cael knew there was no dissuading him. Ronan thrived on risk and intrigue.
"You just want to have fun," Cael said, his eyes turning yellow with a mix of exasperation and understanding.
"And you want to know more, don't you?" Ronan countered.
"I do," Cael admitted. "But I can't forget why I'm here. Winter is coming, and I won't let my family starve."
"Then we have a deal?"
"We do."
"This hunt will be interesting," Ronan said, a predatory grin spreading across his face.
"For you, perhaps," Cael replied. "So, what's the plan?"
"We hunt," Ronan said simply.
As they strategized under the cover of darkness, the anticipation of the hunt thrummed between them. Dawn arrived, and with it, the unsuspecting group of six set off on their journey, unaware that two shadows stalked them, their hunt about to begin.