Dawn painted the hills of Ashroad in soft gold, mist curling lazily across the valley. The village was quiet, the usual bustle replaced by the hushed anticipation of departure. Today, Kaelen would leave the only home he had known since the tribe took him in.
He stood at the edge of the cleared path that led beyond Ashroad, the Silver-Gold Coiled Dragon Spear resting against his shoulder. The Origin Brand along his arm pulsed gently, in rhythm with the ember inside him.
Mira approached silently, her hands folded. She did not speak at first, letting the morning air carry the weight of unsaid words. Finally, she placed a hand lightly on Kaelen's arm.
"Carry our teachings with you," she said. "Remember the balance between strength and wisdom, pride and humility. And remember your roots."
Kaelen nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. Words failed him.
Flint, carrying a bulging sack of provisions, broke the quiet.
"Alright, Ashboy," he said, grinning like always. "If we starve out there, it's on you. But hey, at least I'll get to complain properly about the dangers of the wider world. First order of business: don't die."
Kaelen chuckled, hefting the spear. Flint's humor was grounding, a tether to the life and joy he would carry forward.
The villagers gathered one last time, elders, children, and warriors lining the path. Elder Hasrok stepped forward, placing a hand on Kaelen's shoulder.
"Go with the tribe's blessing," he said. "You have proven yourself, but the world will demand more. Walk carefully, but walk boldly."
Kaelen bowed, and for a moment, he allowed himself to take it all in—the valley, the hills, the faces of those who had nurtured him. Memories of his lost village, the laughter, the struggles, the lives he could never reclaim, flared in his mind. They were no longer just memories; they were fuel, guiding him forward.
With Flint at his side, Kaelen took the first step onto the wider Golden Road. The path stretched endlessly before them, winding through forests, across rivers, and into lands that had never felt the touch of Ashroad's people.
The ember inside him flared brighter, a beacon of his resolve. The Golden Road awaited, vast, dangerous, and filled with untold wonders.
Kaelen did not look back.
Behind him, the village of Ashroad stirred awake, unaware of the journey their champion had begun—but forever tied to the boy who carried their legacy.
And ahead, the world waited.