In an old house stood two people —
an old man who looked frail and tired, and a young woman who seemed to be in her early twenties.
The old man said softly,
"At midnight, you will turn twenty-five, Elara. The locket's true power will awaken — and from that moment, it will be bound to you. Use its magic wisely, and protect it from those driven by greed."
Elara listened quietly, her gaze fixed on the glowing locket in her palm filled with deep emotions.
"Why do you trust me so much?" she whispered. "I couldn't even save my brother. I failed him."
The old man — her mentor, Master Ardin — shook his head. as his eyes softened
"You were a child, Elara. You did all you could. You weren't a healer then, nor a sorceress. By the time you arrived, his time had already passed. But now… you are stronger. A great mage. Stop mourning for him — his spirit would not wish to see you chained by grief."
Elara took a deep breath trying to calm herself as she nodded slowly.
"You're right. I promise — I will protect it."
The clock struck midnight.
The locket shimmered, its light swirling around her like liquid gold.
"The power is yours now," Ardin said softly. "The bond has begun."
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the house.
Ardin turned sharply — dozens of men in dark cloaks appeared at the doorway, their faces twisted with malice.
Before Elara could react, a young man burst into the room — Cale — his magical sword drawn.
"Master, I'll get her out of here!" he shouted.
He grabbed Elara's hand, pulling her toward the back door despite her protests.
"You can't use the locket's magic yet!" Ardin called. "Your soul hasn't accepted it fully. If you try, it will destroy you!"
Cale dragged her into the forest as spells exploded behind them. Elara's eyes burned with fury.
"We can't leave him! He's too weak — he won't survive!"
"He told us to go!" Cale said. "You heard him — I have to protect you and the locket. You're the chosen heir!"
As they ran, Elara whispered,
"He told me not to use its power… but he didn't say I couldn't use other methods."
She threw a small vial of venom she had brewed herself. It shattered among their pursuers, and screams followed as the poison cloud spread.
After a long chase, they stopped deep in the woods. Elara ripped her hand from Cale's grasp.
"How could you leave him? he helped us so much. He taught us everything — healing, magic, survival! He gave us a life!"
Cale's face hardened.
"If we had stayed, we'd both be dead. The locket ties to your life now — if you die, the world loses its last defense."
Before she could respond, a voice cried out behind them — trembling, pained.
"Elara… don't go with him!"
It was her friend, Mira, stumbling from the shadows — her dress stained with blood
"Cale isn't who you think he is," she gasped. "He poisoned Master Ardin — two days ago. I saw him do it."
"She's lying," Cale hissed. "She's lost her mind!"
"No," Mira whispered. "I have proof. Come with me, Elara. Please."
Elara hesitated — just long enough for Cale's mask to crack. His hand tightened around the handle of a glowing dagger.
Before she could move, he stabbed it into her side.
She looked at him in disbelief — the boy she had trusted her whole life, her closest friend, now a stranger with blood on his hands.
"You shouldn't have hesitated," he said coldly.
The world went silent.
And the locket pulsed once — as if it remembered.