The day began like any other, with the soft murmur of villagers tending to their chores. Yet, Kael sensed something unusual in the air. Shadows seemed to linger longer than they should, stretching unnaturally across the cobblestones. As he walked past the market, he noticed items subtly shifting positions—a basket of apples slightly closer to the edge, a broom leaning where it had never been before.
Curiosity and unease warred within him. He ventured toward the forest's edge, feeling the pull stronger than ever. The trees whispered in the breeze, leaves rustling in patterns that almost formed words. Kael's pulse quickened as he realized he wasn't alone. A fleeting shape darted between the trunks, vanishing before he could get a clear look.
Returning to the village, he noticed neighbors behaving oddly—glances exchanged in silence, hushed conversations stopping abruptly when he approached. Even the usually calm river seemed restless, its surface rippling without wind. Kael felt a shiver run down his spine. Something was stirring, something beyond the ordinary, calling him toward mysteries he had yet to understand.
That night, as he lay in bed, the wind carried faint, melodic whispers through his window. Names, places, warnings—he couldn't decipher them, but the message was clear: his life was about to change. And for the first time, Kael felt both fear and exhilaration, knowing he was on the threshold of an adventure that would challenge everything he knew about the world.