Morning dawned softly on Verdant Glade. The sunlight peeked through the towering silverwood groves, painting the village a spectrum of green and gold. The air was filled with the chirping of birds and the soft hum of magic contained within the forest itself.
Yuehan awoke to the smell of dew-drenched leaves and the quiet footsteps of Lira outside her room. Her chest still pounded from the revelations of the previous night, and the spikes on her skin twitched slightly—as if reminding her that nothing about her was ordinary.
"Get ready," Lira whispered, opening the door. "The Council is meeting. They want to see what you can do."
"Do you see what I can do?" Yuehan asked, her voice hoarse. "I can barely walk."
"Then you'd better learn soon," he said, his eyes softening. "You're not just a lost prince. You're... a force they can't ignore."
Yuehan swallowed. He followed her along winding paths, bridges made of living vines and houses hanging from branches. Every elf they passed watched him, some with curiosity, others with suspicion. Even from above, the forest itself seemed to draw closer, listening.
The Council Chamber
The chamber was a circular clearing around a massive silverwood tree, its bark carved with glowing runes. Six elders formed a semicircle, their eyes fixed on Yuehan. Lira stood protectively beside him.
"Prince Yuehan," Elder Eilis began, her voice calm but firm, "you will now undergo the Trials of the Forest. They are designed to measure your connection to the light of the Guardians, your control over magic, and your ability to survive the dangers that will inevitably follow your destiny."
The other elders nodded solemnly. One of them, a stern warrior named Kaelen, stepped forward. "The forest itself will challenge you. Any weakness will be exposed. The trials are not gentle, and failure is… unforgivable."
Yuehan's heart beat faster. "I don't know if I can do this," he admitted.
Lira placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to. You will do this with the forest. Trust it. And trust yourself."
The Trial Begins
A glowing platform of silverwood branches lifted Yuehan from the ground. He felt the air swirl around him as he stepped on it. The runes beneath his feet glowed with a pale green light.
Elder Eilis raised her staff, and suddenly, the forest changed shape. The shadows lengthened unnaturally. Dark creatures—shapes with skeletal faces and glowing red eyes—emerged from the mushrooms. They hissed, teeth bared, but did not attack directly.
"You must face them," Eilis's voice echoed. "Control the light within you, or you will be consumed."
Yuehan's hands trembled. His mind screamed. The creatures surged forward. His instincts—not yet trained—responded. Light shot from his chest, bursting outward like a beating heart. The nearest shadow screamed, turning into a black mist.
The other creatures backed away, then charged. With each thrust Yuehan focused, light poured from his body, striking them—but he was exhausted from the effort. Sweat and blood mixed as he stumbled, struggling to control himself.
From the side, Lira shouted, "Focus on your heartbeat! The peak! Let it guide you!"
Yuehan did so. Slowly, the chaos began to follow him. Light radiated from the peak, forming shields, beams, and arcs of energy. He felt the forest pulse in sync with his own heartbeat. The creatures were defeated—or at least pushed back.
The Afternath
The forest returned to silence. The leaves rustled softly; the sweet, clean air reeked. Yuehan fell to his knees, exhausted, his chest pounding.
Lira was immediately at his side. "You're alive," she said, relief evident in her voice. "That's what matters."
Elder Kaelen stepped forward, eyes wide but thoughtful. "Your control is... unstable, but the potential is vast. We've never seen the light of the Guardians awaken in someone your age."
Another elder, who had questioned Yuehan's presence the night before, spoke hesitantly. "Perhaps... perhaps the child is the true heir. Perhaps the prophecy... is true."
Elder Eilis nodded. "Yes. But if he doesn't overcome it, the Abyssal Dominion will tear him apart. And with him, they could swallow the Glade itself."
Yuehan felt a cold fear wash over him. "I... I don't know if I can," he admitted.
"You have no choice," Lira said firmly. "And you're not alone."
The elders exchanged glances. Some were convinced, some wary, and some downright afraid. The council dispersed, but one truth was undeniable: Yuehan's awakening had changed the balance of the Glade, and the forest—and the world—would never be the same.
As the sun rose, peeling gold and silver from the canopy, Elder Eilis whispered to Lira, her voice low and urgent:
"This is only the beginning. The Abyssal Dominion is on the move, and they know the child is alive. Soon, they will come for him. Prepare for war."
Lira's jaw clenched. She looked at Yuehan, still kneeling, the emblem glowing faintly on his chest.
"Then we will fight," she said softly.
And Yuehan, despite his weariness and fear, nodded. He would fight. Not just for himself, but for the kingdom he didn't even remember—and for those who might still believe in him.
The forest pulsed around them, alive and watchful, as if it knew the war was about to begin.