The Sage's Revelation

Steven travelled north for five days, the path to Fertia winding through dense forests and across rugged hills. Each night, he made camp under the stars, his thoughts heavy with the burden of his mission and the recent battle at Falcon's Roost. He could still hear the sinister voice of Lord Shade promising their next encounter, and it made his resolve even stronger.

On the fifth day, he finally reached Fertia. The village was small, a cluster of humble cottages surrounded by fields and meadows. It was a peaceful place, almost untouched by the chaos of the outside world. Steven walked through the village, his eyes scanning for any sign of what he was meant to do here.

As he stood in the center of the village, confusion gnawing at him, an old-looking man with white, mysterious eyes appeared seemingly out of nowhere. His presence was imposing, and his gaze seemed to pierce through Steven.

"You are here, Chained Sufferer," the old man said, his voice deep and resonant. "Follow me."

Intrigued and somewhat unsettled, Steven followed the man to a small shack at the edge of the village. Inside, the air was warm and inviting, the scent of herbs and spices filling the room. The man handed Steven a cup of hot water, which he accepted gratefully.

"My name is Xalith," the man began, his eyes never leaving Steven's. "I am an immortal, and I have lived threefold your master's age. I have seen many things and know many truths."

Steven listened intently as Xalith began to tell a tale that seemed as old as time itself.

"The Ancient One, the God of Gods, created blood—the key to all life forms, even the gods themselves. This power was bestowed upon 14 gods, but 7 of them betrayed him in their greed for power. These traitors escaped to the mortal realm, where the other gods could not follow, and they became subjects of the demons. To protect the humans, the Ancient One gave them powers, and now you, Steven, are a vassal of the Ancient One."

Steven's eyes widened at this revelation. "What must I do?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.

"You must kill the Ville lords," Xalith said. "But to defeat the Supreme Lord, you will need others. Things are moving faster than expected, and it is your destiny to meet with them. But first, you must save Falcon's Roost, which will soon be raided by Shade."

Steven felt a cold chill run down his spine. "Shade is coming to Falcon's Roost?"

"Yes," Xalith confirmed. "And you must be there to defend it. The lives of many depend on you."

The weight of Xalith's words settled heavily on Steven's shoulders. He knew what he had to do. Rising from his seat, he thanked the sage.

"I will not fail," Steven promised.

Xalith nodded, his eyes filled with wisdom and a hint of sadness. "May the Ancient One guide your path."

Steven left the shack, his mind racing with the information Xalith had imparted. As he made his way back to Falcon's Roost, his determination solidified. He would gather his strength, find the others destined to fight alongside him, and put an end to the Ville lords once and for all.