Sudden News

Chapter 6: The Shifting Tides

Elias sat by the fire, holding the newborn child of the Water Lord in his arms. The camp was quiet, save for the crackling of the flames and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. The child, Rani, gazed up at him with her curious, wide blue eyes, her tiny fingers curling around a lock of his hair. Her skin seemed to glow with a faint, ethereal light, as if she were made of the very essence of water.

Alyndra, Fenric, and Liora sat nearby, their expressions somber and uncertain. The events of the day had taken a turn none of them had expected. They had set out to kill an Orc Lord, a mission that was supposed to prove Elias's worth to the guild. Instead, they had stumbled upon a newborn child of the Lord of Water, a being of immense power whose mere presence could change the fate of the realm.

"What do we do now?" Fenric asked, his brow furrowed in concern. "We can't just keep her with us. The Lord of Water will come looking for her."

Liora shook her head. "I'm not so sure," she murmured. "The fact that Rani was left unguarded in the forest… something isn't right. The Lords of the Elements are powerful, yes, but they're also fiercely protective of their own. For a child of the Water Lord to be left alone, something must have happened."

Alyndra nodded, her gaze fixed on the baby in Elias's arms. "We need to find out more. There's too much we don't understand."

Elias listened, his thoughts swirling. He felt a strange connection to Rani, a protective instinct he couldn't quite explain. He had only known her for a few hours, but already he felt responsible for her, as if she were a part of him. He couldn't just abandon her, not after everything he had seen, everything he had felt.

"We need to return to the guild and report this," he said finally. "Maybe Garrick will know what to do. At the very least, he can help us figure out what's going on."

The others nodded in agreement, and they began to prepare for the journey back. They packed their belongings quickly, their movements swift and efficient. They all sensed it—an urgency, a tension in the air that hadn't been there before. The mission to kill the Orc Lord had turned into something much bigger, something far more dangerous.

As they started their trek back through the forest, the baby in Elias's arms began to stir, her tiny face scrunching up in a frown. Elias felt a surge of panic. He had never cared for a child before, much less one that was part of the elemental realms. He rocked her gently, murmuring soothing words, and to his surprise, Rani calmed down, her blue eyes staring up at him with a trust that made his heart ache.

They traveled quickly, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. The forest felt different, darker somehow, as if it knew something had shifted. Elias couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that something or someone was following them.

Hours passed, and just as they were nearing the edge of the forest, they heard the sound of hoofbeats in the distance. Elias tensed, gripping his sword with one hand, Rani held securely in the other.

"Who could that be?" Alyndra whispered, drawing her bow, an arrow nocked and ready.

They waited, breath held, as the sound grew louder. Then, from between the trees, a rider appeared—a young man in dark robes, his face pale and his eyes wide with fear. He rode fast, his horse panting and foaming at the mouth.

As he drew closer, Elias recognized the sigil on the man's robes—the insignia of the Iron Hawk Guild. He relaxed slightly but kept his sword raised.

"Who goes there?" he called out.

The rider pulled his horse to a stop, his eyes darting nervously between the group and the trees around them. "I bring urgent news," he gasped, breathless. "The Lord of Water… the Lord of Water is dead!"

A stunned silence fell over the group. Elias felt his heart skip a beat, his mind racing. "What do you mean, dead?" he demanded. "How is that possible?"

The rider shook his head, his face pale. "I don't know all the details," he replied. "Only that word has spread throughout the realm. The Lord of Water was found slain in his own domain. No one knows who or what is responsible, but the entire elemental balance is in chaos. The rivers are flooding, the seas are raging… it's as if the very waters of the world are mourning."

Liora's eyes widened in horror. "This is bad," she whispered. "Very, very bad. If the Lord of Water is dead, that means… that means the elemental forces are unbalanced. The natural order is falling apart."

Alyndra turned to Elias, her face grave. "And we have his child," she said softly. "The only heir, the only one who could possibly restore that balance."

Elias felt a chill run down his spine. He looked down at the baby in his arms, who seemed oblivious to the turmoil around her, her tiny hand reaching up to touch his face. "We need to get back to the guild," he said firmly. "Now."

They hurried back to the Iron Hawk Guild, their pace quickening with each passing moment. The journey felt longer than it should have, every shadow and sound making Elias's nerves fray. The news of the Water Lord's death hung over them like a dark cloud, and he could feel the weight of the responsibility in his arms with every step.

When they finally reached the gates of the guild, they were met by Garrick, who looked more serious than Elias had ever seen him. "You've heard the news?" he asked, his voice low.

Elias nodded. "We found the Water Lord's child, Rani," he said, holding the baby up for Garrick to see. "She was left alone in the forest. We don't know how or why."

Garrick's eyes widened, and he took a step back. "By the gods," he murmured. "This changes everything."

He turned to the others. "Get inside, all of you. We need to speak, and we need to do it now."

They followed Garrick into the main hall, the air tense with urgency. The guild members gathered around, their faces a mix of confusion, concern, and fear. Garrick wasted no time.

"The death of the Lord of Water is no ordinary event," he began. "It is a sign, a warning. The balance of the elemental forces is in chaos. If we do not find out who or what is responsible, our entire world could be at risk."

He looked directly at Elias, his expression serious. "And you, Elias… you have found the only heir, the only one who can restore that balance. But this puts a target on all of our backs. There will be those who will seek to take her, to use her for their own purposes. We must be prepared."

Elias felt a weight settle on his shoulders, heavier than any burden he had ever borne. He looked down at Rani, who stared back up at him with innocent eyes, and felt a surge of determination.

"What do we do?" he asked, his voice steady.

Garrick smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "We protect her," he said. "We find out who killed the Lord of Water and why. And we make sure that no harm comes to this child. The fate of the realm may depend on it."

Elias nodded, his resolve hardening. He didn't know how or why he had been drawn into this, but he knew one thing: he would do whatever it took to keep Rani safe, to uncover the truth, and to face whatever dangers lay ahead. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt a purpose—one that burned brighter than any sword or battle.

And he would see it through, no matter the cost.