Chapter 5: The Oracle’s Warning

The village was in chaos when Sera and Kael arrived. Smoke rose from a cluster of burning homes, and villagers ran in all directions, some screaming, others frantically searching for loved ones. A group of armed men—mercenaries, judging by their mismatched armor—had stormed the marketplace, ransacking stalls and threatening anyone who got in their way.

Kael's silver eyes hardened. He drew his sword in a fluid motion, the blade catching the sunlight as though it burned with an inner fire. "Stay behind me," he said, his voice low and commanding.

Sera ignored him. Instead, she knelt beside an injured woman lying near one of the stalls. A deep gash ran along the woman's arm, and her breathing was shallow. Sera's hands moved quickly, pulling out herbs and salves from her satchel. "You'll be fine," she whispered, though her own voice trembled.

One of the mercenaries spotted her and strode toward her with a sneer. "What do we have here? A little healer playing hero?" He raised his blade, but before he could strike, Kael was there. His sword met the man's with a loud clang, and within moments, the mercenary was on the ground, unconscious.

"I told you to stay behind me," Kael growled, pulling her to her feet.

"And I told you I'm not helpless," she shot back, glaring at him.

Before either of them could say more, a commanding voice cut through the chaos. "Enough!"

The mercenaries froze, and all eyes turned to the edge of the square, where a woman draped in flowing crimson robes stood. Her hood was pulled back, revealing striking features and piercing amber eyes. Sera recognized her instantly—this was the woman from her dreams.

"Mara," Kael said, his grip tightening on his sword.

The woman smiled faintly. "Kaelion. Still as stubborn as ever, I see." Her gaze shifted to Sera, and her smile faded. "And you… Seraphina. Or should I call you Sera now? It's been a long time."

Sera felt a chill run down her spine. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

"I am Mara," the woman said, stepping closer. The mercenaries parted to let her pass, their expressions wary. "I have been watching over you for lifetimes, though you may not remember me. I am the oracle who guided your mother in the days of her reign, and I have come to warn you."

Kael stepped in front of Sera, his sword raised. "If you've come to warn us, why send mercenaries to terrorize a village?"

Mara sighed. "These men are desperate fools, nothing

more than pawns in a much larger game. I did not send them, Kaelion, but I knew their arrival would draw you both here. Time is not on your side, and you must listen to me."

Kael's grip on his sword didn't relax, but Sera stepped around him, her curiosity overpowering her fear. "If you're here to help, then speak plainly. What are you warning us about?"

Mara's amber eyes softened, though her expression remained grave. "The curse that binds you both is far from broken. It was wrought by powerful hands, and those hands have not been idle in your absence. The Shadow King has risen again, and his forces are moving. If he finds you before you are ready, everything will be lost—your lives, this land, and all the futures tied to your souls."

Sera felt as though the ground beneath her feet had shifted. "The Shadow King… the man from my dreams?"

Mara nodded. "He is more than a man. He is the one who cursed Kaelion and destroyed your kingdom centuries ago. He seeks your power, Seraphina, for it was your light that once defeated him."

Kael took a step forward, his voice cold. "Why should we trust you? You speak of warnings, but where were you when Sera died in my arms? Where were you when our kingdom fell?"

Mara didn't flinch under his words. "I grieve for what was lost, Kaelion, but I am not your enemy. I could not interfere then, just as I cannot fight this battle for you now. My role is to guide, not to act. If you doubt me, then listen to your own memories. The answers lie within you both."

Sera glanced at Kael, whose jaw tightened. Despite his mistrust, there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. She turned back to Mara. "What do we need to do?"

The oracle smiled faintly. "You must awaken your powers, Seraphina. They have been dormant for too long, buried beneath the veil of this new life. Kaelion, your duty is to protect her and help her remember who she truly is. Together, you must seek the Sanctum of Stars. It is there that the final piece of your bond will be restored, and only then can you face the Shadow King."

"The Sanctum of Stars?" Sera asked, frowning. "Where is it?"

Mara's gaze darkened. "It lies deep within the Forbidden Peaks, where time and reality bend to the will of the ancients. The journey will not be easy, and dangers will follow you every step of the way. But if you fail to reach it before the Shadow King finds you…" She let the sentence hang, the weight of her warning clear.

Kael sheathed his sword, his expression set with grim determination. "We'll make it. We have to."

Mara stepped closer to Sera, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You are stronger than you know, child. Trust in yourself, and trust in him." She glanced at Kael before stepping back. "I can only help you so much from here. The rest is up to you."

As Mara turned to leave, the villagers began to stir, shaken but unharmed. The mercenaries followed their leader, casting wary glances at Kael and Sera.

"What now?" Sera asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Kael looked at her, his silver eyes steady. "Now, we prepare. The journey to the Forbidden Peaks won't wait for us, and neither will the Shadow King."

And with that, the first steps toward their destiny were set in motion.

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TO BE CONTINUE....