The promise

As Elara walked away toward her friends, Serene—whom Elara lovingly called Grams—stood at the edge of their yard, watching her granddaughter's retreating form with a heavy heart. Her eyes, though focused on the present, saw much further into the past, memories rushing through her mind like a flood. It had been so long, centuries perhaps, but to Serene, it felt like only yesterday when the goddess Luna had entrusted her with the most sacred task of her life—keeping Elara safe.

The day had been somber, the sky bruised with clouds, as Luna appeared before Serene, her ethereal glow dimmed, her body weakened from the immense battle she had fought. The goddess's strength was fading, her once radiant form bearing the weight of exhaustion and sorrow. Veridian, the guardian of knowledge, stood by her side, a look of quiet resolve on his face. Together, they carried a tiny infant, swaddled in soft, glowing cloth. Elara.

Serene could still hear Luna's voice, soft yet burdened by the weight of her grief. "My child has brought peace to the realms, but at a cost too great to bear," the goddess had whispered, her voice trembling with both pride and heartbreak. Elara's sacrifice had ended the battle, sealing away a powerful enemy and saving their world from destruction. But the price was her rebirth—a return to infancy, her memories locked away, her true identity hidden from the world.

"She must be kept safe," Luna had told Serene, placing the sleeping child in her arms. "None must know who she is, especially not him. Her enemies cannot sense her for now, but the day will come when they will search for her again. When that time comes, you must protect her at all costs."

Serene had accepted the task, though fear weighed heavily on her heart. Luna, sensing her worry, had reassured her by blessing her with an unnaturally long life, a gift and a curse tied to the responsibility she had been given. "You will raise her as your own, and she will know only love and safety. But you must keep the truth hidden until the time comes for her to awaken."

Veridian, the silent guardian, had stepped forward, joining his power with Luna's. Together, they had woven a protection over the valley—an ancient enchantment, binding the land to their will. From that moment, the valley itself became their refuge, the temple their sanctuary. The towering mountains, the endless forests, the mist that rolled down from the peaks—all of it was part of the magic that hid Elara's true identity from the world. "This valley will be your shield," Veridian had said. "As long as Elara sleeps, you are safe. But the moment she begins to awaken, so too will the danger return."

Serene remembered the way the majestic temple had risen from the earth, summoned by the combined will of the gods, its stone shimmering with divine energy. It was not just a place of worship—it was a fortress, a symbol of the divine covenant that would protect Elara until the time was right. The carvings on the walls, the statues, and the sacred rituals they performed were all part of the enchantment, keeping watch over the girl who would one day restore balance—or unleash chaos once more.

And now, Serene felt the weight of that day pressing down on her more than ever. Elara had begun to stir. Her dreams, her visions, her connection to the ancient battle—they were all signs that her awakening had begun. The temple's power was still strong, but Serene knew it would not be enough to keep her hidden for long.

She clenched her hands, feeling the weight of Luna's final warning echo in her mind: "When he discovers that she is alive, the hunt will begin again."

The man—him. His face haunted her dreams still, the memory of his dark power and the devastation he had wrought so long ago. Serene had never forgotten the terror of that time, the overwhelming force he had wielded, and the bloodshed he had caused. He had once been close to the gods, a powerful ally, but his ambition had led him down a dark path, and he had sought to claim the ancient power for himself. Elara had stopped him once, sacrificing everything to seal him away, but now Serene feared he would rise again—and this time, he would be stronger, more determined to find what he had lost.

As Serene stood in the yard, watching Elara laugh with her friends, she felt a pang of guilt. How could she keep the truth hidden from her any longer? How could she ask Elara to face such danger without knowing what she truly was?

But for now, she had to wait. She had to stay silent and protect her as best she could. The time would come soon enough for Elara to learn the truth. For now, Serene prayed to Luna and Veridian, hoping they still watched over them from afar, ready to guide and protect the child they had entrusted to her so many years ago.

As Serene turned to enter her home, she paused, a sudden flicker in her peripheral vision catching her attention. She squinted into the sunlight, disbelief tightening in her chest as she thought she saw something—no, someone—standing near the edge of the forest. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, she hesitated, unsure if her eyes were deceiving her. But as the figures stepped closer, there was no mistaking who they were.

Luna and Veridian.

Her heart raced, her mind reeling. The gods had not left the temple since that fateful day centuries ago. If they were here, outside the sanctuary of the valley, it could only mean one thing—something was terribly wrong.

Serene swallowed hard, forcing herself to move, to confront the ancient beings who had once entrusted her with the most important task of her life. As they approached, their divine presence radiated an otherworldly glow. Luna's ethereal form seemed almost translucent, her silver hair flowing like moonlight, while Veridian stood tall, cloaked in shadow and light, his sharp features betraying the weight of knowledge he carried. Their combined aura felt heavy, pressing against Serene's soul, and it took all her strength to stand before them.

Veridian was the first to speak, his deep voice cutting through the quiet of the afternoon like a blade. "The hunt has begun."

Serene felt the words sink into her bones, confirming the very fear she had been harboring since Elara's awakening had started. She had hoped they would have more time, that the safety of the valley's enchantments would hold longer, but now it seemed her hopes had been in vain.

Luna stepped forward, her expression grave yet soft, her eyes filled with sorrow. "We feared this would happen," she said, her voice laced with regret. "He is stronger than we anticipated. The centuries have only fueled his power and his determination. He seeks Elara, and he will stop at nothing to find her."

Serene's throat tightened, the weight of her responsibility bearing down on her like a crushing wave. "Is there no way to stop him?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Is there no more time?"

Veridian shook his head, his gaze solemn. "Time is no longer on our side. He has felt Elara's presence. The moment her dreams began to stir, he sensed her, and now he is moving faster than we expected." He glanced at Luna, his expression darkening. "The protection we wove around the valley will not last much longer."

Luna reached out, placing a hand on Serene's shoulder, her touch cold but comforting. "You must prepare her," she said gently. "Elara has been shielded for too long. The time for secrecy is over. She must know the truth of who she is, what she must do, and the dangers that await her. Only then can she hope to survive what is coming."

Serene's heart clenched, the idea of telling Elara the truth tearing at her. She had raised the girl like her own, sheltered her from the horrors of the past, protected her from the knowledge that would forever change her life. How could she reveal all of that now? How could she burden Elara with the truth when she had barely begun to understand her own identity?

"I fear she isn't ready," Serene admitted, her voice breaking with emotion. "She's still so young. How can I prepare her for something like this? She's just starting to awaken… she doesn't even know who she really is."

Luna's gaze softened, a flicker of empathy passing across her divine features. "None of us are ever truly ready for the paths we must walk," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "But the time has come, Serene. You cannot shield her any longer. The moment she touched the altar, the seal of her past began to break. The memories will return, slowly at first, but they will return." She paused, her eyes gleaming with an unspoken urgency. "You must guide her. Show her what she has forgotten. She is not alone in this battle, but she must know the stakes."

Veridian stepped forward, his gaze piercing. "He is no longer the enemy you faced centuries ago," he warned. "He has spent these long years growing stronger, darker. His ambition knows no bounds, and his hunger for power will destroy everything in his path. He seeks not just Elara, but the power she holds—the power that once defeated him. If he claims her, all the realms will fall."

Serene's knees buckled slightly under the weight of his words, but she forced herself to stand tall. "And if I fail?" she asked, fear lacing her voice.

Veridian's expression turned grim. "You cannot fail."

Luna's hand lingered on Serene's shoulder, her voice now soft, almost pleading. "We will be with you, Serene. We have watched over you and Elara for these many years, and we will not abandon you now. But you must act quickly. He is coming for her."

As Serene nodded, trying to absorb the enormity of what lay ahead, Veridian's gaze darkened further. "There is something else you should know," he said slowly, his voice heavy with foreboding. "He has seen her."

Serene's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"

"In his mind, he has already seen her," Veridian continued. "In the memories of the ancient battle, when the chants were recited to bind his power, something changed this time. He saw her, standing on the battlefield. He recognized her, not as the infant we had hidden, but as she is now." He paused, his eyes locking onto Serene's. "He knows she is alive. He knows she walks among the living once more."

A chill ran down Serene's spine as the gravity of the situation settled in. The hunt had truly begun.

Luna's voice was soft but insistent as she leaned in closer. "Prepare her, Serene. The time for Elara to awaken is upon us."

With that, the gods began to fade, their forms shimmering in the light until they were gone, leaving Serene standing alone in the yard. She felt the weight of centuries on her shoulders as she turned her gaze back to the horizon, where Elara had disappeared moments ago.

The time had come. There was no turning back now.