The Hidden prophecy

The flickering lamp cast long shadows on the stone walls, illuminating the forgotten remnants of Delia's past. Leo traced his fingers over the golden crest on an ancient shield, feeling the weight of history pressing down on him. His mother's words still echoed in his mind—truth was dangerous. And yet, he craved it.

Mara reached for a leather-bound tome resting on a wooden shelf. The cover was adorned with a symbol Leo had never seen before—an eclipse-like mark, encircled by jagged runes.

"This," she said, placing it carefully on the stone table, "is the Chronicle of the Forgotten God."

Leo frowned. "The Forgotten God?"

Mara nodded. "Before the Kinks, before their rule erased our faith, the people of Delia worshipped a god of war and redemption. His name is lost to time, but his priests foretold a prophecy—one the Kinks tried to bury."

She flipped the book open to a brittle page. The script was written in an ancient tongue, but beside it, someone had carefully translated the words:

"When the moon weeps red in the endless night, a son shall rise from the dust of the fallen. He shall bear the fire of the old world in his veins, and his wrath shall break the chains of the oppressed. The lion's roar will shake the heavens, and the forgotten will remember."

Leo's breath caught in his throat. "What does it mean?"

Mara hesitated before answering. "The priests of old believed that a child born under the blood moon—one whose heart burns with vengeance—would be the one to liberate Delia."

Leo's skin prickled. "A child born under the blood moon…" His voice trailed off as realization dawned on him. "Mother… I was born on the night of the blood moon."

Mara closed her eyes, as if bracing herself for what she had always known. "Yes, Leo. That is why I kept this from you. It is why I feared what you would become."

His heart pounded like a war drum. This was no longer just about vengeance—this was fate. The chains of oppression weren't just something he despised; they were something he was meant to break.

Leo straightened, his resolve hardening like steel. "If this prophecy is true, then I have no choice. I cannot ignore what I am meant to do."

Mara placed a trembling hand on his cheek. "Just because something is foretold, my son, does not mean it must come to pass. Prophecies can be a gift… or a curse."

Leo met her gaze, determination burning in his eyes. "Then I will decide which one it will be."

The blood moon had marked his birth. Now, he would mark history with fire and rebellion.