Chapter:11-Stranger In The Rain

(Kael's House – Night)

(A heavy downpour beats against the rooftop, the wind howling through the cracks of the wooden walls. The night is darker than usual, the storm masking even the faintest moonlight.)

(Kael leans against the window, watching the rain, his mind restless despite the earlier laughter with Sun and Elyse. The weight of everything still lingers in his chest.)

(Then— knock, knock —a slow, deliberate knocking echoes through the house.)

Kael (frowning): "...Who the hell would visit at this hour?"

(He reaches for the Blade of Frost and Fire, just in case, before cautiously opening the door.)

(Standing outside, drenched from head to toe, is an old man—yet something about him feels… off.)

(His face carries wrinkles, but his posture is upright, his movements too steady for someone of his apparent age. His cloak drips with rain, but Kael notices something strange—the water seems to avoid truly soaking him, sliding off unnaturally.)

(And then there's his aura. Unreadable. As if he exists yet doesn't.)

Old Man (smiling faintly): "Forgive me for disturbing you at this hour. I was traveling for trade and got caught in the storm. May I rest here for the night?"

(Kael doesn't answer immediately. His instincts tell him this man is no ordinary traveler. But something… something tells him to let him in.)

Kael (nodding slowly): "Sure. Come in."

(The old man steps inside, shaking off his cloak. The dim candlelight flickers strangely around him, casting shadows that don't seem to match his movements.)

Kael (curious): "So, you said you're a trader? What kind of goods do you deal with?"

Old Man (chuckling): "Oh, nothing special. Just stories."

Kael (raising an eyebrow): "Stories?"

Old Man (nodding): "Stories hold more value than gold, young man. A single tale can shape a kingdom, inspire heroes, or even hide truths the world has long forgotten."

Kael (leaning back): "...Alright. Got any interesting ones?"

(The old man's eyes glimmer slightly as he settles into a chair. The storm rages on outside, but inside, time seems to slow.)

Old Man: "Have you ever heard of the battle between the Absolute Fragment of Light and the Abyssal Void?"

(Kael straightens slightly. Something about those words makes his heart beat faster.)

Kael: "…Can't say I have."

Old Man (smiling): "Then let me tell you a story—one that most believe is mere legend."

The Tale of Light and Abyss

(Long ago, before the rise of kingdoms and heroes, the world was at war. Not between men, but between two primordial forces—Light and Abyss.)

(The Absolute Fragment of Light, the very essence of creation and purity, shone across the world, bringing life and order. But where there is light, shadows must follow.)

(From the endless void beyond existence, the Abyssal Void emerged, a force of endless hunger, seeking to consume all that the Light had created.)

(Their battle was endless. Worlds crumbled. Stars perished. And in the final clash, the Absolute Fragment of Light, unable to destroy the Abyss completely, did the only thing it could—it sealed the Abyss away.)

(The five Pillars of the Abyss—beings of unfathomable darkness—were trapped in a dimension of eternal shadow, locked away where they could never return.)

Old Man (his voice quieter now): "But as with all things… nothing stays sealed forever."

(A gust of wind rattles the windows, the candlelight flickering wildly. Kael feels a chill, not from the storm—but from something deeper.)

Kael (low voice): "You're not just a traveler, are you?"

Old Man (smiling slightly): "And you, young warrior, are not just an ordinary boy."

(Silence fills the room as they stare at each other. The storm rages on, but Kael knows—this night has changed something.)