The Gathering Storm

The wind had picked up by the time Elias stepped out of Elder Mere's cottage, his mind still reeling from what he had seen… and what he had become. Clouds churned overhead, heavy with rain that hadn't yet fallen, and the scent of ozone clung to the air like an omen. The village of Aetherwood looked the same familiar homes, friendly faces but Elias knew that nothing about this day was ordinary.

Because somewhere out there, someone was hunting him.

The Veilbound.

And the mark on his chest was the beacon guiding them.

Elias wrapped his cloak tighter around himself as he made his way down the stone path toward the village square. Every face he passed made his chest tighten. These were people he'd known his entire life,— bakers, carpenters, friends. And now, any one of them could be a threat. Or worse, a target.

If the Veilbound come here because of me…

They'll burn it all to ash.

He gritted his teeth and pressed forward.

Dane was waiting for him near the well, arms crossed, his usual grin absent for once. "Hey. Where've you been?"

Elias hesitated. "With the Elder."

Dane frowned. "Is it true? That you were out in the woods during the starfall?"

Elias nodded slowly. "I found something… something strange."

Dane glanced around, lowering his voice. "People are talking, Elias. Saying weird things. Mira saw a man standing at the edge of the woods this morning tall, cloaked, just… watching. Said he vanished the second she blinked."

Elias felt the blood drain from his face.

"That was real, wasn't it?" Dane asked. "You saw him too?"

Elias didn't respond.

Dane stepped closer. "What's going on? And don't lie to me this time."

"I… I can't explain it," Elias said. "Not yet. But something's coming, Dane. Something big. I need time to figure out what to do."

Dane's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press. "Just don't shut me out. Whatever this is, you're not dealing with it alone."

Elias forced a nod. "Thanks."

But deep down, he wasn't sure if anyone could help him, not with what was coming.

As they spoke, storm clouds thickened above, casting the village in gray shadows. The wind carried whispers, half-formed words that made the hair on the back of Elias's neck stand on end. Somewhere nearby, a child cried out and pointed at the sky.

"Look!"

Everyone turned.

A strange light shimmered above the treeline, faint and pulsing like a heartbeat. It wasn't lightning, it was wrong. Cold, purple, and silent.

Elias's stomach twisted. "That's not a storm."

Elder Mere appeared beside them, his staff clutched tightly in his gnarled hand. "It's a rift."

"A rift?" Dane echoed.

Elder Mere nodded grimly. "The Veil is thinning. They've found you, Elias."

The villagers began to gather, murmuring in confusion. The air felt heavier with each passing second.

A sound echoed through the forest then low and guttural. A howl that didn't belong to any beast of Aetherwood. It was deep, primal, and hungry.

Elias turned to the Elder. "What do I do?"

"You must leave," the Elder said. "Tonight. Before they come through."

"What about the village?"

"I will protect them. I've made preparations for this day. But you… you are the flame they seek to snuff out. If you stay, they'll burn everything to reach you."

Elias's fists clenched. "But I can fight…"

"Not yet. You've only just awakened. You must learn to control what's inside you first. Only then will you stand a chance."

Lightning flashed in the distance black and violet streaks that split the sky. The villagers shrieked, scattering as the storm roared closer.

The Elder placed a hand on Elias's shoulder. "Go to the Northern Wastes. Seek the Obsidian Spire. There, you will find the one called Kael. He can train you."

"How will I find him?"

"You won't. He'll find you."

The wind howled again, and from deep within the forest, Elias heard the sound of footsteps, many of them. Slow. Deliberate. Closing in.

"I'll go," Elias said. "Tonight."

The Elder nodded once. "May the stars guide you, Elias Starborn."

Far away, in the depths of the forest…

The cloaked figure stepped through the portal, his boots sinking into the soil of Aetherwood. Around him, six Veilbound acolytes emerged, each cloaked in silence and shadow.

The man's eyes glowed beneath his hood, violet and cruel.

"He's here," he said softly. "I can feel the shard's resonance in the air."

A twisted grin formed on his lips.

"Let the hunt begin."