Chapter 5: The Seed-Bearer’s Path

Peacland packed his belongings that night—his slates, his tools, and the Fire-Stone. He knew that leaving Ember Root would not be easy, but the path before him was clearer now. He was no longer a boy lost in a dream. He was a Seed-Bearer, entrusted with a message from the past and the knowledge to shape the future.

Before dawn, he crept past the sleeping village and headed toward the great cliffs to the north. The wind howled as it swept over the rugged terrain, but Peacland didn't falter. He could feel the pulse of the Fire-Stone in his pack, a constant reminder of his mission.

For days, he traveled through the harsh wilderness, the weight of his purpose pressing down on him. The further he went, the more certain he became. He was not the first to seek knowledge of the machines. Others had come before him, and their legacy lived on in the relics he found—bits of metal, strange glyphs carved into rock, and remnants of technology hidden beneath the earth.

It wasn't long before he encountered another traveler, a lone figure who seemed to move with purpose, as though guided by some unseen hand.

She was a woman, her eyes sharp and alert, her movements quick and efficient. She carried a bow, a weapon more advanced than any Peacland had ever seen. Her skin was marked with tattoos, intricate designs that hinted at a knowledge of the ancient ways.

"You're not from Ember Root," she said, her voice low and measured.

Peacland nodded. "I'm looking for something. A truth that was left behind."

The woman's eyes narrowed. "What kind of truth?"

"A truth about the machines," Peacland replied. "The ones who came before. The ones who built the world."

The woman studied him for a long moment. Then, with a soft smile, she said, "You're not alone in this search."