Jade sat at the edge of the village, watching the sun dip beneath the horizon. The sky was a canvas of oranges and purples, colors that painted a picture of peace — a stark contrast to the chaos that brewed within him. His hands, small and delicate, gripped a smooth stone, but his mind was far from the mundane. It was filled with a quiet hum, a feeling that he couldn't fully grasp yet. It was as though something within him was awakening, something powerful, something dangerous.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of the stone in his palm. He could feel it, a flicker of energy at the tips of his fingers, a subtle pulse. His previous life, the one that felt like a distant memory, whispered to him. He could feel the fire that once burned within him, but it was a flame barely kindled. Something in the air was different today. The stone in his hand seemed to hum louder, as if it recognized him.
It had been four years since his rebirth, and during that time, Jade had learned to adapt to his new life. The silence, the absence of words, had become both a shield and a burden. His family, especially his mother and father, treated him like a fragile child. His brother, Veren, had grown more distant with each passing year, the effects of his drinking deepening the rift between them. But Jade never let that weigh on him. He had his own path to follow, one that no one could understand.
As the moon began to rise, casting its silver glow across the land, Jade's fingers twitched. The spark he had felt earlier flared for a moment, and a small flicker of flame appeared in his palm. It was nothing grand, just a fleeting ember. But it was enough to make Jade's heart race. For the first time in his new life, he felt the taste of something familiar — the touch of power. The flame danced in his palm, flickering like a candle caught in a breeze, but it was real. It was a spark of his old abilities, the fire he had once controlled with ease.
But it was fleeting.
Before he could fully grasp it, the flame flickered out, leaving his hand cold and empty.
"What's this?" came a voice from behind him. Jade's body stiffened, but he didn't turn around. The voice was too familiar. It was Rael, the one person who seemed to understand him without needing words.
Rael stepped forward, his eyes scanning the small, flickering ember that had once danced in Jade's palm. The older boy's face held no surprise, only quiet interest. "You're starting to awaken, aren't you?"
Jade nodded slowly. He wanted to speak, to explain, but the words never came. Instead, he pointed at his palm, showing Rael the emptiness that remained.
Rael kneeled beside him. "It's only the beginning," he said softly. "You'll learn to control it, slowly. Power like yours... It can't be rushed."
Jade looked at Rael, his silvery eyes filled with questions. His mind was already racing. If his old powers were awakening again, what did that mean? Was this the life he was destined to lead? Or was this just another fragment of his past, a part of him that was never meant to resurface?
"You're not just anyone, Jade," Rael continued, his voice low, almost reverent. "There's a reason you were chosen for this. And soon, you'll see just how different you truly are."
Jade's eyes widened slightly. Chosen? He didn't fully understand what Rael meant, but the weight of the words lingered in the air between them.
Before Jade could react, a rustling noise came from the shadows. They weren't alone.
A group of soldiers emerged from the trees, their armor glinting in the moonlight. Jade froze, his heart pounding. These were no ordinary villagers. They wore the insignia of the kingdom's military, and they had been searching for him.
Rael stood quickly, his expression hardening. "They're after you," he muttered, more to himself than to Jade.
The soldiers stopped a few paces away, eyeing Jade with suspicion. One of them, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward. "We've been ordered to bring him in."
Jade's pulse quickened. This was it. His old life had caught up to him. He had been running, hiding, but it was only a matter of time before the world came crashing back. And now, here it was, standing right in front of him.
Rael stepped in front of Jade, his stance protective. "He's just a child," Rael said coolly, his eyes narrowing. "You're wasting your time."
The scarred soldier didn't flinch. "Orders are orders. The prince wants him."
Jade's breath hitched. The prince? The same prince who had put a bounty on his head? The prince who wanted him dead?
Rael's hand twitched, a hint of a weapon flickering into his palm, but he paused. Jade could sense his hesitation. They were outnumbered, outgunned. But Rael's resolve was clear. He wouldn't let them take Jade. Not without a fight.
And then, something in Jade shifted. The spark inside him flared again, stronger this time. The energy that had been flickering weakly before surged within him, pulsing with purpose.
He couldn't speak, couldn't warn Rael, but he could act.
With a single, swift motion, Jade's eyes glowed. Time slowed. The world around him seemed to freeze as the soldiers and Rael became still, their movements suspended in mid-air. It was like a dream, a shift in reality. Jade's power — his first real use of it — was pulsing through him, surging like wildfire.
He didn't know how long he would have, but for now, he had time.
Now, he had a chance.