The first light of dawn spilled softly across the land, turning the sky a gentle pink and gold. The forest around them seemed to awaken with a quiet magic of its own — birdsong fluttered like delicate ribbons between the trees, and dew sparkled on leaves as if kissed by starlight.
Aelric stirred from a restless sleep, the warmth of the campfire fading with the rising sun. Beside him, Liora packed her gear with practiced efficiency, her fiery hair catching the morning light like a living flame. Despite the hardships of their journey so far, she moved with a controlled grace, every motion purposeful.
Aelric stretched and rose, brushing off his cloak. "We should make better use of the daylight," he said, his voice hoarse but steady.
Liora nodded. "There's more to this quest than raw courage. We need knowledge — and for that, there is only one place."
Before Aelric could ask where, a soft voice interrupted—a calm presence stepping from the shadows of the trees.
Thalin.
He appeared almost out of nowhere — a figure draped in robes embroidered with silver thread that shimmered faintly in the morning light. His dark hair was streaked with white, and his eyes reflected the quiet depths of ancient wisdom.
"You move quickly through Eldoria," Thalin said with a small smile, eyes settling on the star-shaped amulet resting at Aelric's throat. "But power without understanding is a dangerous thing."
Aelric met his gaze, curiosity piqued. "Who are you?"
"A scholar," Thalin replied simply. "One who has spent years studying the secrets of the stars and the magic they birth."
Liora folded her arms but did not interrupt.
Thalin stepped closer to the fire, unfurling a delicate scroll covered in cryptic runes and diagrams. "The Starborn you seek are not merely legends. Their song weaves magic into the very fabric of our world."
He paused, eyes flickering toward the amulet. "Your connection to this relic marks you as a key — perhaps the key — to awakening their power once more."
Aelric swallowed, feeling the weight of those words settle deep in his chest.
"Why have you come?" he asked quietly.
"To join you," Thalin said. "The darkness you face is ancient and vast. Morvath and the Voidweaver are but harbingers of a greater threat. Together, knowledge and strength can turn the tide."
Liora finally spoke, voice guarded but respectful. "Then we will need to learn much—and fast."
Thalin nodded. "There is an ancient library hidden beneath the ruins of Caelmoor, not far from here. Within its vaults lie texts that can guide us on how to awaken the Starborn — and how to combat the shadows that seek to consume us."
The three of them broke camp and set off toward Caelmoor, traveling through forests thick with magic and across hills blanketed in wildflowers. Along the way, their conversations deepened — stories exchanged, fears confessed, hopes kindled.
Aelric learned that Liora's fierce independence masked a heart wary of betrayal; Thalin's quiet demeanor concealed a restless intellect haunted by failures past; and despite their differences, each was bound by a shared commitment to protect Eldoria.
As night fell near the ruins of Caelmoor, an eerie silence settled over them—broken only by distant howls carried on the wind.
The ancient stone walls rose before them, cracked and worn but still standing proud against time's relentless march. Ivy clung to their surfaces like veins; moss carpeted floors long abandoned.
Inside, flickering torchlight revealed shelves laden with scrolls and tomes older than memory. The air was thick with dust and magic.
Thalin moved quickly, uncovering texts filled with star charts, incantations, and histories of cosmic battles fought in the skies above.
Together, they pieced together fragments of forgotten knowledge—clues pointing toward melodies and rituals needed to awaken the Starborn's slumbering power.
But as they delved deeper into the library's shadowed halls, a creeping unease grew—a sense that they were not alone.
From dark corners, unseen eyes watched; faint whispers slithered just beyond hearing.
The true test of their alliance—and their courage—was only just beginning.
~to be continued