Chapter 3: A Journey Begins

The underground chamber fell silent.

Princess Elena and Aaron continued staring at each other.

Neither looked particularly pleased.

The former kings watched with expressions that ranged from concern to amusement.

Finally, the eldest king cleared his throat.

"Now that everyone is here, we can begin."

Princess Elena stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, please explain what is happening."

The spirit king nodded.

"The Stone of Light has been destroyed."

"I know that."

"Then you also know that the kingdom is in danger."

Elena's face became serious.

The king continued.

"The destruction of the stone was only the beginning. The enemy responsible seeks to destroy all five Magic Stones."

The room suddenly felt colder.

"If the remaining stones fall," another king said, "the balance of Lelana will collapse."

The princess lowered her gaze.

She knew exactly what that meant.

Famine.

Chaos.

War.

The possible end of the kingdom itself.

The eldest king turned toward Aaron.

"And that is why we have chosen him."

Both teenagers spoke at the same time.

"Him?"

"Me?"

The kings nodded.

Aaron looked around.

"Are you sure you have the right person?"

"You are Aaron, are you not?"

"Well... yes."

"Then we have the right person."

"That doesn't answer my question."

A few of the kings smiled.

Princess Elena folded her arms.

"Why would you choose an explorer?"

The eldest king raised a hand.

"Because he possesses qualities that cannot be taught."

The chamber grew quiet.

"He is brave."

Aaron looked away awkwardly.

"He is kind."

The princess glanced at him.

"He is loyal."

For a moment, Aaron remembered helping travelers who had become lost in the forest and assisting villagers after storms.

"He places others before himself."

The king's voice softened.

"And when the time comes, he will choose what is right, even when it is difficult."

Aaron felt strangely uncomfortable hearing all of this.

He wasn't a hero.

He was just a boy who liked adventures.

The king turned toward Elena.

"And you, Princess, have your own role to play."

The princess stood straighter.

"I will do whatever is necessary to protect my people."

The spirits nodded approvingly.

"That is why both of you must travel together."

The words echoed through the chamber.

Both teenagers froze.

Then immediately protested.

"What?"

"What?!"

The kings sighed.

"We expected this reaction."

Princess Elena shook her head.

"I am the heir to the throne."

"And?"

"And I cannot simply leave the kingdom."

The eldest king smiled.

"The future queen should understand the kingdom she hopes to rule."

Elena opened her mouth.

Then closed it again.

Unfortunately, she couldn't argue with that.

Meanwhile, Aaron pointed at himself.

"What exactly am I supposed to do?"

"You will help locate the fragments of the destroyed stone."

"How?"

The king's eyes glowed.

"Because you can hear us."

The room fell silent.

"What?"

"No one has heard our voices for over three hundred years," explained another king.

"You are the first."

A strange feeling settled in Aaron's chest.

"Why me?"

The kings exchanged mysterious glances.

"That answer must wait."

Before anyone could ask more questions, the chamber doors opened again.

A tall man entered.

A long sword rested at his side.

Several scars crossed his face.

Despite his age, his posture was perfectly straight.

The moment he entered, even the royal guards seemed nervous.

Princess Elena immediately recognized him.

"Master Roland."

The legendary Swordmaster bowed respectfully.

"You summoned me, Your Highness."

The kings smiled.

"Excellent timing."

Aaron stared.

This was Roland?

The greatest swordsman in the kingdom?

The hero from countless stories?

Roland noticed.

"You look disappointed."

"What? No!"

"You expected someone taller."

"I didn't say that."

"You thought it."

The Swordmaster smiled slightly.

For the first time, Aaron realized why people respected him.

His presence alone filled the room.

The eldest king rose from his throne.

"The journey begins at sunrise."

A map appeared in the air before them.

Golden light marked a location deep within the Whispering Forest.

"The first fragment of the Stone of Light rests here."

Everyone stared at the glowing point.

"It will not remain hidden forever," warned the king.

"Our enemy is already searching for it."

A sense of urgency filled the chamber.

Princess Elena stepped forward.

"When do we leave?"

The king smiled.

"Tomorrow."

For the first time that night, excitement overcame Aaron's fear.

Tomorrow.

An actual adventure.

The kind he had dreamed about his entire life.

Yet as he looked at the map, he couldn't shake a strange feeling.

Far away, beyond the forests and mountains, someone else was watching.

Someone who knew exactly where the fragment had fallen.

And they intended to reach it first.

The battle for the future of Lelana had begun.

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