WHISPERS OF ETERNITY

gainst his ears. He blinked, but his surroundings did not return. Instead, he found himself standing in an endless

whispered, his

tween," cam

t, and carried a weight that made the air hum. Kael turned, but no one

, his fear giving way to f

hifting like smoke, but its presence was undeniable. Kael felt a pressure in his

re said. "And you, Kael

d, his voice cracking. "I do

rekindle the light that once shaped this world and

"You've got the wrong person. I'm just

tting through Kael's protests. "The Flame has chosen you because you possess th

-a memory of dreams he could never explain, of visions of a great burning tree. He had alwa

Flame?" he a

t danced like firelight. Kael saw a tree of unimaginable size, its branches stretching across the sky, its roots delvin

low. Long ago, it was entrusted to the guardians of this world, but they grew arrogant and careless. The Flame was sha

ng a swirling darkness that engulfed the

lder than time, born of the void. It seeks to unmake the world, to retur

is throat dry. "And yo

their loyalties may waver. You must learn to trust your instincts, to see beyond

t dimming. Kael felt himself being pulled

ut. "I still don't

rld around Kael dissolved. "Because you

-

e sounds of the festival drifting faintly in the background. The shard

e had no answers. All he knew was that he couldn't stay in Ashridge. The Dominion was always on the lo

y: a worn satchel, a few pieces of bread, and a knife he had inherited from his father. As he slung the bag over his should

unded at the door. Kael froze, hi

ed from outside. "Open up.

the D

? He backed away from the door, his mind racing. He coul

He threw himself out the back window, landing hard on the ground below. Pain shot through h

bit of his knowledge to stay ahead of his pursuers. The shard in his pocket see

ollided with someone, both o

s a young woman, her sharp features framed by a cascade of dark

that?" sh

sped, pulling her

grabbed her arm and took off, the

asked as they ducke

his shoulder. "And if we don't g

ated, then nodd

quick and practiced. Kael couldn't help but wonder who she

s of the festival fading behind them. The woman s

ow you're going to tell me what's going on. A

satchel. Its light illuminated their faces, c

after. And if what I've been told