📖Chapter 3 – The Creature in the Clearing

Kai’s heart pounded so loudly it seemed to echo through the silent forest.The figure before him was beyond simple description.
It was not a man, nor an angel like those in the legends of the Light Kingdom.Its body was humanoid, yet wrapped in gentle flames that did not burn the ground.Its wings, shattered into fragments of light, shimmered like broken glass.
The creature staggered forward.Its golden eyes locked onto him with crushing intensity.
— Kai… — it whispered, its voice echoing like a thousand mouths at once. — The awakened chosen one.
Kai stepped back.— Me? You must be mistaken. I’m just a boy from Delight Village.
The creature raised its hand, and a fragment of light drifted from its broken wings, floating toward Kai.
As soon as it touched his skin, a sharp pain tore through his chest—like fire flooding his veins.Kai screamed and fell to his knees.
In that instant, visions flooded his mind:— A world consumed by flames.— Armies of shadow marching.— An empty throne surrounded by fallen angels.
When his eyes opened again, the fragment was gone.But a glowing mark now burned on his arm: a circular symbol, half light, half darkness.
The creature knelt before him, as though the heavens themselves had bowed to a mere mortal.— The veil has torn again… and you, Kai, carry the key.
Before it could say more, footsteps thundered through the forest.Soldiers from Delight Village had followed Kai, spears in hand, ready to strike the strange being.
— Stay back! — Kai shouted, but it was too late.
The spears lunged forward, and the creature, with eyes full of pain, spread its flaming wings in a blinding explosion of light.
The entire forest shone as if it were day.