Kael woke up. His head hurt. Everything was blurry, like trying to see through fog. The room was dark and freezing. The stone walls felt rough against his skin. His throat was dry. He tried to think. Bus… book… then nothing. Just darkness.
He sat up slowly. Something was wrong. He felt wrong. His body felt strange, like he was wearing someone else's clothes. He looked at his hands. They were his, but they looked older, tougher. He saw little cuts and scars that he didn't remember. It felt wrong.
"What's going on?" he whispered. His voice sounded strange, shaky.
He stood up, almost falling. The room was small and empty. A bed made of straw, a wooden table, a box in the corner. A cloth with a tree on it hung by the door. It had silver lines. He remembered a woman he used to love, but that was long gone.
Kael went to the window. He wiped away the dirt. Outside was a courtyard with stone buildings. People walked around. Some looked normal, others didn't. He saw someone with pointy ears talking to a short, strong person. A big, furry thing carried a load that should have taken a team.
"Elves," Kael said. "Dwarves. Beastkin." He knew the words, but he didn't know how. They felt right, even though they were foreign. He remembered reading about them in a book. A book from long ago. From when he wasn't so lonely.
His head spun. He held onto the window. Then he saw them. The lines. The threads. They connected everything. People, buildings, the sky. It was like a giant web made of light, holding the world together.
Kael stepped back, scared. He blinked, and they were gone. But he could still see them in his head. It was a terrifying power to behold and he knew he would have to get used to it.
New thoughts came. Not his thoughts. They belonged to someone else, or some other time. He saw a village, someone teaching him, and lessons about the world. The world of the humans, the elves and everything else.
"I'm in the book," Kael said. He was afraid. "I'm in The Weaver of Fate."
It seemed crazy, but he knew it was true. He was in the book he loved. The story, the people, the world… all real.
But he wasn't the hero. He was just someone else. Someone normal, someone small. His purpose was grander.
Kael closed his eyes. He tried to understand. His name was Kael. But he was also a Silent Observer. His family had watched for a long time. They weren't part of any Great House. They didn't fight or use magic. They just watched and guided the hero. They were mostly gone.
The Silent Observers could see the threads. The lines that connected everything. They didn't change things. They just watched. But also they could see the one that could protect them. He had to protect the hero. It was his destiny.
Kael was a Silent Observer. Almost all his family were gone. He was one of the last. It was a lonely task.
He remembered Aethoria. The world with four races.
Humans, who lived on the plains and were good at building things. Elves, who lived in the forests and were wise and magical. Dwarves, who lived under the mountains and were strong and crafted with skill. Beastkin, who lived in the wild and were close to nature. Each and everyone had their own path.
Powerful families had powers. They were the Great Houses. They ruled Aethoria. They each had a connection to the threads. Each with their own power. There was also one person. One person to save them all.
The Great Houses:
House Luminar, with power over light and shadow. House Terravale, connected to the earth. House Stormsong, who controlled the winds. House Tideswell, with power over water. House Emberheart, who controlled fire. House Nightshade, masters of poison. House Bonecaller, who spoke to the dead. House Fateweaver, who could see the threads. And House Soulforge, who could create magical items.
They were powerful. They were dangerous. And Kael had to understand them all. The people knew about all of these clans. The most important one was something that was up to their clan.
Each had special powers. This was often passed down through certain bloodlines. These bloodlines would then hold power. But no one could ever change anything. It was simply up to them to protect the hero. But also to protect those around him. This would allow them to grow in the end.
The hero. Someone born to face the darkness. Someone who could bring hope. The hero was in danger. Kael had to find him. He had to guide him. He had to make sure the hero lived long enough to face his destiny.
Kael's family wasn't part of any House. They stayed out of it all. They watched. They could see the threads, but they didn't use them. The Silent Observers knew something was coming. A war was coming. They had to do their part to see that the hero was going to be safe.
Kael knew The Weaver of Fate. And he could see the threads. He was inside and outside the story. It was a scary and confusing feeling. What was going to happen when it was time to let the hero go?
Someone knocked softly.
"It's time," a voice said.
Kael opened the door. Elara and Bram stood there. They wore dark coats. He knew their faces from the memory . They were the only family he had left and last surviving members of the clan. They had always been with him, but this time was different.
"The time has come," Elara said. Her face was serious. "The darkness is growing stronger. The pieces are moving."
Bram nodded. "The hero will awaken soon. He doesn't know who he is, but he will. He doesn't know the forces in motion."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine. It was all real.
"What do I do?" he asked. His voice was quiet.
Elara touched his arm gently. "You know the stories. You know the threads. But things can change. The world is always changing. But they must never stop from learning."
"Find the hero," Bram said. "Guide him. Help him understand his power. Protect him from what may come."
"But why me?" Kael said. "I'm just… me. I'm nothing special."
Elara smiled sadly. "You are more than you think, Kael. You have the blood of the Silent Observers. You see what others can't. You can help him believe."
Bram squeezed his shoulder. "You have to do this, Kael. For Aethoria. For us. For our memory. For everyone."
Kael looked at them. They looked afraid, but determined. He knew he couldn't say no.
"Okay," he said. "I'll find him. I'll help the hero."
Elara and Bram smiled. It was a small, sad smile, but it was there.
"Good," Elara said. "We will help you. We will watch. Be careful, Kael. The darkness has many eyes. Trust only those that you know."
Bram nodded. "It will be hard, but you aren't alone. We will always be with you."
They turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows.
Kael was alone. But he wasn't the same. He was part of something now. Something important. A protector of this world. He only now had to play the part. But it was something that he wanted to do.
He stepped out into the night. To start on his journey. He had no idea what would be on the other side. But he had to start somewhere.