In a world where magic lives, King Albert put an end to magic and ordered the elimination of everyone in possession of magical powers in his kingdom. Because he personally hates it.
However, there's a powerful being who gains strength by absorbing the powers of other magicians. The king feels threatened because this being is almost invincible and immortal. Unaware to the king that this being owned a temple where he trained these young magicians he absorbs their powers.
And the palace is the only place where the powerful being can't make an entry because of the creature that lies within.
To protect his kingdom, eradicating magic entirely was the king's choice he's made, hoping to prevent the powerful being from getting stronger.
Aria, the chosen one, was destined to protect the world from this powerful being.
Thirteen years ago, Aria's parents hid her and sacrificed their lives inorder to save her from being beheaded by the royal guards sent by the king. The king uses priestesses to find and annihilate families with magical abilities. Aria's family was the last one they could find. but, the powerful being was ahead of the king this time, disguised as the royal guards, he and his minions had already taken care of everyone before the royal guards arrived.
Before her parents' death, Aria promised her mother that she would stay alive no matter what and avenge their death.
However, Aria was only ten years old when she witnessed her parents' death, which makes it easy to manipulate her memories. Slowly, she lost her memories completely and started anew with her new guardian, whom she believed to be her birth parents. She lived a happy and memorable life with them until the hurdles began.
***
Caius was the son of the former mountain god, lord George who was killed by his brother the current mountain god, lord Mordred.
Caius was kept hidden from lord Mordred since he was a child.
When Caius was a child, he had always felt different from the other kids. He didn't quite fit in, and he never really understood why. He was always drawn to the forest, like it was calling for him. And deep in the forest, he found a world he never knew existed. There, he met the most amazing creatures, things he never thought possible.
At nineteen, he learns about his father Lord George and his uncle Lord Mordred. But, that wasn't all.
George was murdered by his brother, who was driven by jealousy and a desire for power. Their father had chosen George to inherit the power of becoming a mountain God, a privilege reserved for the pure-hearted. George had shown signs of his ability to communicate with animals, a gift that their father believed made him the rightful heir.
However, George's brother was resentful of their father's decision and felt that he should have been the chosen one since he's older. When he discovered that George's son was also destined to inherit these powers, he became enraged and plotted against his brother. angrily, he killed George and stole the power for himself.
George's wife, who had secretly witnessed the murder, fled with their son and went into hiding. She sought to protect her child from her brother-in-law's evil clutches.
Mordred uses the magical Mirror of Illusion to disguise himself as George, deceiving the mountain creatures into believing he is still the rightful mountain God.
However, instead of using his newfound powers to protect the people and creatures of the mountain, Mordred abuses his authority by driving them away with fear and taking twisted pleasure in slaughtering innocent travelers who dare to pass through the mountain.
Caius's mother had long hesitated to reveal the truth to him, fearing it would put him in danger. Instead, she hid him away and taught him to be strong, warning him to always avoid the mountains. But as he grew older, a sense of responsibility began to stir within him.
At twenty-five, he felt an unexplainable restlessness, as if something was amiss.
Then, one fateful night, he saw Aria in his dreams, and everything changed.
Hence, he secretly went to the mountains to figure more things out before he came across Aria in reality.
He sense she was in need of help and because he knew he could save her from the creatures which were sent by lord Mordred to scare her.
The moment their eyes met, he knew she was the one he had been searching for. Though, he couldn't explain why he felt an overwhelming urge to find her. Now, as he emerged from the shadows, he hoped he would finally find what he had been seeking.
Would she recognize him? the mysterious girl from his dreams?
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I turned to face him, my heart still pounding, but my eyes were shining with curiosity, even though I seem scared.
"Stop it... the voices, I do not want to hear them again," I pleaded.
Caius took a step closer, covering my ears with his palms, and whispering something inaudible. After a few minutes, he removed his hands, and the whispers ceased.
"You can open your eyes now," he said.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, surprised and curious about Caius' identity as he was able to take things under control.
"Who are you?" I asked for the second time.
Caius replied, "I have already told you, my name is Caius."
I persisted, "Not your name, your origin, identity... how you could handle this situation?"
Caius smiled, "It's not a big deal."
"Also, if you are grateful, I'm someone who needs you, how about we should work together? I want to earn your trust dear friend." Caius suggested, in a friendly manner.
My doubt grew, "Don't tell me... you started all this and stopped it to make me believe you? Why do you want my trust?"
Caius began to explain, but I cut him off, "I do not want to work with a stranger or become your friend. You called me friend before..."
"But—" Caius started to say, but I cut him off for the second time.
Rudely, I said, "Stop! You didn't answer my questions well, so your origin is unclear. I know nothing about you, which I do not need to know.
If you will excuse me, I'm in a hurry to save my father." I retorted, not letting Caius to finish his sentence.
"You do not need to know how I came or why I'm here, because I know you were going to ask me anyway.
I also do not know what kind of trick you are trying to use in order to make me believe you, but I know it's all fake. Everything was fine when I was coming here, so why is it different now?" I asked, my voice filled with uncertainty.
"You do not need to answer that either," I added.
Caius whispered under his breath, "Were you always this talkative? Not giving me a chance to speak is..." He paused before sighing.
I stopped talking suddenly, distracted by Caius whispering.
Surprisingly, Caius thought I couldn't hear him which made him curious as I abruptly stopped talking.
"Wait, why is she suddenly quiet? She needs my help to get out of this place right?" He pondered.
"I really need his help to get out of this monstrous mountain, even though I do not believe him but at least..." I thought deep to myself in calmly, yet unpeaceful tone.
"So, I thought we could..." I started to say, before Caius interrupted me.
"Please, let me finish!" I said, my voice rising in frustration.
"Alright, I'm all ears," He shrugged off.
"I could still give you a chance to prove how I can trust you, but you will have to make me believe you," I suggested.
"How should I do that?" Caius asked, curiously.
"So, how about we get to know each other first..." I proposed.
"You said you are in a tight position and can't do that now," Caius pointed out.
"Do not interrupt me. So, how about we talk while we walk out of here? We could get to know more about each other, and then I will decide whether to be friends with you or not." I said, flushing.
Caius thought to himself, "So, she wants me to walk her out of here. She's too scared to leave alone, but her ego won't let her ask for help. Well..."
I noticed Caius smile, and felt guilty, then I asked,
"Why did you smile?"
"It isn't the first time you have talked bad about me, you did earlier too." I added.
Caius feigned ignorance,
"Nothing, we should do that. Get to know each other while we walk. It's a good idea."
"You said you are in a hurry to save your father. I can't let you lose your father. We will meet again, Aria. Good luck." He added, in a calm tone.
Before I could realize his intentions, he held my hands unannounced and a surge of energy flowed through me.
Suddenly, I was no longer standing in the mountain, I was standing in front of the cottage where the woman who sent me to get the Shadowbane waited.
I knew I had to act quickly, but as I turned to speak to Caius, I realized he was nowhere to be found. He had vanished into thin air, leaving me alone in the cottage.
What came to my mind instantly was the shadowbane. I reached out to my pocket and then took it out. I placed the Shadowbane on the table, awaiting the old woman.
I took a deep breath, picked up the Shadowbane again, and knew it was my only hope to save my father.
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