Kael cut him off with a calm tone, "Then we make sure it doesn't follow anyone else."
Aren hesitated, glancing toward the village square. The sun had nearly set, casting an orange glow over the rooftops. Lanterns were being lit one by one. Kael, however, had already taken a step toward the path leading to the shop.
"Kael—wait," Aren whispered. "We shouldn't go now. Not with so many people around."
Kael stopped and looked back at him. "You said the energy is similar to what we felt in the ruins. If it's really that… then we can't just ignore it."
Aren clenched his fists. "I know. But what if we get caught sneaking around? My parents would kill me. Yours would probably hang you upside down."
Kael smirked. "You think I haven't been caught before?"
Aren sighed, then looked toward the shop at the center of the village. It was small and dusty, half of it used as storage and the other half selling old tools. It had always been part of the background, unnoticed and unbothered.
"I've walked past it a hundred times," Kael muttered. "But never felt anything strange."
Aren nodded. "That's what's weird. I didn't feel it before either. It just started… three days ago. A sudden rush, like something woke up. The exact same sensation I had deep in the ruins, just weaker. But it's there."
Kael's smile faded, stepping closer. "And the girl?"
Aren looked away. "I saw her again. Or… something that looked like her. Only for a second. She was standing at the door. Then gone."
Kael's heart dropped. That memory was still fresh—the hanging girl, her eyes hollow, her face drained of blood. It was terrifying.
But if Aren was saying he saw her again… this really was dangerous.
"Fine," he said at last. "We'll wait. Let the feast quiet down. Midnight?"
Aren looked uncertain but nodded. "Midnight. We meet by the well."
As they slowly walked back toward the crowd, Kael glanced once more at the shop in the distance. The wind blew gently past, but he felt a shiver run down his spine.
**
"EVERYONE"
A booming voice cut through the warm, festive air.
Near the large campfire, a tall man stood proudly with a drink in hand. The villagers, already tipsy and lively from the feast, immediately raised their cups in his direction.
"Young Chief!" someone called out, and others echoed in agreement, toasting toward him.
The man lifted his glass high and laughed heartily. "Today, I am very happy!" he declared, his eyes shining as they locked onto Alaric, who stood a little further away.
He waved him over. "Come here, my friend!"
Alaric smiled knowingly and walked through the small crowd. He stood beside the young chief and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You embarrass me, Arthur," Alaric said with a chuckle, accepting a drink from one of the attendants. "It was all the gods' luck."
Arthur snorted and nudged him playfully. "Gods' luck!" he says. Look at this man's humbleness!"
He turned toward the crowd, raising his voice again. "This man's daughter is one of the Royal Knights! Leona! A warrior beyond her years. A shining sword of our village!"
The villagers cheered and clapped. Some whistled Leona's name.
Arthur waited for the noise to die down, then continued, his voice proud and sincere.
"And now his son—Kael. Not just any talent, but a purple light! Do you understand what that means? More rare than a red glow. More promising than blue. A gift of gods, born right here in our soil!"
A wave of murmurs spread through the villagers. Some nodded in awe, others looked around as if still trying to wrap their heads around what had happened earlier.
Arthur smiled wider, gesturing again to Alaric. "The gods did not just bless this family—they poured everything into them. And if you ask me—" he leaned forward slightly, "—that boy might just go beyond even the legends."
Alaric rubbed the back of his neck, clearly unused to such praise, but he couldn't hide the proud grin tugging at his lips.
"Stop it, Arthur. You'll have the whole village expecting him to fly by next year."
Arthur raised his glass again, this time pointing straight at Kael with a wide grin. "I mean it, old friend. Just a few months ago, I saw him running around with a wooden stick pretending to be a knight, and now, a new chapter awaits him."
The villagers erupted in cheer, clapping and nodding in agreement. Several parents pulled their children closer, whispering for them to learn from Kael, to aim higher. A few younger swordsman trainees looked at him with awe, some with envy.
Kael, meanwhile, remained by the side with Aren, slightly embarrassed from all the attention. He scratched the back of his neck and offered a half-smile to those glancing his way.
Alaric chuckled, beaming with pride. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Arthur. Let the boy train first before marrying him off to the kingdom."
More laughter followed, and someone shouted, "Well, don't wait too long. The kingdom scouts might be here next moon!"
Arthur turned toward the crowd again. "Tonight we celebrate not just a good harvest, but a new star in the making. Raise your cups—to the future of the village and the strength of our children!"
"TO THE FUTURE!" echoed the crowd, mugs and glasses clinking under the rising night sky.