The fire flickered low, casting long shadows that danced like restless spirits along the walls of the woman's hut. The visitor stood just beyond the threshold, the weight of his gaze heavy and unyielding. His eyes gleamed with something ancient — knowledge steeped in danger and secrets better left buried.
She studied him carefully, sensing the power behind his calm voice, the kind that made the hairs on her arms rise.
"What knowledge?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
He stepped inside, the smell of old incense clinging to his cloak. "The child you carry is no ordinary being. The old gods have taken notice. Forces stir beyond this world, and your fate is entwined with theirs."
The woman's fingers instinctively moved to her belly, feeling the life within — strong, unyielding, and terrifying.
"Why me?" she whispered. "Why this burden?"
The stranger's gaze softened, but his voice grew grave. "Because the child is destined to become what many fear — the King of Curses. But destiny is never certain. There is still a choice."
Outside, the crow perched silently, its black eyes watching, unblinking.
A distant thunder rolled — a reminder that the storm was no longer coming. It was here.
The woman took a shaky breath. The road ahead was darker than ever.