Kael had been traveling for days, driven by a single obsession: to find the curse known as the Curse of the Sun. No one knew its origin, but everyone feared its effects.
During his journey, he arrived at an ancient city, long abandoned. The streets were deserted and silent, and among the ruins lay only worn clothes and traces of a vanished people. Kael shivered—something was moving in that darkness.
A sharp noise broke the silence. With hesitant steps, he entered a house engulfed in shadows. There, in the darkness, a creature awaited him. A demon.
The beast leapt at him, drooling, pressing against his armor as if trying to tear it off to devour him alive. Kael gritted his teeth, ready to react, but a mysterious voice echoed in the dark:
— Don't eat him. He might be useful… Bite him.
The demon obeyed without hesitation. Its fangs sank into Kael's flesh, and immediately after it slid down from the armor, letting him collapse to the ground. Pain consumed him, followed by an irresistible drowsiness. He didn't even have time to rise: his eyes shut, and the world sank into silence.
When he opened them again, everything was different. He remembered nothing. Not his name, not where he came from, nor the reason he was there. He was alone, in that deserted city that seemed to have forgotten the breath of life.
He wandered aimlessly through the empty streets until he saw a figure approaching. Startled, he stepped back. The shadow drew closer, and a woman's voice called out:
— Kael, how are you?
— Kael? — he muttered, confused. — Who is Kael?
— You are Kael — the woman replied, her gaze intense. — I am Lirya. Don't you remember me?
Kael shook his head. Confusion was devouring him.
— What happened? Why am I here?
Lirya lowered her eyes, then explained:
— We were searching for the elixir when you separated from the group.
— What group? What elixir? — he asked in a broken voice.
— You don't remember anything, do you? — she said, almost in disbelief.
— Nothing. I don't know who I am… I don't even know why I'm in this place. Can you help me?
— Of course — Lirya answered gently. — That's why we're here: to help each other. Shall we look for the others?
Kael hesitated. — Why should I trust you?
A shadow of sadness crossed the girl's face.
— Why shouldn't you? We were in the same group.
Kael lowered his gaze, torn.
— And this elixir… what is it?
— It's the only way to break the Curse of the Sun.
— Curse of the Sun? — he repeated, bewildered.
— It's the reason we're here. No one knows who created it, but ever since it appeared, the sun hasn't risen again.
— And what does it cause?
— We don't know for sure — Lirya replied — but we know it has cast the world into darkness. The elixir is our only hope.
Weariness bent her shoulders, and she whispered:
— Let's rest now. I saw an old camp nearby; there should be canned food there.
— And this city? Why is it deserted? — Kael asked, glancing around.
— I found clothes, supplies… signs that someone once lived here. But now, only silence remains. — She looked him straight in the eyes and concluded: — Come, let's check that shelter.