The winds of Wernes blew in from the sea, carrying the roar of waves into the stone streets of the city. Guided by a weight he had carried for days, Mamir walked through the narrow alleys until he reached a small hut.
Inside lived the man everyone called Sage Arendor, a weary old seer whose eyes seemed to gaze far beyond the present.
When Mamir entered, only a single lantern burned. Arendor looked up, his expression calm, as though he had been expecting him.
— "I have been waiting for you, son of Turok."
Mamir frowned.
— "Son of… Turok? My mother was always said to be a commoner. Because of that, I was scorned my whole life."
The sage's voice deepened, carrying the weight of centuries.
— "No, Mamir. Your mother, Kirarya Turok, was not ordinary. She was the last heir of the ancient Turok Kingdom, a bloodline once bound in friendship with the elves, protectors of the light."
Mamir's heart tightened. The bitterness and shame he had carried for years cracked apart in an instant. His eyes burned with tears.
— "Then… why did she never tell me?"
The sage lowered his gaze.
— "Because she wanted to protect you. But her path led elsewhere. Years ago, Kirarya came here, to Wernes, on her way to Elandur. She asked me about the map's location. To find it, she had to enter the place known as the Hidden Forest, a realm of strange magic. There, she was tested by the forest fae. They demanded her trust, her heart, and her truth. And because she was pure, kind, and full of light, they gave her what she sought: the map, and a magical compass to guide her."
Mamir's throat tightened.
— "And then?"
Arendor's eyes drifted to the horizon, as though looking far into memory.
— "She returned here, only once more. Her brother Necor Turok and her sister Bete Turok were with her. Before sailing into the great sea, she stood before the people gathered at the docks. I was there that day. She raised her voice and swore this vow:
'As long as blood flows in my veins, the darkness will never prevail.'"
The hut fell silent. Mamir's tears ran freely, not of shame, but of pride. For so long he had thought himself the son of a mere commoner. Now, he knew the truth. His mother had been a bearer of light.
His voice shook as he whispered:
— "I grew up thinking she was nothing more than a woman of the people… and because of that, I was crushed, mocked, forgotten. But she was royal blood. She was hope itself."
The sage opened an old chest, pulling out a faded parchment. He placed it in Mamir's hands.
— "Now it is your turn, Mamir. Enter the Hidden Forest. Continue the journey your mother began. This is the map."
Mamir's hands trembled as he took the parchment. His chest swelled with grief, curiosity, and pride all at once. As he stepped outside, the sea wind hit his face, washing away the tears but not the fire in his eyes.
"Mother… As long as my blood flows, I too will never let the darkness win."
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📌 End Note Suggestion:
"Will Mamir follow his mother's path and save the world—or will all be swallowed by darkness? Don't forget to leave a comment and add to your collection ❤️"