The village of Ardent Hollow buzzed with excitement as preparations for the Festival of First Light began. Lanterns were strung between the wooden beams of the main square, banners painted with symbols of sunbursts and flowing rivers flapped in the morning breeze, and the smell of roasted meats and baked bread drifted from stalls already set up.
Kael walked through the square, hands tucked into his sleeves, eyes scanning every detail. Villagers hurried past carrying baskets, stringing lanterns, or guiding children toward games. Liora trailed behind him, tugging playfully at his sleeve.
"Don't tell me you're analyzing the whole festival before it even starts," she said, a teasing lilt in her voice.
"I am," Kael replied earnestly. "There are inefficiencies in lantern placement, and the baking order of stalls could affect crowd movement and… overall efficiency."
Liora threw her head back and laughed, loud and infectious. "You know, most people just enjoy the festival. You analyze it like a tactical mission."
Kael's expression remained calm, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "If one wants to survive in a world shaped by fragments and Titans…" He let the sentence hang, unspoken, knowing Liora would roll her eyes.
"You're impossible," she muttered, though her smile betrayed her amusement.
As the sun reached its zenith, villagers gathered in the square. The festival began with the Lighting of the First Lantern, an old tradition meant to honor the first rays of sunlight that had touched Ardent Hollow centuries ago. Children squealed with delight as they released small, glowing lanterns into the sky, their paper sails catching the wind and drifting slowly upward.
Kael stood at the edge of the square, observing quietly. Something tugged at him—a subtle vibration in the air, almost imperceptible to ordinary eyes. He tilted his head, noticing how the lanterns glimmered unnaturally as they rose, small fragments of energy hidden in plain sight.
Liora nudged him. "Hey, stop staring so seriously. You look like you're predicting an invasion of Titan fragments."
Kael chuckled softly. "Maybe I am."
She rolled her eyes but didn't push further. Instead, she led him toward the games — simple contests of skill, strength, and wit. Kael watched as children attempted to throw rings onto wooden stakes, balance on beams, or lift heavy sacks. Laughter filled the air, mingled with shouts and cheers.
"You always watch everything so closely," Liora said, picking up a small sack for one of the younger children. "Don't tell me you're thinking about the tactical advantage in ring tossing."
Kael smiled faintly. "You never know when a skill might become useful."
By afternoon, Kael found himself near the riverbank, a quiet corner where he could observe without being crowded. A small commotion caught his attention — a group of children had cornered a stray fox near the reeds. Kael approached calmly, crouching low. The fox's fur shimmered slightly in the sun, almost like it held a fragment of hidden energy.
"Kael! Don't!" Liora shouted from behind, though her voice carried more amusement than concern.
Kael extended a hand slowly. The fox tilted its head, sniffed cautiously, and then, unexpectedly, pressed against his palm. The children gasped, whispering about how Kael could "tame wild spirits with his hands."
Liora sighed, walking over. "You know, normal people don't get this kind of attention. You're making the festival about you now."
Kael laughed quietly, though his mind wasn't entirely at ease. The fox's behavior felt unnatural, as if some hidden force acknowledged him. A subtle prickle ran through his veins, a reminder that he was not entirely ordinary.
Later, Kael and Liora wandered through the festival together, sampling sweets and playing small games. A child challenged Kael to a simple balance contest on a wooden beam. He accepted casually, teasing, "Prepare to be dazzled."
The child wobbled precariously; Kael moved with effortless precision, maintaining balance with ease. Liora clapped mockingly. "Bravo. Truly… mesmerizing."
The child giggled, brushing past Kael and collapsing into laughter. Kael smiled faintly, a rare warmth breaking his usual calm demeanor.
As dusk approached, villagers gathered in the square for the Storytelling of the Ancients, a ceremony recounting legends of the Titans and the fragments. An elder, voice wavering but strong, recited tales of the Bang, of colossal beings falling from the skies, and the origins of fragments scattered across the world.
Children listened wide-eyed; adults murmured with reverence. Kael's gaze drifted upward, toward the faint red glimmer of the first stars. Somewhere in that vast sky, he knew, remnants of Titans waited, fragments stirred, and the bloodline hidden within him pulsed silently.
"Kael," Liora said softly, nudging him. "Do you ever get scared? Knowing all this… that someday it might be more than a story?"
Kael's eyes met hers. He hesitated, a rare pause in his usual calm. "Sometimes," he admitted. "But I've always believed… whatever comes, we face it together."
Her hand brushed his briefly, warm and grounding. "Good. Because you'll need someone watching your back."
A hush fell over the square as the elder ended the story. Lanterns were lit, and the glow reflected on Kael's face. He smiled faintly, feeling a mixture of joy, awe, and an inexplicable weight. The world was peaceful now, but fragments whispered beneath the surface, threads of destiny waiting to pull him forward.
Kael glanced at Liora. "Tomorrow, we train again," he said softly. "And we'll see what the fragments might reveal."
Liora laughed lightly. "Don't scare the villagers with your ominous talk. Enjoy the festival while it lasts."
But Kael already felt it — the pull of something vast, unseen, and inevitable. And though tonight was filled with laughter, warmth, and celebration, the quiet hum of destiny lingered in his bones.
Above the village, the first stars gleamed red and distant. Somewhere, hidden and ancient, fragments shifted slightly, sensing him. The boy they waited for was beginning to awaken.